Because, after all, only police should have guns…..
Even the Times covered it.
Had this been a concealed carry holder doing his thing as a private citizen, wounding 9 (nine!) bystanders, the hue and cry would be incredible. The private citizen would be castigated and likely charged.
But it was cops…who “had no choice” and who were “heroes”. Who wounded (and/or killed) 9 bystanders.
Nice shooting there, boys.
Dude expressed an opinion on his Facebook page. Maybe a bit radical, maybe what others might perceive (if they squint real hard) as a threat. But was there any real threat?
And gets, not only arrested, but incarcerated.
No due process, no trial., no bond. Held against his will until the agents of the state say he is OK, and he is taught to not say things which people find offensive. .
What happened to the First Amendment?
This could be you, or me, or anyone who has an opinion that the State doesn’t like. I actually don’t agree with much of what he has said, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have the right to say it…Or is it only things which the State’s minions agree with which are acceptable?
Soon he’ll be given anti-psychotics and sent to a reeducation camp counseling.
Look: Facebook may not be the appropriate forum, but the dude does have the right to free speech. And the right to not be held against his will unless the State can prove that he is a threat, having the means and motivation and INTENT. Can they prove he does have these things? If so, bring him to trial. Or let him go. 30 days? Really? How about all those SEIU/AFSCME/AFL-CIO folks who advocated violence….Gonna pick them up too?
Half the blogs I read, and this one, have published things which the State might find offensive.
When “they” come for me, are you gonna speak up? How about the next guy, and the next, and the next….Until they come for you and there is no one to speak for any of us?
Hey, it’s been nice knowing you.
To my fellow bloggers:
I’ll save a spot on the bench in the camp so you have someplace to sit when they bring you in too. Bring beer if they’ll let you.
**************************************************************************************
Update: It appears that the justice system (even under Eric Holder) actually works, (if slowly).
(better story HERE)
When he is released, he should sue each and every person involved. And, if nothing else, use the governments own tactics against them, and tie them up in court and cost them money, even if he has no chance of winning due to any immunity clauses. (not that they should apply here anyway, but that is another fight for another day) I’d donate a few bucks to THAT legal fund.
But not if you are a private citizen…
Seems that the ATF doesn’t like it when citizens step on their turf and sell weapons and ammo to Mexicans.
So all I have to do to be exempt from laws (especially federal firearms laws) is to get a government job?
Look: I don’t doubt that this is illegal, immoral, and just plain wrong. But if you are going to charge anyone with this crime, then you should charge everyone who does it with the crime. Especially the “Conspiracy” part. Especially with Holder and the management of the ATF.
Were I them, I’d argue that if they are charged, then it violates the Fourteenth Amendment.
ETA: I mean, the Feds set the precedent, right? They even give special treatment to some managers who do this sort of thing (HT Instapundit)
Sometimes you can, Same people are able to forgive, even the murder of a parent.
Me, I’d keep the hate alive, and find the skills and the means to hunt down each and every one of the slimy motherfucking murdering bastards. Starting with the murderer Lon Horiuchi and working up through his masters bosses, and then, if there I were still able, to all of his co-workers that were there for the siege and the coverup.
Yeah, I know that the family got 3+ million dollars, and likely just wants to get on with their lives and that revenge won’t bring Vicki Weaver back….But it’d sure as hell make the next guy think before he acted. While I am not advocating it, I want to point out that having dead feds would be a lesson for the rest to behave properly. Institutional memories and all that you know…
It’s about time that it happens again…the folks at Ruby Ridge are all mostly retired, and that leaves the next generation of agents, which has not seen the horror, ready to abuse the citizens they are supposed to serve.
Forgiveness will not prevent that.
I think I’ll go dig out my copy of Unintended Consequences and re-read it.
Seems that Pensacola Fla police officers actually can do things to get themselves fired, unlike many departments….
Look: I know it is a tough job, and you generally deal with the worst third of our citizens. I understand that many of the folks you deal with are drunks, druggies, thieves, whores, or all of the above.
But if you can’t “not go there” or if you think that this sort of behavior is ever justified, then you shouldn’t be a cop. If you just choose to say nothing if you know that a fellow officer is acting like this, or is escalating his behavior until he is likely to, then you are part of the problem. Saying nothing, or establishing the “Blue Wall” does nothing to earn you respect among the citizens.
I am glad to see that police can be fired for something other than a pile of drugs in their garage, or a dead hooker in the trunk or a live boy in their home. Now if it would just become contagious….if all the other police departments could catch this issue.
Something to think about, if and when.
What are you gonna bring to the party? ‘Cause the one at my house, if and when, is gonna be a BYOB sort of thing….
The government began to be open about it’s intent to dominate the citizens, and to ignore the Constitution, and hold it’s minions to no accountability.
They had been doing for a while, but it was HERE that they chose to bring their tactics out into the open.
People who, by any measure, murdered the accused, are running around free in your country, with the excuse that they were “just following orders“.
Interesting how the Germans Nazis were treated vs the FBI/ATF folks, innit?
There should have been murder trials, and death sentences handed down for those folks who killed the Weavers.
Never forget, never forgive. Never trust any agent of the Government. His/her motivation is likely not yours.
The shame is that we, as a nation, let them get away with this atrocity. That we paid for the overwhelming response to what was, at best, a $200 tax issue (in reality, it was for defying an agent of the ATF). Millions of dollars wasted spent to apprehend a guy who was accused of selling a firearm that was 3/8 of an inch too short. Millions of our dollars which were, essentially, used to cover some foolish agent’s (and their superiors) butt. To make the accused the demon rather than the actual agents criminals.
And we are still paying these people’s salary (or retirement) today, rather than for their detention.
Since I had to say goodbye.
And while it has been rough, it has been survivable.
I appreciate all the folks who took the time to write, call, email, text, comment etc., your words were a comfort to us.
But I swear, if one more person asks me “Are ya gonna get another dog???” I’m gonna hit him (or her) in the knees with a ball peen hammer. Twice.
I know they mean well, but really,……