Come and Talk It reported in the last few weeks about the police officers killed by a lunatic in New York City.
That story has taken a bizarre and damaging turn. At the funeral of the fallen officers, officers turned their backs on Mayor Bill DeBlasio when he took part in the ceremony.
This comes amidst an incredible slow down on the part of the police unions. Police are issuing 92% less parking violations, 94% less traffic citations, and arrests overall are down 66%. That includes an 83% drop in drug arrests. The police claim that they do not feel safe following the execution of the officers and that the mayor does not have their back.
I am in no position to comment on this political posturing. The police may have a point; they may not. I have no intention of evaluating the validity of their arguments.
My concern with this disrespectful protest….. is the message.. it sends the rest of us. What if we as a society, stopped upholding the law? What if criminals, petty or not, were allowed to walk free? What respect can normal citizens have for the law & order that supposedly runs this country if the enforcers of said law and order will not enforce?
“A hero’s funeral is about grieving, not grievance,….. Peace Officers need to remember that when they don on that uniform they are bound by the tradition, honor and decency that go with it.” If they don’t what is the difference between them and the Westboro Babtist Church who are famous for protesting at funerals. What if soldiers decided to show the same level of disrespect for their senior leaders?
I am not taking sides here. I’m not even sure either side is right or wrong in this matter. But that display of utter disrespect and contempt for authority will only serve to fuel the hatred that has been revealed by the events this past year. Nothing can be gained from this. Even if positives do come out of this work stoppage on the part of the NYPD, they will pale in comparison to the trail of hate that these officers have left behind.
There has never been a better time to say it: More guns equals less crime. Go out and buy yourself a gun. You’ve been listening to Come and Talk It with Michael Cargill.