The Dangers of Stereotyping... BY TIM SCHMIDT - USCCA FOUNDER Tim Schmidt I hate that I have to say this right after Christmas, but I’m angry. And if you’re anything like me, you’re probably angry too. Here’s the thing: I’ve had enough. I’ve had enough of the protesting, and the rioting, and the pervasive attitude of revenge and retribution that is permeating this nation like a disease. For me, things reached a boiling point this past Saturday, when two New York Police Department officers were shot—”assassinated,” as several news reports correctly described it—while sitting in their patrol car. These officers were murdered in cold blood. There wasn’t a confrontation. There wasn’t a struggle. And there certainly wasn’t a warning. (Unless you want to count the latest mantra of protesting crowds across the nation: “Arms up! Shoot back! What do we want? Dead cops! When do we want it? Now!”) Now? Yes...now, two police officers—Wenjian Liu, 32, and Rafael Ramos, 40—are dead, and law-abiding people across the country are scared. Law enforcement officers are rattled to the bone. It’s the “why” that has me so angry. You see, responsible, law-abiding Americans and the band of brothers and sisters who have vowed to serve and protect these responsible, law-abiding Americans are rendered almost defenseless by the hateful rhetoric of a few thugs and the corrupt “leaders” who sympathize with their “plight.” I say “almost” because we still have our guns. But let me just come out and say it: There are good cops and there are bad cops. (Honestly, there are exponentially more good than bad.) Just as there are good citizens and there are bad citizens. Good citizens do not break the law. They do not resist arrest. And they do not seek revenge for circumstances they perpetuate through their violent acts. Let me repeat that: Good citizens do not break the law. Do I believe that a citizen who uses deadly force should be judged by a jury of his or her peers? If the elements of a crime are potentially there, absolutely. And do I believe that a police officer who uses deadly force should be judged by a jury of his or her peers? As above, if the elements of a crime are potentially there, absolutely. But we’ve got to stop pretending. Just because a police officer takes an oath to serve and protect does NOT mean he or she is excluded from the natural-born right to defend his or her OWN LIFE. I’m disgusted by what happened in New York City on Saturday. (Let’s face it: Liu and Ramos didn’t even have the chance to fight back.) I’m also disgusted by the events that led up to this tragedy. Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani told Fox News on Monday that Mayor de Blasio, President Obama, and former New York Mayor Bloomberg are guilty of fueling an “atmosphere of hate” toward police officers across the country. I couldn’t agree more. But here’s the bottom line: Until we stop pointing our fingers at all young black men for the crimes of a few, we will never move forward. Until we stop categorizing all law enforcement officers for the perceived wrongs of a few, we will never move forward. It’s time we start holding an individual accountable for his or her own actions. Remember: there are a few bad cops. And there are a few bad citizens. But there are millions of good men and women—cops and citizens alike—waiting for a chance to show the world that one bad apple doesn’t have to spoil the bunch. Take Care and Stay Safe, Tim Schmidt Publisher - Concealed Carry Report USCCA Founder
Posted on: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 22:03:06 +0000
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