Pasadena's New Bearcat G3 is Overkill

Here is my letter to the editor concerning Pasadena, TX's requisition of this vehicle.

To the Editor,

Looking at the Pasadena City Council photo op with the new Bearcat G3, I was both disappointed and dismayed. There is no legitimate domestic police function for this vehicle. 

Unfortunately, this type of vehicle is commonly used in SWAT raids to serve drug warrants. A tactic that inserts volatility into an otherwise peaceful police activity. Most recently a 26 year old combat veteran, Jose Guerena, after having survived two tours in Iraq, was shot dead, in his own home, by 60 bullets at close range during such a SWAT raid. 

They found no drugs.

The only thing the Bearcat G3 is good for is waging war. And judging by the smiles on the city council's faces, they feel comfortable with doing just that on their own citizens.

Sincerely,

Brandon Leger

Pasadena

Before You Thank a Police Officer...

Ask if he supports the war on drugs...

the unintended consequences?

the overcrowded prisons?

the deaths of innocents?

the loss of freedom?

the gang wars?

the costs?

Or is he in denial?

Is he a hypocrite?

Ask if he believes a crime is a crime, even for colleagues...

that commit breaking and enterting?

that harass innocent citizens?

that kidnap and rape?
that lie under oath?
that murder?
that steal?
Or will he remain silent?
Will he tell himself that he's just doing his job?


Will he silence the First Amendment?
Will he holster the Second Amendment?
Will he trespass the Fourth Amendment?
Will he deceive the Fifth Amendment?
Will he slow the Sixth Amendment?
Will he double tap the Seventh Amendment?
Will he torment the Eighth Amendment?


Ask him if he believes that he's above the law...


And if he answers, "No,"
Then... shake his hand.
__________________________________________________________________________________

This poem is dedicated to all the police officers who take their roles as public servants and defenders of individual liberty seriously. Those whose oath to protect and defend the Constitution means they'll fight against others that seek to do harm to it. Who understand the meaning of natural rights and Constitutionally protected rights. Officers who aren't afraid to break through the blue wall of silence. Those that can go to sleep at night without having to tell themselves that they're "just doing their job." Thank you for your service.

Two such organizations that I know of are LEAP and the Oath Keepers. If you know of more, please post so that they can get the credit they deserve.

This poem is a response to this story coming out during National Police Officer Appreciation Week. Jose Guerena, age 26, survived two tours in Iraq only to be killed by a local SWAT team during a drug sweep. They found no drugs on his property. Jose is another innocent victim in the drug war.

Love the Joe Pags show, but he's wrong again

I was going to recommend "8 Murders a Day" but now I'm not so sure. Joe Pags had director Charlie Minn on his show to talk about the extreme violence in Juarez, specifically, and Mexico over the past four years. He places blame at the feet of the drug cartels but unfortunately, overlooks the effects of the entire drug war. Instead, after bemoaning the tragedy of "eight people in the street every night" his advice is to "close down the border".

That kind of misses the point.

The violence in Mexico is a direct result of our government's war on drugs. It is the black market for drugs that brings in the criminal entrepreneur. And since they are in an extralegal environment, disputes are settled with guns. The obvious solution would be to legalize and regulate drugs in the same way we do for alcohol and tobacco.

Here's their response to that. And I'm paraphrasing because this is from memory.

Joe Pags: "And [Vincent Fox] wants to legalize all drugs, do you want that?"
Charlie Mann: "No, I don't want that. I don't want to see a 12 year old on the street corner strung out."

Of course, this is a ridiculous argument because if it were true we'd see 12 year old kids stumbling around drunk. But it's not legal for them to drink alcohol and besides alcohol is in a much more controlled environment. Not impossible to get but harder.

Unfortunately, a lot of people still cling to their irrational fear of (illegal) drugs. (For some reason we tolerate "legal" drugs like tobacco and alcohol because, I don't know, I guess we've gotten used to them?) So until people like Joe Pags and Charlie Mann can come to grips with reality on this issue there will be 8 people dying every day for a nonviolent, consensual "crime."