Stossel: Security Vs Liberty

Sometimes I'm not the biggest fan of John Stossel. Other times (as was the case last night) Stossel excels in what he does. Comments To Follow


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I checked out Stossels full episodes at FOX. So far it's not posted yet. If they ever do I urge readers to check out the entire program. Hopefully these videos won't be removed before FOX does post them.

COMMENTARYI don't care whether someone is far right, far left or somewhere in-between, the militarization of the U.S. civilian police forces is far too reminiscent of people having to tolerate living like they are under a police state. Russia's KGB and Germany in the 1930's are two that come to mind.

Under United States law the military can't be used against it's own people. When police become militarized they tend to forget the reason they exist. To "protect and serve". Police departments are hiring more and more ex-soldiers. Soldiers who were trained to kill people and break things. While that is a admirable quality to be honored and respected in combat zones, it isn't under a civilian environment where there should be a presumption of innocence and individual rights.

It's alarming that we've grown acceptance to skirting around the laws that are suppose to protect citizens from it's own military being used against them by enabling certain police units to look no different. Having access to the same equipment used by the military and coming down on American civilians as they would in a foreign war zone.


No post would be complete without a personal story. Years ago my wife's former boss's brother was holed up in an apartment at a complex on the East side of Allentown. Police received a report that her brother kidnapped his girlfriend and was holding her hostage. A nosy neighbor called 911 after hearing his girlfriend's screams. Actually they were having loud sex. What followed was a two hour standoff and police breaking down to the door, pointing their multiple weapons, cuffing and charging him. Several months later this was all sorted out in front of a courtroom. This is one example how things can go South really fast.

The point I'm trying to make is ex-soldiers do not make great peace officers. They are trained in entirely another way with how to deal with things. They've seen action in combat zones which have been engrained on their minds after serving multiple tours. They tend to want to equip themselves with military gear that suggest they are going to war with street criminals which in many cases these thugs could be subdued without all that over-the-top kind of firepower.

While I support good policing 100% they must also realize in many cases what separates them from the bad guys becomes less and less everyday in their treatment of people who fall under suspicion. Indeed in some cases it's only the badge or the lettering on their jackets they wear that one can tell them apart these days.

Another personal story
A story difficult to tell without revealing who and what police department was involved. Let's just say it was one either in Allentown, Bethlehem or Easton. I'll refer to her as "R". "R" was married to a cop. When she was pregnant he would try and trip her coming down the stairs so she'd lose their baby. The first night they got their own place he beat her up and trashed all her belongings. She was absolutely 100% scared to call the local police because they were his buddies. So she endured for several months. To make a long story short. She in the end moved out of the Lehigh Valley. Got her doctorate degree and ended up in a top level position in school administration elsewhere. Alls well that ends well.

This post is not about trashing all the good cops that work their asses off to make this a better world. BUT, cops are human like the rest of us. If civilians did to cops what some cops get away they'd be doomed to a life behind bars (or worse) if they tried to defend themselves. No good can come from further escalating the armament or police using force beyond what is necessary. The direction we're heading is not good.

More and more we see what's being reported almost everyday in the news. Cops having paramilitary like units is not something I envision for having a better future for the United States. The days of the friendly cop on the street corner have since passed. Is this what we want for our kids growing up?