Neither Serve, nor Protect

Where the smears grow deadly fruit.

They grow in a deadly stew of an agenda driven campaign to marginalize veterans, the desire of some people to help their own image by creating a victim they can prove to everyone else they care so much about, and worse - a mindset of some put in a position of power over others, where they derive almost s3xual pleasure over the appearance of being a military force. They almost thrive over the looks of something between Waffen SS and Star Wars Stormtroopers. 

Officer Friendly, they are not.

Take small minded people who don't think critically, give them power, fill them up with propaganda ... and behold.

I give you Sgt. Dan Downing of the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department.

“When I first started we really didn’t have the violence that we see today,” adding, “The weaponry is totally different now that it was in the beginning of my career, plus, you have a lot of people who are coming out of the military that have the ability and knowledge to build IEDs and to defeat law enforcement techniques.”

Downing goes on to relate how citizens approach the vehicle when it stops at gas stations to express their concerns that the militarization of police is about arming cops with the tools required for mass gun confiscation programs.

“We were actually approached when we’d stop to get fuel by people wanting to know why we needed this…what were we going to use it for? ‘Are you coming to take our guns away?’” said Downing. “To come and take away their firearms…that absolutely is not the reason why we go this vehicle. We got this vehicle because of the need and because of increased violence that we have been facing over the last few years….I’ll be the last person to come and take anybody’s guns.”

Just let that soak in; Indiana for goodness sake. Ponder that addled cliche of a wannabe jack-booted thug with a badge for a moment ... and then let's bring in some facts.

Law enforcement deaths this year dropped to their lowest level since 1959, while the decade of the 2000s was among the safest for officers, despite the deadliest single day for police on Sept. 11, 2001.

“To reach a 50-year low in officer deaths is a real credit to the law enforcement profession and its commitment to providing the best possible training and equipment to our officers,’’ said Craig Floyd, the Memorial Fund chairman and chief executive officer. “But we cannot allow ourselves to be lulled into a state of complacency.’’

Through Dec. 27, the report by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund found that 124 officers were killed this year, compared with 133 in 2008. The 2009 total represents the fewest line-of-duty deaths since 108 a half-century ago. Also, traffic fatalities fell to 56, compared with 71 a year ago, partly attributed to the passage of “move over’’ laws. Although firearms deaths rose to 48, the 39 fatalities in 2008 represented the lowest annual figure in more than five decades.

Does he know that? Does he care? Odds are, "No" to both.

Shall I quote myself - again?

Remember the formula. If all vets have PTSD, then they are victims. If they are victims, they are to be pitied. If they are to be pitied, they are not your equal. If they are not your equal, their options do not carry the same impact. If their opinions do not carry the same impact, they are marginalized. If they are marginalized, they can be ignored. If they can be ignored, then I don't need to include them in our national discourse. Etc ... etc

You can add to that, a threat to public safety.

Hey Morgan County veterans - you're paying for it - enjoy.

Take time to watch the full video here.