Baton Rouge Police shooting

[CathyA]

6 Police officers were shot, 3 of whom are dead and 3 wounded. One suspect dead, but they are looking for more.
This is all just sickening.

[CathyA]

Don't know why this didn't show up as a new post.

[befree]

absolutely tragic. There's no justification, and no logic, for this

[Ultralight]

They released info of who the shooter was. Apparently he was a former Marine who had gotten an honorable discharge and even a few decorations, like Good Conduct.

Very disturbing situations in this nation now.

[CathyA]

You know, when I hear Obama talk after these events anymore, he has such a defeated tone. I think he's tired of fighting people who say that guns aren't a problem in this country, and the fact that congress can't make any progress about anything.
It's all pretty frightening. We have one segment of society who feels that arming everyone more will help, and another that feels that disarming many would help. Unfortunately, the former are more aggressive and loud. I'm not sure what's going to happen. If all this continues, people won't ever want to become policemen. That's like removing our body's T-killer cells and Helper T-cells. What happens when we remove them? Our bodies get over-run with bad guys and die.

[Ultralight]

People take on dangerous jobs all the time, aware to various degrees of how dangerous the jobs really are.

Think about soldiers, roofers, firefighters, UFC competitors, etc. -- they know the gig is dangerous but still take it on.

I would not worry that people will stop wanting to become police.

The president is probably tired. He has been doing this 8 years now.

And of course he is sounding defeated. There has been zero movement in the direction that he wants.

[Tammy]

A security guy at my work has started wearing his armored vest and has also started putting on his uniform at work and then changing into civilian clothing before leaving work - all because he feels like a target in his uniform when out and about away from work.

I bet people like him are encouraging their kids to choose a different career.

[CathyA]

ULA..........but if firefighters, etc., were randomly being massacred, that's different than facing the job you signed up for.

[Ultralight]

I bet people like him are encouraging their kids to choose a different career.

Very good point.

[Ultralight]

I am worried about the many problems facing our nation. It is depressing stuff in the news every time I look...

[LDAHL]

The president is probably tired. He has been doing this 8 years now.

And of course he is sounding defeated. There has been zero movement in the direction that he wants.

I like the suggestions Victor Davis Hanson had for the President. Perhaps they might help ease his burden.

In future presidential editorialization about the shooting deaths of police officers, perhaps the president himself might first offer a few “words matter” gestures that would reassure law enforcement, to use another Obama phrase, that he “has their back.” Here are just three low-bar proposals for how to discourage those who glorify or advocate lethal violence against criminal-justice officers:

No longer invite into the White House any leaders whose affiliated members have marched chanting their desire to kill police officers (e.g., “What do we want? Dead cops” / “Pigs in a blanket; fry ’em like bacon”).

Do not consult with any self-appointed leader in the White House whose past has included overt and implicit calls to shoot police officers (e.g., Al Sharpton: “I believe in offing the pigs. Well, they got pigs out here. You ain’t offed one of them. What I believe in, I do. Do what you believe in. Or shut up and admit you’ve lost your courage and your guts to stand up”).

Do not invite into the White House any artists whose work has glorified the killing of officers of the criminal-justice system (e.g., Lamar Kendrick’s To Pimp a Butterfly album, one of whose songs was dubbed by Obama as his favorite of 2015), whose cover depicts a group of African-American youth celebrating with champagne and cash on the White House lawn over the corpse of a white judge with his eyes X-ed out).

I don’t think that is too much to ask of the president of the United States — and perhaps such simple gestures might do a lot more for police reconciliation than the usual Obama summits and community “dialogues.”


http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/437972/cop-shootings-us-president-could-discourage-those-who-glorify-them

[JaneV2.0]

Yeah--except cop killers are often white anti-government types. so maybe he should just summarily dissolve the government, too--to placate them.

[LDAHL]

Yeah--except cop killers are often white anti-government types. so maybe he should just summarily dissolve the government, too--to placate them.

I don't think he should fete them at the White House either.

[JaneV2.0]

He'd have to block half the Congress--the gun-totin', God-fearin', don't be shovin' your laws down my throat half.

[Ultralight]

Is this nation on the verge of some culture war?

[LDAHL]

Is this nation on the verge of some culture war?

I doubt it. This is nothing to 1968, much less 1860.

[LDAHL]

He'd have to block half the Congress--the gun-totin', God-fearin', don't be shovin' your laws down my throat half.

I agree. Any member of Congress advocating violence against US citizens or officials shouldn't be invited to parties at the White House.