on the use of excessive force by police officers in the United States, as well as a discussion on police militarization. But hyperbolic nonsense like what moondog posted just makes it harder, because it paints all of us who are worried about the issue as lunatics who run around screaming "death to pigs."
A conspiracy minded person might actually put forth the notion that cases like this one are brought up as straw man examples for that very purpose, to draw all the attention to fighting extremists while advancing an agenda to turn city, municipal & county police departments into extensions of an increasingly monolithic national law enforcement apparatus. The militarization of the police is one such method, because smaller & more local departments are more dependent on largesse from state and federal governments, whether in grants or donations of military surplus to afford tactical gear, automatic weapons, armored vehicles, surveillance technology and the training to use all this. The departments become dependent on the national security apparatus, while training and policies imposed from higher levels of government erode their subordination to local authorities. Thus those on the right opposed to government consolidation are silenced by supporting their local police with "better" gear and training, for the officers' protection, and to quell civil disturbances, while the left, who might be concerned about the empowerment of the police, accede in the name of increased supervision and control from higher authority.
“Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions.” GK Chesteron
Inde muagdhe Aes Sedai misain ye!
Deus Vult!
*MySmiley*
