Police Chief's Son Killed in shootout with Police

A police officer, a bystander and the son of Dallas's Police Chief were killed in the shootout. The son was allegedly high on PCP and had a long history of mental illness. Appears to be another suicide by cop. Tragically, he took two other with him. LINK

Same Distortions, Different Dude

It doesn't seem to matter who's in the White House. Unfavorable data and research results will be spun, misrepresented, and distorted. This time it's the Obama administration and studies on the Gulf Oil Spill. Other than a distinct shift to the far-left, nothing has changed about the integrity of our politicians in charge. If you voted for change, you got a lot of ideological change--but not much else. So much for campaign promises. When are the two main political parties going to come up with some candidates who deserve our votes? LINK

Smugglers use Traffic Spikes Against the Police

Law enforcement frequently uses traffic spikes to stop suspects fleeing in vehicles. Here, the suspects used the spikes against the police. What else are the bad guys going to steal from the police bag of tricks? LINK

America's Food Police march on!

This is the kind of stuff that makes libertarians go ballistic! The Nanny state never rests. Where does it stop? LINK

Moratorium on Taser Use? Police defend device

As the death toll of persons tased by police rises, Amnesty International and others have called for a moratorium. Police argue the devices are valuable tools. LINK

Another Texas Exoneration

Anthony Graves spent 18 years in prison, 12 years of it on death row. He's now been exonerated. As is often the case, prosecutorial misconduct was to blame. We've got to get better people in the DA's offices across this state. First LINK Longer article link from Texas Monthly LINK

MEHSERLE gets 2 years in BART slaying

More than 150 people were arrested during protests Friday night over the perceived leniency of the 2-year prison sentence given to former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle. He was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the killing of Oscar Grant. Mehserle could have gotten up to 14 years. lINK

Gridlock may not be the end of the world

Media airheads like Diane Sawyer and others are bemoaning the potential "gridlock" in Congress following Republican gains in the most recent election. I guess if you believe in the Nanny state and that everyone who is "hurting" needs a government program, gridlock is bad. However, some economists think that the economy has a better chance of recovering if left alone for a while. Wall Street saw a surge after the election results were in. Further, reckless programs like Obama care, a 2500 page bill rushed through Congress that was probably not read completely by anyone in Congress, (and is probably loaded with special interest goodies), become less likely when there is "gridlock." House Speaker Pelosi said Congress needed to pass the bill so the people could find out what was in it. Contrary to Obama's promises, the bill was not available on the internet before he signed it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against health care reform. I prefer a more careful, thoughtful approach. Further, deficit spending is not always bad. Up to a point it can stimulate the economy. Gridlock may also slow the relentless assault on privacy and Fourth Amendment rights. Contrary to what you may hear, the sky is not falling. LINK

No legalized pot in California

The California initiative to legalize small-scale pot use and production failed at the polls. Mexico's President was against it. It might have been an interesting experiment, but it would have been contrary to federal law and may never have gotten off the ground anyway. Backers may try again in 2012. LINK

Post-Katrina Cop's Suicide Now Being Investigated as Murder

Latest twist in the ongoing tale of the dark world of the NOPD. LINK

Plain & True Talk about politicians and huge budget deficits.

Plain and True talk about huge budget deficits at both the state and federal level: Ralph Martire, head of Illinois' liberal-leaning Center for Tax and Budget Accountability,” stated “Politicians promise more services but won't raise taxes to pay for them, Martire said. They depend on budget games and shortcuts instead and wind up blowing holes in the budget. Voters then get used to the idea that they can have services without any pain, and they reject politicians who say otherwise. "That's nonsense, but they believe it because that's the track record. Eventually, you run out of those games you can play," Martire said.” LINK

Editor calls for Repealing Second Amend. & banning handguns

Even in the land of the free, your civil liberties and freedom to choose are always in jeopardy. IMHO, just more authoritarianism emanating from the left. LINK

Former Officer Not Guilty in Trial for Taser Death of Suspect.

The trial in another racially polarizing Taser death ends with a not guilty verdict. The suspect was Tased 8 or 9 times. It took the jury only about 3 hours to reach the verdict. LINK

Use of Taser Cameras spreading

Given all the controversy and lawuits over Taser use, this trend looks like a good idea. LINK

Democratic Congressman want to impeach CJ Roberts over Citizens United Decision

As discussed earlier, in the Supreme Court's (2010) decision in Citizens United, the majority struck down part of the federal campaign finance law on First Amendment grounds. As I suggested earlier, the real purpose of the statute was not to clean up politics but to create an advantage for the Dems and the left. Anytime politicos, on either the left of right, talk about cleaning up politics, you can usually be sure that cleansing is not the real goal. IMHO, The majority decision was consistent with the First Amendment which was designed to keep the government out of the market place of ideas. Another stuck pig is squealing--calling for CJ Robert's impeachment. Haven't heard talk about impeachment of a S.Ct. Justice since the Warren Court days. Now it's the left's ox who is being gored and impeachment talk is back. It would be nice if the politicos could rise above ideology and partisan advantage and provide sincere, balanced support for the First Amend. LINK

Taser problems in Canada--officers face criminal trial

The U.S. is not the only country where officers are increasingly being charged with criminal offenses for alleged excessive force involving Tasers. LINK

Need for leadership from the middle of the political spectrum?

IMHO,as American society becomes more polarized, we seem to get a decreasing number of candidates and officials who can lead from the middle of the political spectrum. This Rasmussen Report provides indirect evidence for that conclusion. It also suggests that the time might be right for a 3rd political party (one that can lead from the middle). 43% of Americans polled conclude that neither major party in Congress represents the people. LINK

Manslaughter trial of officer for killing suspect with Taser opens

This should be interesting. This case was mentioned in a post below.It is very rare for a police officer to be criminally prosecuted. LINK

The Supreme Court's next Second Amend. case?

This case, Nordyke v. King, is now before the 9th Circuit. There is a good chance it will be the next U.S. Supreme Court case on the Second Amendment. Hopefully, the Supreme Court will specify the test or standard of review in Second Amendment cases. Personally, I feel strict scrutiny is the appropriate standard. LINK (see post on Wisconsin v. Schultz case below)

No charges or discipline against officer who tasered man a total of 54 seconds.

The suspect died, but the officer has thus far escaped any sanctions. The city offered a $2 million settlement. The family is suing Taser and the officer/agency. According to the complaint against Taser filed by the family, the device is designed to administer a 5 second shock with each separate trigger pull. Holding down the trigger and not releasing it causes the shocking to continue. Obviously,the officer did not release the trigger for at least 44 seconds. It is also alleged that the victim was mentally handicapped, unarmed and did not strike or attack the officers. No discipline for tasing this suspect in this situation for 49 seconds with a 5 second tasing follow up? Perhaps additional or corrected facts will emerge in the future, but I have seen no denials of any of the alleged facts. This is getting a little hard to believe. LINK See the family's civil complaint against Taser at LINK

48 Law Enforcement Officers killed in the line of duty in 2009.

Updated data shows that 48 law enforcement officers were feloniously killed and made the ultimate sacrifice in 2009. R.I.P. LINK

Officer Tasered suspect 9 times, supect dies, officer criminally charged

A Former police officer was charged with manslaughter and malfeasance in office after tasing a subject 9 times. Shouldn't it have become obvious to the officer that he should have tried something different after the first few tasings? A jury could not be seated in the trial and the prosecutor asked for a change of venue. Stay tuned! LINK

Sensible state court opinion on Second Amend.

The first good state court opinion on the Second Amendment since McDonald v. Chicago (2010) made the Second Amendment applicable against the states. Unfortunately, neither the Heller nor McDonald decisions specify a test or standard or review. What's good about this state court opinion is the application of "strict scrutiny" judicial review which puts some real teeth in the right. Note, however, that this is a trial court decision, not an appellate court decision, and thus has no weight as a precedent. But, you've got to start somewhere. Be sure to read the facts. This is not a guy in a bar with a .44 magnum. Go to the link, scroll down, and read the opinion in Wisconsin v. Schultz. LINK

Lawful, licensed peaceful open gun carriers charged with disorderly conduct.

Police and citizen harassment of licensed persons lawfully engaged in open carry and not causing any problems is here. If anyone who dislikes guns calls the police and says they are "concerned" and fear something "horrible" might happen and then the police charge the carriers with disorderly conduct, the constitutional and statutory right to carry means very little. When are folks going to wake up and realize that individual Second Amendment rights are now the supreme law of the land! LINK

Poll shows majority view U.S. government as too powerful

These Gallup poll results are probably not surprising. An increasing number view it as a threat to their rights. This fear has increased slightly since Obama took office. I'm glad to see more people getting concerned about this. Perhaps the Tea Party folks are on to something. LINK

Australian Prisoner Tasered 12 times on one occasion

A prisoner in Australia was tasered 12 (or is it 13?) times on a single occasion. LINK Is Taser use against individuals getting out of hand some places? I wonder what the record is for being tasered on a single occasion. Anyone know? Please provide link if possible. Thanks.

How cities compare on payouts for suits against their police.

Police misconduct can get expensive. LINK

New High-tech tools for Police

In recent years, the technology available to police has mushroomed. This is some of the latest LINK

Good artice on the funeral picketing case (Snyder v. Phelps)

Although the behavior of Phelps and his group is certainly obnoxious and offensive, the First Amendment protects it. Unless it falls within certain specific exceptions, even obnoxious, offensive speech is protected. Phelps' First Amendment activity falls under none of the exceptions. For Phelps to lose, the Court would have to make up a new exception. If it does so, then do we start down the slippery slope? Further, the facts are not as bad as one might expect. Phelps held the protest on public property, completely followed all police directives and laws, and the demonstration was not visible or audible to Snyder and the funeral party. Phelps did not enter the church and they stopped the demonstration before the funeral service started. Under current First Amendment law, Phelps wins and the grieving family loses. That's the price we pay as a society for being a free one. See article at LINK

Working hard against Citizens United and the First Amendment

Just as pro-lifers worked hard to get around and overrule Roe v. Wade and it’s progeny, others are working to try to get around (and overrule) the U.S. Supreme Court's recent First Amendment decision, Citizens United. LINK I suggest these newest busy bees consider the following: “But when men have realized that time has upset many fighting faiths, they may come to believe even more than they believe the very foundations of their own conduct that the ultimate good desired is better reached by free trade in ideas--that the best test of truth is the power of the thought to get itself accepted in the competition of the market, and that truth is the only ground upon which their wishes safely can be carried out. That at any rate is the theory of our Constitution.” Abrams v. United States, 250 U.S. 616, 630, 40 S.Ct. 17, 22, 63 L. Ed. 1173 (1919) (Holmes, J., dissenting) In the realm of religious faith, and in that of political belief, sharp differences arise. In both fields the tenets of one man may seem the rankest error to his neighbor. To persuade others to his own point of view, the pleader, as we know, at times, resorts to exaggeration, to vilification of men who have been, or are, prominent in church or state, and even to false statement. But the people of this nation have ordained in the light of history, that, in spite of the probability of excesses and abuses, these liberties are, in the long view, essential to enlightened opinion and right conduct on the part of the citizens of a democracy. Cantwell v. State of Connecticut, 310 U.S. 296, 310, 60 S.Ct. 900, 906, 84 L. Ed. 1213 (1940) This final quote suggests faith in the people to overcome the flaws in the marketplace and reach an enlightened decision. If you don’t trust the average voter, then government intervention to “protect” the public is necessary. I don’t see why we should let government tinker with First Amendment freedoms. It’s like asking the fox to guard the hen house.