For the most part, I’ve always believed it’s going to get worse before it gets better. But the question you always want to know is – how much worse can it get?
In any normal society, the massacre at Columbine High School back in 1999 would’ve been the breaking point. But no matter how many predominantly white schools suffer massacres, it seems the powers that be react by doing everything except the obvious. So, the killing of Tamir Rice, 12, in Cleveland on Nov. 22, 2014 should’ve been one of the moments in which we put our foot down.
But, once again, we didn’t. Rice had an airsoft gun and was in a park. He was shot by the police who said he was drawing the gun in their direction. The surveillance video told a different story as they had pulled up and immediately opened fire on Rice. People almost immediately blamed Rice for having the airsoft gun in a public place.
Yet, I remember when I was a kid, we often played with water guns and cap guns. I remember I had a water gun that looked like an Uzi. And one day, I had it over at my grandparent’s house. Some guy was driving a motorcycle and when he saw it, he mimed getting shot for fun. Then he went on his way and I went on mine.
He didn’t run to the nearest phone and call police. He didn’t pull over and try to disarm me. Maybe people were a lot smarter 40 years ago. I don’t think it was simpler times. People just weren’t as reactionary as they are now. A lot of people seem to be on edge now.
For the second time so far this year, a person has been killed in Minneapolis by a member of ICE. Renee Good was fatally shot on Jan. 7. She was in her vehicle. Authorities tried to claim she attempted to run over an ICE officer but video footage paints a different story.
Now, Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse who was at a protest in Minneapolis on Jan. 24, has been fatally shot several times. And it too was captured on video. Kristi Noem, secretary of Homeland Security, and other authorities are trying to say that Pretti drew a firearm. But that’s not the case.
Pretti did have a firearm holstered but Minnesota is an open carry state. Defenders of this administration are saying he shouldn’t have shown up to a protest with a firearm. Ok, well I don’t think people should go shopping for Corn Flakes and milk with a gun either. But we allow it.
For eight years while Barack Obama was President, many gun-toting Americans pushed the limits of what was accepted, showing up to protest wherever he was speaking or attending a meeting. Remember when armed people took guns to the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing. I know it was just six years ago, but you Google it.
I think the harsh reality of gun ownership in America is that it can be made illegal to have a gun if law enforcement wants to. Even if you don’t have a firearm, they can still make it seem like you did something illegal that meant they can use deadly force. As I’ve often said, I walk with a cane and I’m worried a cop might think that’s a rifle.
I also have a water meter key that’s about a couple feet long. From afar, someone might think it’s a rifle. But I live out in the country, as do millions of other Americans. While most municipalities have regulations over discharging weapons, it’s pretty carte blanche in most counties. Yet, law enforcement is still called in many cases when it’s just people out target shooting.
One argument I used back when Treyvon Martin was murdered by George Zimmerman was didn’t Martin deserve to walk down the street in peace. Young black and Hispanic men are constantly hounded by people just for existing. Adults bitch and moan that young people don’t spend too much time outdoors but have a group of black or Hispanic teenagers just chilling in a park and now “they’re up to no good.”
Basically with the formation of multiple law enforcement agencies at the local, state and federal levels along with multiple branches of the armed services, we’ve created a system of Us vs. Them but we can’t tell which is which. Even worse, we’ve allowed private businesses to contract with the government as mercenaries with little oversight.
And even those they are certified to carry, we’ve given semi-automatic hand guns to security guards who are mostly supposed to “observe and report.” Hell, even the fucking park rangers are carrying .40s and 9s now. Ranger Smith would’ve emptied an entire magazine clip into Yogi Bear for stealing a picnic basket.
Erin Maye Quade, a state senator for the Minnesota District 56, posted a video say that ICE agents are doing nothing more than driving around trying to find people of color they can harass and kidnap. A lot of the people, she said, are U.S. citizens or they are in America legally.
Remember it is only a misdemeanor to be in America without the proper documentation. And most of the times, it’s a civil matter because people overstay after their visas are expired. A lot of them are white Europeans. Prior to the formation of ICE, the INS often handled undocumented migrants.
And some would say it was basically a revolving door. The Hispanics called them “La Migra.” They would raid factories or farms mostly where the people from Central America were being exploited for labor. The owner/proprietor of the business would pay a fine that still was less than what it would cost to pay regular Americans mere minimum wage.
Of course, after 9/11, the government convinced Americans they needed something more authoritative. It’s no surprise that Stephen Miller was just 16 on that day of terrorism. People like him decided it didn’t matter. Hispanics or Hindus, Muslims or Mexicans, they all were a problem.
The irony is most crimes in America are committed by legal American citizens. A Mexican migrant working on a farm in Oklahoma or California isn’t going to cause much trouble. Hell, there is a plant nursery near my house and the Hispanic workers would play soccer during their lunch breaks. They’re not bothering anyone.
And as a former crime reporter, I can tell you without a doubt, a lot of people cause their own problems that lead to home invasions. No one is going to break down a door to a house if people are there. I’m not victim blaming but there’s usually a long story behind what someone would risk going to jail or even being shot.
Greg Bovino, who was the Border Patrol commander, said he didn’t like that ICE people are called “kidnappers” and took it as a threat. Well, if you don’t have a warrant for an arrest or probable cause for a crime has been committed, you’re not allowed to arrest someone. Ergo, it’s kidnapping.
Maybe it’s because Bovino is 5-foot-4 and looks like everyone’s gay aunt who still living in the closet is why he feels ICE agents should have ultimate power. But there has been pushback as Bovino is leaving Minneapolis. But the question remains why are they even still Minnesota? I think it’s because the Trump Administration is looking for a fight. They want someone to open fire on ICE agents so martial law can be declared.
But there’s already been some pushback. It’s a shame that it had to be a white men who was not only a nurse but a law-abiding gun-carrying man. People are angry over the death of Pretti but call it what it is – murder. He was shot multiple times.
Minnesota lawyer Chris Madel, who was going to be running for governor of the state, announced Monday he is dropping out. Madel is a Republican. There is some pushback but it’s going to take a lot more. People shouldn’t have to live in fear that they’re going to see a person push to the ground and when they go to help them up, they are pepper-sprayed and shot dead.
There’s nothing more dangerous than someone who has a firearm but lacks the responsibilities to wield it. ICE agents are unqualified and out of shape. They’re nothing more than bullies. It’s been over 55 years since the Sanford Prison Experiment. What that showed is if you give people authorities over someone else with little consequences, they will abuse it.
Also, the thing about all authoritative powers is that they don’t last forever. And the tree remembers what the axe forgets.
What do you think? Please comment.
Zane Says 