12-04-2009, 02:00 PM
Peter, that is heart rending. And I believe we will soon see stories of that sort play out over here in the U.S. It seems we are about 5-10 years behind the UK in terms of acceptance of the government-as-nanny state.
Myra, that's exactly what we're seeing on the streets here. My nephew is active-duty Army, was in the first Gulf War and has been to Iraq, and is getting ready to deploy again. I recently learned from him that after Katrina, he was part of a force that was sent to New Orleans. He told me that at one point he drew his weapon on a civilian who he found looting somewhere and was a half second from killing him before the person finally complied with my nephew's commands. Again, he is not National Guard, he is active-duty Army. I had no idea he was there until he told me this last summer at a family reunion. What good is Posse Comitatus when the "authorities" get away with violating the Constitution daily and no one calls them on it?
In addition to that we are seeing the increasing militarization of our civilian police forces. I live in a medium size Midwestern town, and I recently saw a shiny new armored personnel carrier with a gun turret on top driving through town. It must have just arrived. It was sparkling white and in blue letters said "Springfield Police". My god, what is this town preparing for? They've kept it under wraps- not a peep in the local media and I have not seen it on the street since.
Between Homeland Security grants and FEMA grants and asset forfeiture money the police forces all across our area are absolutely swimming in money right now and are arming-up to an insane level.
Myra, that's exactly what we're seeing on the streets here. My nephew is active-duty Army, was in the first Gulf War and has been to Iraq, and is getting ready to deploy again. I recently learned from him that after Katrina, he was part of a force that was sent to New Orleans. He told me that at one point he drew his weapon on a civilian who he found looting somewhere and was a half second from killing him before the person finally complied with my nephew's commands. Again, he is not National Guard, he is active-duty Army. I had no idea he was there until he told me this last summer at a family reunion. What good is Posse Comitatus when the "authorities" get away with violating the Constitution daily and no one calls them on it?
In addition to that we are seeing the increasing militarization of our civilian police forces. I live in a medium size Midwestern town, and I recently saw a shiny new armored personnel carrier with a gun turret on top driving through town. It must have just arrived. It was sparkling white and in blue letters said "Springfield Police". My god, what is this town preparing for? They've kept it under wraps- not a peep in the local media and I have not seen it on the street since.
Between Homeland Security grants and FEMA grants and asset forfeiture money the police forces all across our area are absolutely swimming in money right now and are arming-up to an insane level.