In recent weeks our forums have been alive with political debates. To be blunt, the political debates have nearly overrun the forums and insults have flown between members about their political beliefs. The seemingly only agreed upon belief is that our next president, whoever it may be, should strongly support America’s law enforcement professionals. In a pro-police forum that’s the one thing you should expect, right? Even though everyone agrees on that one point, the insults still fly between conservatives and liberals, Republicans and Democrats. The Libertarians (more on them later) largely avoid our forums because those that do show up seem to espouse nothing more than, “Less government thugs.” I don’t think they speak for all Libertarians, but their expressed outlook doesn’t go well on a pro-law enforcement forum.
Now, as I type this, the Republican National Convention (RNC) has just finished. Last night I watched as the Republican nominee, Donald Trump, voiced his support for law enforcement. His statement that any attack on a law enforcement officer is an attack on all Americans received a standing ovation and has become popular across social media platforms. The RNC had speakers that most of us consider national heroes or, at the very least, sincerely patriotic Americas. People like Marcus Lutrell – Navy SEAL of “Lone Survivor” fame, Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke, former Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani, and former Governor of Texas Rick Perry.
I’m sure there are some people in our country who don’t consider Marcus Lutrell a hero. Those are the same people who badmouth our soldiers, Marines, sailors and airmen just because. I’ve met Marcus Lutrell and was humbled to be in his presence. Interestingly enough, I found him to be a humble guy himself. He has endured events most of us would crumble under and behaved in an admirable and heroic fashion.
I’ve met former Governor Rick Perry, himself a humble and friendly guy. His pride in Texas and America was obvious in my conversations with him. He expressed appreciation for all military service members and indeed, all public safety workers.
I’ve never met Sheriff Clarke nor former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, but their public statements make their support for and appreciation of law enforcement professionals obvious. I’d consider it an honor to meet either of these men.
Now let’s take a look at the Democrat National Convention (DNC) being held in Philadelphia this coming week. On their list of guest speakers are eight folks that make me wonder a bit; six of them related in some way to a person who has died either in police custody or during a fight – and not necessarily with police.
Mrs. Astrid Silva Gavel is an “undocumented immigrant” who has done well for herself. Although she is in our country ILLEGALLY (which makes her a criminal since she’s committing a crime in an on-going manner), she has earned a good education (working on her third college degree) and not broken the law (except for that whole illegal immigration thing). Mrs. Gavel is the type of illegal immigrant who I’d love to see some type of path to legal citizenship for. But let’s be very clear: she first committed a crime before proving herself productive; or at least motivated. She is one of millions and there are plenty others like her. That said, there are plenty of illegal immigrants who continue their lives in crime once they’ve arrived in our country. There should be NO path to citizenship for them and it’s my belief that they should be immediately deported upon capture. I have never seen an activist for illegal immigrants espouse deportation of criminals. If they would, their message would be more welcome. By hosting Mrs. Gavel the DNC is, in essence, making an implied statement. That statement is, “Illegal immigrants are welcome in our country and we, the Democrat party will not take action to hold them responsible for their actions.” The rest of that implied statement is, “We expect them to vote for us in return.”
Let’s move on to Ms. Gwen Carr – the mother of Eric Garner. Eric Garner was made famous when he died OF A HEART ATTACK after being arrested. He resisted arrest and was placed into a submission hold by police officers. He was obese and had a number of documented physical ailments, all of which contributed to his death from cardiac arrest after he fought the police. One would think that an adult who is aware of his own medical challenges would be smart enough not to fight the police when he was arrested. Holding the police responsible for his death FROM A HEART ATTACK is redirecting responsibility in the worst way and pandering to the masses who don’t want to be held accountable. In essence, the DNC is implying that the police were wrong and responsible for Eric Garner’s death. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Then we have Ms. Sybrian Fulton – Trayvon Martin’s mother. It’s interesting that Trayvon Martin wasn’t shot by the police but was held up by the mainstream media as a victim of racism. He was portrayed as an innocent victim killed by a racist white man. In truth, evidence showed that he was shot by a Hispanic man who was defending himself from a potentially lethal assault committed by Martin. Trayvon’s death was a shame but the shooting was 100% justifiable and demonstrated as such by a trial. The DNC has Ms. Fulton as a guest speaker, no doubt, to demonstrate that racism is a huge problem in America today and that the poor innocent youth, like Trayvon (an adult criminal), are suffering because of it. Once again, the drive of the DNC to pander to votes is obvious.
Moving on we have Ms. Maria Hamilton – mother of Dontre Hamilton. I admit to being confused by this inclusion. Dontre Hamilton’s name isn’t so well known. Why? Because the mainstream media couldn’t spin the events enough. Dontre Hamilton attacked a police officer, taking his baton and hitting the police officer in the neck before being shot by the officer he’d attacked. Hamilton was a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic and the officer was somehow expected to know this and take it into consideration as he defended himself from a potentially lethal attack. The officer lost his job over the incident even though his shooting of Hamilton was justified under any reasonable examination. That said, the DNC has the mother of another man killed by the police on their speakers list. They don’t honor the officer who could have died; they bring in the mother of a dead criminal who assaulted an officer with the apparent intent to murder him.
They also have Ms. Lucia McBath – mother of Jordan Davis. Jordan Davis was murdered by a man named Michael Dunn, who had no connection or relation to law enforcement, and who was convicted of first degree murder. I am at a loss as to why Ms. McBath might be speaking except that her son was one more young African American male killed by a gun and they might be able to leverage her presence to support gun control.
That brings us to Michael Brown’s mother, Ms. Lezley McSpadden. In case any of us have forgotten, Michael Brown was the man who committed a strong-arm robbery at a convenience store and then attacked Officer Darren Wilson, trying to take Wilson’s gun. Even the Department of Justice couldn’t find any wrong doing on Officer Wilson’s part and the autopsy clearly showed that the mainstream media’s narrative of Brown being shot in the back OR being shot while his hands were up was all false. Brown, a convicted criminal who was actively trying to kill a police officer was, and is, held up as an example of racially motivated excessive force used by the police. It is 100% untrue and has been demonstrated as such – but the DNC apparently doesn’t care about that. They will leverage Ms. McSpadden’s presence to push their anti-law enforcement agenda.
Another mother invited to speak is Mrs. Geneva Reed-Veal. Her daughter, Sandra Bland committed suicide while in a holding cell. There is absolutely zero evidence that there was anything suspicious about her suicide, but that hasn’t stopped all of the rumors and innuendo from flying. Mrs. Reed-Veal’s presence will, no doubt, help to support the DNC anti-law enforcement message.
And then we get to Mrs. Cleopatra Pendleton-Cowley – mother of Hadiya Pendleton. Hadiya’s death at the hands of gang members in Chicago just a few weeks after her attendance at President Obama’s second inauguration is truly a shame. I can’t help but wonder what message Mrs. Pendleton-Cowley will deliver. Will she speak out about the problem of gangs in our inner cities? Will she be critical of Chicago’s complete failure to prevent rapes and murders by gangs? Will she discuss a municipal system that doesn’t do a very good job of preventing crime? Somehow, I suspect she’ll deliver a message about gun control and a lack of law enforcement efficiency; a double-whammy to attack the Constitution and deliver an anti-law enforcement spin.
In case anyone has missed it, the RNC had heroes and pro-police speak. They spoke about defending the Constitution and protecting citizens’ rights along with doing all they can to keep citizens safe. The DNC appears to have a great line up of people who are critical of all law enforcement and favor all gun control. I find it ironic that these people don’t want the police around but, if they get their way on gun control, will only allow the police to legally possess firearms. Makes perfect sense, right?
Then you have the Libertarians. They are in favor of very few laws, “common sense” gun control, and an enforcement of the laws that do exist. They are in favor of holding criminals responsible for their actions, but decriminalizing things they feel the government has no place meddling in. They don’t appear to be anti-law enforcement like the Democrats but they also embrace a control on just how much enforcement the police enact. If you break the law they want you arrested and punished but they don’t see the need for so many laws in the first place. I’m kind of in favor of that outlook.
All that said… and thank you for bearing with me… if you are a fan of the DNC and voting for their selected candidate, it does kind of put you in an anti-law enforcement position. It appears difficult at best, to me, to be pro-Democrat AND pro-police. The DNC’s entire convention platform seems to be dedicated to supporting criminals in this country – whether they are illegal immigrants or outright violent criminals who have zero respect for any law.
Consider that when you go to the ballot box. As you do, please consider this: criminals are criminals 24/7 and will remain so unless they are rehabilitated. They don’t usually enter into rehabilitation willingly. They go after they’ve been arrested, tried and sentenced. If there are less or no police to fight crime, do you think those criminals will suddenly stop preying on the weak? Nope. They’ll escalate their efforts and crime will soar. Think carefully about whom you’re going to vote for and what the implications of your vote are.
The question is actually pretty simple: are you for or against law enforcement in our nation?
Stay safe, brothers and sisters.
