Posted on 07/06/2013 6:18:09 PM PDT by Q-ManRN
In Part II, I described a gun battle that took place in a vacant lot just up the road from my home. Someone was killed in that battle. The police took almost 40 minutes to respond and their response was less than reassuring.
I had grown up equating police with comic book superheroes that maintained law and order and guarded me against criminals. Following the gun battle, I was troubled by daunting questions like:
• Why did it take the police so long to respond?
• What would I have done if the gun battle had spilled over onto our property or into our home?
• How could the police miss a dead body when they searched the lot?
• Could the police be held responsible for failing to keeping us safe?
This last question was pivotal in my journey to becoming a gun owner. I found an online article written by D.C. attorney Richard W. Smith entitled “Just Dial 911? The Myth of Police Protection”. If you have not read this excellent article, please do so at http://www.fee.org/the_freeman/detail/just-dial-911-the-myth-of-police-protection/#ixzz2PhOG6EDy. Give it to family and friends who think that 9-1-1 will save them. This article made it clear that lawsuits against police for failure to respond to 9-1-1 calls had been struck down all around the country. I was dumbfounded! I asked, “How can the police not be held responsible for failing to respond to a call for help?”
The answer turned my liberal beliefs on their head- the courts held that I was responsible for my own personal safety and the safety of my family. The police were legally responsible to maintain order in a general sense in society, but not in the case of an individual.
This meant that the law expected me to protect myself first and that I had no right to expect the police to protect me individually or my family from criminals! I am not a big guy and I have a disability; so, how would I protect myself without the police? More on the police in Part IV.
PART II of X http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3039789/posts
Every man is an island, contrary to popular belief.
No, the police cannot be held responsible for not protecting you. As you have found out, when seconds count, the police may be many minutes away.
Kind of interesting to see the other side of the coin so to speak. I was raised in the burbs with guns in the house. I was taught gun safety and how to shoot as soon as I could safely hold a rifle. Thanks for the story and thanks also for speeding up the release of your posts.
Mark for later reading.....
Please see part III in my 10 part series “Confessions of an Ex-Liberal Gun Owner”.
Thank you for your support.
Please see part III in my 10 part series “Confessions of an Ex-Liberal Gun Owner”.
Thank you for your support.
That was quite an eye opener for me!
I “aim” to please!
Also the police don’t want to respond to fast to an in-progress gunfight because they might get in the way of the bullets. It is better to wait until it is over then they can do their duty to get the bodies removed and all properly reported.
We each have our own journey in life. Nevertheless, it is good to have company along the way.
Yep, the police have families to go home to.
I have to admit that I would like to avoid getting in the way of the bullets too! :)
Please see part III which was just posted.
Rioters are reluctant to enter armed residential neighborhoods. They know police will not shoot to protect a store, but homeowners WILL shoot to protect home and family.
Back in 1968 I was still living in the Chicago area when major riots occurred following the assassination of MLK. One of the leaders of the riots was interviewed on a local TV station and asked why he and his didn’t carry their rioting into the suburbs. His reply: “Because we’d have been shot and killed instantly.”
Thanks, I haven't read anything but saw that and thought I'd add my 14 pounds of lead here. I keep 6 rounds of 00 buck in one 870 and 6 rounds of deer slugs in another duck configured 870. 75 rounds of 9 mm by my side on a quiet sunday watching June Lockhart Lassie on my favorite TV. Grandpa was a heluva nice man. Love that phone with the foot stool.
PART I of X http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3039507/posts
PART II of X http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3039789/posts
PART III of X http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3039894/posts
You’re faster!
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