Posted on 11/07/2023 3:27:05 AM PST by COBOL2Java
In a move typical of big city politicians who view themselves as more important than the plebeians they claim to serve, Columbus City Council members have gifted themselves armed police officers for personal protection.
These officers have not been added to the Columbus police force, but transferred from their job protecting ordinary citizens to their new job protecting individual council members.
From the Columbus Dispatch:
Columbus taxpayers will pay $315,314 per year to have three full-time city police officers assigned to a security detail to protect City Council members when they travel into the community for meetings, city events and to an unknown extent their personal outings at restaurants and performances.So while council members have been busy passing unconstitutional gun control laws in an effort to make it more difficult for lowly city residents to protect themselves, they simultaneously provide themselves with taxpayer-funded police officers for personal protection.They will join Mayor Andrew J. Ginther and Police Chief Elaine Bryant in having dedicated personal police protection. Bryant in 2021 became the first Columbus police chief to employ a security detail.
Was this in response to a specific threat? Not according to the Dispatch article:
City officials said the desire for a council security detail wasn't the result of any specific, recent threat to members.In other words, council members just feel that the world can sometimes be a dangerous place and it's wise to consider security as you go about your business. Unfortunately, ordinary folks can't afford to hire a personal security team or make taxpayers foot the bill.
If this weren't insulting enough to all of us taxpaying nobodies, City Council President Shannon Hardin has suggested that this personal security detail makes citizens safe too:
"You know, safety is our top priority, and that means for everybody," Hardin said, noting that the officers will be tasked with protecting everyone at any crowded public events attended by council members.I'm sure Columbus residents will be grateful to learn that taking officers off the street and having them accompany council members actually makes everyone safer. After all, why have them patrol crime-infested neighborhoods when they can stand next to council members as they give speeches, shop, or dine out?
Which is another way of saying, what's good for citizens, such as unburdened access to personal firearms, is dangerous. But what's good for council members, such as taxpayer-funded armed security, is a blessing for us all.
Correct if I’m wrong, but isn’t this precisely what they do in Peru and Brazil...where city management folks all have security details?
I’ll ask the question, WHAT is it that these Council Members are doing that they are in fear for their lives? WHY do they need ARMED security? WHAT are they afraid of?????
As far as I know there have been NO incidents of violence against these CHICKEN SHIT COWARD council members. Other than the entire bunch being LIBERAL DEMOCRAT SCUM, what are they doing that requires ARMED security??????
THEIR protection should be just like every citizen, when seconds count the police are MANY MINUTES AWAY!!!!!
Damn COWARDS!!!
In the year 1850, If someone took an expedition to the primitive jungles of Papua New Guinea, they would meet a cannibal tribe equivalent to the current council members of Columbus Ohio. No difference.
This is what is “governing” the big cities of America. It is only going to get worse. /spit
I guess we can surmise that the ‘defund the police’ thingy doesn’t work???
Any cop that would volunteer for this has no honor. They are street muscle for communists.
Since I can’t carry my own firearm I guess I will have to follow a city council member around.
Might be hard to accomplish considering they travel by car.
But you could have large group that goes to every public event they attend.
If they have multiple events the same day, follow them from one to the next.
You could carry signs that say:
Thank you councilman for providing us with police protection
Of course they would be to stupid to get the sarcasm.
“I think a good gift for the president would be a chocolate revolver. And since he’s so busy, you’d probably have to run up to him and hand it to him.”
- Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy
But then the Clymers could say “see why I need police protection. I have people following me everywhere.”
Do you think the president would eat a chocolate bullet?
“WHAT is it that these Council Members are doing that they are in fear for their lives? “
Raising the taxes and destroying the way of life.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.