Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos

Across the state of NY and in all major newspapers, internet sites and blogs, the headline that two NYPD officers were killed in ambush-style shooting generated rapid responses and reactions from all; even the families of those who were wronged (Eric Garner’s) by NYPD police officer Daniel Pantaleo who put Eric Garner in a chokehold until he expired offered their words of comfort and support for the families of the two officers.

While the killing of those two Police Officers is certainly a tragedy, it is a case of a mentally challenged individual who had easy access to firearms; it is not by any stretch of the imagination a conspiracy against police officers, much less the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting by Adam Lanza was a statement against education. Both cases point to unstable individuals who should not have had access to weapons.

Despite the irrefutable details pointing to the fact that the gunman Ismaaiyl Brinsley, 28, acted alone and was suicidal prior to the shooting, – in fact, Ismaaiyl turned the gun on himself shortly thereafter and took his own life – some people, even including those in the media (the usual suspects), have continued to advance the theory that the protests against police brutality are responsible for the gunman’s action.

Translation: do not protest against police brutality because that might incite some people to become violent towards police officers. Belief in such theory suggests a dire need for some lesson in critical thinking (in thinking maybe, critical thinking may be too advanced). After all, the very basis of our society lies on the premise that we have the right to assemble, to protest against injustices and wrongdoings by government officials, unless one were to perceive police brutality as neither injustice nor wrongdoing.

Although we deplore the senseless killing of those two officers, we must abide by the highest principle in the land, justice for all, equal treatment under the law, which makes our society the envy of the world. True Justice Can Only Prevail When We All Learn To Pursue It, To Demand It Even For Those We Disagree With.

Email me at: mducheiney@gmail.com
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