How many more innocent Americans exercising their Constitutional rights are going to have to die for the United States Supreme Court to realize that giving unfettered discretion to law enforcement is really a stupid idea?
In this ever increasing militarization
and headiness of law enforcement in America, the need for more
control over police is necessary, not less. Point in fact: The
killing of 26 year old, Andrew Scott, of Florida. At approximately
1:30 a.m., Florida police looking for an attempted murder suspect,
came upon Mr. Scott's building where the suspects motorcycle was
parked. Police quietly approached Mr. Scott's front door, and
without announcing who they were, knocked on the door. Mr. Scott
answered, holding a gun for protection. Without a word being spoken,
the Police opened fire on Mr. Scott, killing him instantly. Police
say seeing the gun prompted the killing. The problem is, Andrew
Scott was not the man they were looking for. The suspect was found
in a building next door, and captured without incident. A neighbor
interviewed after the shooting called it a "sad mistake".
A sad mistake, indeed. I don't call
police killing an innocent man, a sad mistake. I call it murder.
And this murder, like many others, should be laid at the feet of
those directly responsible, not just the police who pulled the
triggers, but also, the United States Supreme Court. These police
have to be reined in, but the Court, in its complicity, does just the
opposite. The era of bright line rules seems to be history, with
unfettered discretion given to police to extract "justice",
like the Stasi of East Germany. But it is time for more than just
lip-service to this increasingly disturbing trend in law enforcement.
It's time for the Court to take action, and protect the rights of
American citizens. This wholesale allowance of constitutional
debauchery and condoning the killing of innocents has got to stop.
Bright line rules for police conduct
was ordered for a reason. The Justices of yore, understood the
problem; understood the Constitution and the Bill of Rights;
understood that with more discretion, there is more opportunity for
police abuse. These Justices zealously protected the American
public, and the rights of the people from encroachment. And now we
see the result when police have no rules to live by, another death of
an innocent American.
