fact that he survived and was taken into custody without incident was almost surreal. Yet following that incident, a few days later, I watched (again, via media) in disbelief as police officers attacked men, women and children. Then I learned that they were angry at the Anaheim, California police for killing two Latinos in two separate occasions.
My first concern was, how can we change laws so that people cannot legally buy assault weapons with automatic and semi-automatic capabilities with magazines or clips that hold large quantities of ammunition? Congress hardly reacted. This was also the case last year when Rep. Gifford was shot in Tucson, Arizona, along with innocent bystanders. Congress would not even take a stand when one of their own was a victim of a violent crime when an assault weapon was used. Assault weapons have greater killing capacity because they shoot more bullets.
Congresspersons are unwilling to challenge the National Rifle Association (NRA) and gun lobby in general. The truth is, guns are big business. It should not go unnoticed that the NRA is conveniently silent about the Aurora massacre and is waiting for the affects of the shooting to die down.
My next concern is that when police are involved in killing people without justifiable cause, especially people of color, they are presumed innocent just because they are police officers. In this context it is presumed that if you call a Latino a possible gang member or may have gang connections that they deserve to die. One the men was unarmed. The other may have been unarmed, but was not armed when he was shot. In other words he may have had access to a weapon, but did not have a weapon in his hands when he was shot.
Furthermore, when people exercised their right to freedom of speech and assembly by peacefully protesting police murderers, they were assaulted. This is a violation of their rights. Once again, there is a presumption that they are in the wrong and are defending criminals. This represents a double-standard of justice.
Another concern I have is that here in this nation, where everyone is presumably guided by the same democratic principles, there were two opposite responses to the treatment of suspects. In one case where the murderer brazenly killed and wounded people, while people witnessed him committing ...