mix4fix wrote:
You can see the evidence of the "protestors" in every major city.
Every single one of these riots was over a criminal. Did you research how this latest one performed a home invasion on a pregnant woman?
But, last I checked, counterfitting is a Federal Crime. Destruction of property, private/state/federal, is a crime.
Please read the First Anendment, and how it says "peacefully" assemble.
Ahem, I pointed out the First amendment at the start of my comment. I read it.
It is not the crime, it is the justice that is the problem! Someone can have a rap sheet a yard long, but passing a fake $20 is not and should not be a death penalty. In fact, most people pass a counterfeit bill are not even aware it is bad, they get it from someone else, sometimes even a bank, and are innocently and embarrassing caught. They are the victims, since it means they had money stolen from them in the change given to them in the previous transaction. Counterfitting IS a crime, and KNOWINGLY passing counterfeit bills into circulation is as well. However, who gives *some* cops the right to be judge, jury, and executioner for a petty crime. And why do they not recognize that the punishment should fit the crime, and that it is better to let a petty offense pass, than initiate an action that acts as a one-way trip to someones' death. Police in some localities started cutting back on high speed chases for minor traffic infractions, since the risk to life and property was greater than the crime itself.
And what about the definition of a "criminal". It *could* be said that nearly all of us are criminals, it is just most of us have not been caught, tried and convicted. How many of us have skirted the law on sometime? Usually, it is a public safety type law such as a traffic violation (actually a civil not criminal infraction, unless alcohol related or as result of an accident), or a truly victimless crime such as illicit possession/use of a controlled substance. Sometimes it is a financial or tax fraud crime. Other times, it is actual or implied violence that gets swept under the rug such as a fight, spousal abuse, sexual or ethnic abuse, etc. that can exist in otherwise "law abiding" communities. It really depends on enforcement, where it is lightly enforced, there is little "apparent" crime, where it is oppressively enforced, people are going to be charged with even very minor infractions as a means of harrassment and control, which then begins a cycle of petty criminality for individuals in that community. And of course the poverty and drugs that causes the desperation that drives much of criminal behavior. Look at Ferguson.
Yes, there are serious crimes of violence and property that demand strong and swift enforcement. My point is that a "criminal" can be petty, or serious, it is a matter of degree. Being a "criminal" is again a broad brush. One can be a reformed serious criminal who has served his or her time/penalty and have returned as peaceful, law abiding and productive member of society. Are they still considered a "criminal" for life. What about those who have been charged but not yet tried or even convicted, are they "criminals" without given a chance to prove their innocence (actually up to the state to prove their guilt). Finally, as far as I can tell, "criminals" are living, breathing human beings, entitled to live their natural lives, either freely as law abiders, or under restrictions imposed by society if they choose otherwise.
Being a "criminal" is NO justification for depriving the same of their life, unless absolutely necessary because their actions pose an eminent endangerment to the lives other human beings. When it is clear it is NOT the case, i.e., where law enforcement acted grossly and irresponsibly out of proportion to the situation, then it does not matter if the victim was a criminal or not. It was the enforcement action that is the problem, not the victim or any alleged criminality that they might be accused of or is on their record. The problem is the persistent history of such overreaction, and the communities have finally had enough.
Being a "criminal" doesn't matter.
David