Sheriff Grady Judd of Polk County, Florida, has the right idea about demonstrators versus rioters.
Sheriff Judd said ... he does not believe Polk County residents were the ones creating problems.
He said there’s a difference between a protester and a rioter and rioting will not be accepted.
Judd said they received information that law enforcement would come under attack at 8 p.m. near Interstate 4 and Highway 27, but the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol were ready.
Judd said the Highway Patrol did a “marvelous job” helping stop the few who showed up for that alleged effort.
“We are going to hunt you down and lock you up if you engage in any criminal conduct,” Judd said.
Judd said there were rumblings on social media that rioters planned to bring violence into the neighborhoods of Polk County.
“I would tell them, if you value your life, they probably shouldn’t do that in Polk County. Because the people of Polk County like guns, they have guns, I encourage them to own guns, and they’re going to be in their homes tonight with their guns loaded, and if you try to break into their homes to steal, to set fires, I’m highly recommending they blow you back out of the house with their guns. So, leave the community alone,” Judd said.
The sheriff encouraged anyone wishing to express their First Amendment right to free speech to keep the focus on George Floyd, who Judd said was a victim who should be honored.
"All of that ugliness has taken away from what we're united about," the sheriff said. "We're united about the conduct that you saw with George [Floyd]."
There's more at the link.
I couldn't agree more. As I said right at the start of this rioting, I'll gladly join any street protest or demonstration against the way George Floyd met his death. It cries out for judicial action, and it seems that action is being taken. However, that's no excuse for rioting - particularly pre-planned, organized riots such as those we're currently seeing.
A riot is no longer a protest: it's thuggery, looting, mayhem, anarchy and chaos. Peaceful protests and demonstrations are lawful, and as such are protected by the First Amendment. Riots are criminal, and are therefore prime candidates to be dealt with using the provisions of the Second Amendment. Any violence offered by rioters to citizens like you and I needs to be resisted to the utmost, right from the start.
As the late, great Jeff Cooper once said:
One bleeding-heart type asked me in a recent interview if I did not agree that 'violence begets violence.' I told him that it is my earnest endeavor to see that it does. I would like very much to ensure - and in some cases I have - that any man who offers violence to his fellow citizen begets a whole lot more in return than he can enjoy.
Well said, sir! It looks like Sheriff Judd got the message.
Peter
8 comments:
Be nice if you holier than thou types would come out in support for whites murdered by blacks - which is a far, far bigger problem.
@Glen Filthie: How about we come out against all murders, of anybody by anybody, regardless of race, creed or color? That's where I stand, anyway.
@Glen, and here in greater Chicago .. No One is talking about the black-on-black violence that's a daily chronic problem. It's why Chicago Violent Crime is at a 5-year high, and that was before all the riotous nonsense started.
Peter, spot on the money.
Unfortunately for truth, the reporting and discussions here in the UK would have you believe that the only people being murdered in the USA are black people.
The highlight of my day has been a comment that the USA has 'a regime that is systemically racist'. This was on a forum dedicated to holidays at Disney! Ironic or what?
The sheriff should not have warned the miscreants away: if instead they were exterminated by the local citizenry, it would be more salutary for the country. And unless they first come out in mourning protests for all the blacks killed each and every week by other blacks in metropolitan areas, any protests about other blacks killed is a very substantial cumulation of male bovine fecal material.
That you don't see a difference between someone who is sworn to uphold the law and represents the law wrongfully killing someone and some random schmuck wrongfully killing someone is a "you" problem.
I have friends nearby that say while Sheriff Judd talks a good talk, he fails to walk the walk when it comes to backing law abiding gun owners - he's frequently seen as the first one to throw them under the bus.
Re: What Glen said. We did not see rioting, looting, arson, assault and murder after the death of Justine Damond by an insane cop. Now, if Noor was fired and arrested within 48 hours of the shoot, guess what would have happened? Rioting, looting, arson, assault and murder.
As to 'Poor' George Floyd. Um. He was resisting enough it too 4 cops to get him down on the ground. He was resisting for a felony. He had a long rap sheet of violence towards cops and others. All of this we learned way before the first fires started, the first set of shoes walked out of a store, the first TV was 'liberated.' And even more un-damning evidence has come out since then, as it always does. By the end of 48 hours, 'Poor' George looked more like the real Rodney King (who was guilty of resisting violently which is why the LA cops beat the dogsnot out of him) or any of the other 'peaceful young men just trying to be good' that have all been thugs, rapists, violent offenders, drug dealers and so forth.
Was there police malfeasance? Maybe. But instead of everyone sitting on their hands and waiting, we have riots. This reminds me of the crap that happened in Philadelphia over some jerk slabbing himself in police custody. How did all 6 trials go? How many cops were found guilty of evil acts after Philadelphia burned? Um... yeah, the State finally dropped charges on the last two because the previous 4 trials ended up throwing great amounts of egg into the prosecutor's face.
Same here. George Floyd would not have had to be restrained via knee to neck (a viable technique taught by the MPD and in their official handbook) if he had not resisted. If he, once contacted by police, had just stopped. But... noooooo... He had to, with a bad heart, fight 4 cops.
Quit defending the indefensible. It makes you look bad. Jeez, I've seen career war criminals act more sensibly when arrested.
Oh, good on the Sheriff. The sheriff of Brevard County is also one of the good guys, just so you know.
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