Best Western

Author’s Note:  Back in the days of my wayward youth, I had occasion to interact with the police more often than I do today.  I was generally at fault and they always dealt with me professionally and used no more force than was necessary to take me away.  The youth of today are not so fortunate to find themselves in such a forgiving environment.  The war has been brought home. 

 

One of my favorite Western’s that I watched when I was a kid was Gunsmoke.  I liked the way Marshal Dillon did his job. 

If someone new walked into the bar looking suspicious, Matt would ask him questions to get a feel for why he was there and what he was about.  He was looking for violence in the person so he would know how to deal with him.  If he didn’t pick up on something bad about them he would leave them alone.  This shows discretion and going with your gut. 

The gamblers were often more difficult than the outlaws to size up as they were clever and could hide their true intentions better.  Matt would often know what he was dealing with before he could prove it-- and he would let them know it.  But he wouldn’t arrest them merely upon suspicion. 

Men carried guns on their hips back then.  When living in such a society, those who enforce the law are not going to sweat the small stuff.  There weren’t so many laws back then.  Just the ones about not aggressing upon or otherwise violating others.  And, as with the real-life Wyatt Earp, Matt Dillon stood between the criminal and the townspeople and protected them. 

The modern-day law enforcement officer bears little resemblance to what Marshal Dillon represented back then.  Their behavior is more akin to the outlaw of old who  enforce the laws made by the gamblers (of our money). 

The cops where I live have been handing out parking tickets for those not having Snow Park permits on their cars.  Snow parks are now pretty much anywhere that has been plowed out and has a place to park.  And you’re not going to be able to get one of these permits unless you buy it in town. 

In the Summer, they patrol the lakes in the region in boats (and the trucks that pull them) that are much nicer than those of their victims taken from the loot of their plunder of the public.  These watercraft enthusiasts are no longer even free enough to drink a cold beer while kicking back in their boats on a hot summer day without being hassled by the Screws.   Even the prisoners on the Shawshank Redemption had it better than that. 

And watch out for those invasive barnacles on the bottom of your boat.  This is the sort of justification used for taking more money out of their pockets for a boat inspection.

These lakes and snow parks are well out of civilization in the wilderness areas.  Who’s minding the store in town when the cops are protecting us from these “criminals” who or either too poor to pay or would rather risk a fine than contribute to this extortion racket?  

It also appears that the manufactured poverty by those handing down the orders has become too much of an enticement for police departments across the country not to further bleed their community dry through the implementation of such things as speed traps, sobriety check-points, SWAT team drug raids and civil asset forfeiture. 

In addition, it now requires little police training for soldiers transitioning back from the wars overseas.  This, along with IDF training, pretty much sums up how they see us. 

I never saw Marshal Dillon put other lives in danger when it was unnecessary, even the outlaws.  Why kick in a door when you can wait for the criminal to come out and pick them up at your leisure while providing less risk of harming others?  Can you say Waco?

Personally, I would be feeling much better about whatever may soon be in store for us if I could trust the police to do what their primary job should be and PROTECT US FROM VIOLENT CRIMINALS!  But since they are taking their orders from the worst of the criminals themselves, I’m not seeing how this is going to end very well. 

The enemy of humanity has always been the bully and predator.  Whether they be terrorists or those in uniform, it doesn’t matter.  Marshal Dillon was the sworn enemy of these types.  It’s time for those in uniform to decide which side of natural law they are going to be on. 

Or perhaps most have already shown us through their behavior.