Cops Gone Wild

Once again we have an example of Cops doing bad things. Yesterday a couple with a newborn baby attempted to leave the hospital with their baby. Apparently this couple were having some dispute with the hospital staff, got fed up, and decided to take their baby out of the hospital. However, because the infant had a security bracklet on its wrist the elevator would not operate. The couple were then confronted by the police and security guard. What the police were doing there seems to be in question, as its been reported that they did know the couple were the parents of the baby. At some point the police decided to shoot the father with a taser. The man fell to the ground, while still holding the baby. The baby hit his head on the floor, but is being reported as fine. The father disagrees and says his baby is not acting the same.

This is yet another example of how police throughout the country are showing poor judgement. It is common knowledge that police are not allowed to fire thier guns if there is a chance that innocent people could be hit in the cross fire. It does not take a genuis to realize that this same concept applies to tasers as well; especially given that they are not that accurate. If the taser had hit the baby the electric shock would have almost certainly killed the infant. If the taser missed the infant and hit the fahter (as it did) than what would happen is exactly what did happen. The father fell, the baby with him, and struck its head on the floor. I have not been to a police academy recently, but both scenarios are ones that could have been anticipated by the officers. Therefore, there was no reason to take the risk. They acted with reckless disregard for the safety of the baby.

As usual the police chief and other superiors of the officers are saying they did nothing wrong. I wonder...when will police, security guards, and other law enforcement officers be held to the same standard that we as citizens are held.

I hope the infant is really okay, and I hope the parents sues the hell out of the hospital.

Comments

[Brenda]

Mr. Ashanti,

I enjoyed reading your article very much. Politically, I am an independant - no major party embraces a platform that encompasses even a majority of my beliefs about the role of government. Maybe libertarians come close, but they have issues as well...

While I do support Senator Obama, I am also bothered by ALL of the democratic candidates grand plans to bankrupt the country. However, it cannot be overlooked that George W. Bush has spent more money and increased the national debt by a percent that rivals or exceeds most democractic presidents of the last 25 years. Whether the spending increases go to social programs or weapons programs or oil subsidies are a matter for debate, but the bottom line is THE SPENDING IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

I am a divorced single mother of three, I live in Atlanta, I am a professional civil engineer. My annual income exceeds $100,000 and I am heavily taxed. Even with three dependants and no income outside of my annual salary, I certainly pay more than my share of taxes. I work for a small business, and from time to time, I do some work thru my own small business from home. I too, tire of people getting earned income credit checks who do not even pay taxes when the final computation is made.

The reason I do not support MOST GOP candidates is their obsession with social conservatism. Overall, I can embrace fiscal conservatism, to some extent - though I do not beleive in the trickle down economics of Reagan. I do nto vote GOP because I do not believe it is the governments role to take power over women's reproductive rights. I do not want my government telling who or how to worship, and I strongly believe in the separation of church and state. I do not believe that we should trade our civil liberties to "feel" safer. I believe in individual rights. I also do not happen to believe that terrorism is the single largest threat to my life in America. Lastly, I do not have the contempt for the poor that seems to be a requirement of conversatives.

I am for personal growth, personal opportunity and giving those who were not born in productive environments a decent chance. There will always be those who try to survive at the hand of government handouts, whether that equates to oil subsidies or welfare checks. I am for neither.

So you see, in my eyes, the conservatives and liberals both seek to draw from the seemingly bottomless pit they believe is the federal treasury. Each just has their own special little rationale for doing so. At the end of the day, the money will be spent by someone.

My vote goes to Obama, because if my money is going to be taken, I would rather it go to support the poor, give college students aid, and atleast address health care. I am no supporter of universal health care by any means, and I do not think it will work, and possibly ever pass congress, which is my hope. We have had health care in the hands of private corporations and look where the greed of those companies have gotten us. $10 aspirin, kidney transplant refusals, pre-existing condition waivers.... death.

I am for free markets, but not when undue lobbyist influence in Washington comes at the expense of hard working Americans. Greed will always be the threat to true capitalism, and instead of the government doing its job to police that greed, it has become a willing agent of it.

For this reason, I support Barack Obama. I do not believe that ANY of the candidates who accept PAC and lobbyist money can act in the best interest of the people. How is it that the pharmaceutical and insurance lobbyists who funded your campaign do not come knocking at the Oval office door to ensure you are crafting legislation that suits their needs?

Mitt Romney, for what its worth, could be a great business man. Unfortunately for the disaster that has become Washington D.C. we need more than a good business man. We need a person of leadership, a person with character and integrity. A person who has not removed themselves from the daily life of the average American. I do not believe Mitt Romney is that leader, just because he has made profitable business ventures.

Love your writing - keep up the good work!