"THE TRUTH"

BY: FOREST LEWIS, PH.D.

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It has happened again in New York City. Police there this weekend, used the bodies of  black men as target practice.

Fifty rounds were fired at a man's car. When the smoke cleared, one individual was dead and two others were wounded.

I have been close to a number of police officers over the years. This includes State Police in New York State. These men are some of the bravest people I have known. They have my unswerving respect and admiration.

However, there is just "No" justification for firing 50 rounds at a car. None of the occupants possesed a firearm.

Police in New York City are still trying to piece together what happened. So far, this is what we know. Twenty-three year old Sean Bell and a group of friends were at a strip club celebrating his pending nuptials which were due to take place on Sunday.

Bell is alleged to have gotten in to an argument with an undercover policeman. Someone in his group is alleged to have mentioned a gun. When Bell and his entourage headed for their vehicle, they were followed by an undercover officer.

Police Commissioner, Raymond Kelly stated that Bell, the driver of the car, struck an officer with his vehicle--and that he next rammed his car in to an unmarked NYPD minivan. At that point, all hell broke loose. Cops reportedly started to pour rounds in to the Bell vehicle. Of the 50 shots fired, 21 of the bullets hit Bell's auto. The remaining 29 bullets hit nearby homes, and broke windows at a train station. No one else was shot, save, Bell and his two friends.

Kelly said his officers thought one of the men had a gun--however, "No Weapon Was Found".  And Kelly said it was unclear if the officers identified themselves as policemen.

Kelly said that one 12-year police veteran fired his weapon "31" times. He emptied two full magazines.

Kelly reports that the police department's policy on shooting at moving vehicles states:

"POLICE OFFICERS SHALL NOT DISCHARGE THEIR FIREARMS AT OR FROM A MOVING VEHICLE UNLESS DEADLY FORCE IS BEING USED AGAINST THE POLICE OFFICERS OR ANOTHER PERSON PRESENT, BY MEANS OTHER THAN A MOVING VEHICLE"

It is easy to play Monday morning quarterback in situation like this. However, as a combat veteran; and a person who has the legal right to carry a concealed weapon, I do not see the justification for firing 50 rounds.

What were those officers thinking about? Didn't they realize that no one was returning their fire?Who was in charge of these men?

Those of us who have the power of life and death in our hands, must be judicious in our dealings with people. There are people out there who can "Push Our Buttons". All the more to maintain a cool head.

Once that bullet leaves the gun--"YOU CAN NOT CALL IT BACK".

The police are in place to protect our communities--not us as individuals. We need their expertise in controlling the vermin that live among us today. However, we do not need "Cowboys, Posing As Police".

Being in law enforcement is a stressful job. Police are faced with so many restraints. There are no restraints on thugs.

This is why we need officers who are "Mentally Stable".  Not trigger happy "Cowboys". There is a silver lining in this tragic shooting. The shooters could have killed more than just one person. Remember, their errant shots hit homes and windows at a train station.

In the meantime, the officers have been placed on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation.

Al Sharpton who lives for moments like this, lead a march in New York City on Sunday. And the police officers group known as "100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who care", said they would issue a vote of no confidence in Police Commissioner, Raymond Kelly.

This is not the first time that New York City Police have gone on a wild shooting spree. In 1999, Amadou Diallo, an unarmed West African immigrant was shot 19 times while standing in the entry of his apartment building. Police said they thought Diallo was "reaching for a gun, when the shooting started". They were acquitted on all charges.

In 2003, Ousmane Zongo, age 43, was shot during a police raid on a warehouse where the West African repaired musical instruments. Zongo was shot four times--twice in the back.

Like I said, it is not easy being a cop. My advice to the men and women who wear the blue, you need to leave the force, when you bring your racial prejudice to work. You need to give up your badge when you hide behind your shield to physically and mentally hurt people that you have "SWORN TO PROTECT".

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg who has been running around the country lately trying to deprive citizens of their constitutional right to bear arms, calls the shooting, "Unacceptable and Inexplicable".

Bloomberg is good at making the "Evil Gun" the bad object, especially when it doesn't involve his police department. Like most anti-gun zealots, he fails to look at causation for the use of a firearm. All that he wants is for the "Evil Gun" to do is vanish.  If not, he will sue gun manufacturers.

Has anyone heard Bloomberg utter such nonsense in the wake of the shooting by New York's Finest? I didn't think so. This R.I.N.O. (REPUBLICAN IN NAME ONLY) is just your typical run of the mill political hypocrite. Guns are fine as long as they are in the hands of the police and Bloomberg's bodyguards. That is hypocrisy at its lowest level.

Bloomberg says he doesn't know if race played a factor in the shooting. How does he know that? How does he know what was in the hearts of the men who fired on that vehicle like maniacs?

Bloomberg and everyone else need to take a step back, and exhale--SLOWLY.

The people who have sworn to protect our society need to hear loud and clearly that, "Vigalante Justice" by "Anyone" is unacceptable.