Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveM55
Ok so a cop sees a guy walking down a street and carrying a wooden axe handle with nails sticking out of it. The cop doesn't know if that's a POW or not. Two different reactions here.
1) So bearing on the side of caution, the cop calls for backup, disarms him at gun point, cuffs him, and takes him into custody for investigation. Come to find out it was just a realistic movie prop he bought for a Halloween costume.
2) Because he's not sure of the law, the cop doesn't take any action and he ends up critically hurting someone later.
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3) erring on the side he is supposed to err on in america...namely that of liberty and not violating people's rights...he follows/watches the guy for awhile and sees what happens. maybe even tries to initiate a conversation out of nailed wooden axe handle range.
living in a free country does involve some risk. because other people in the country are also free, they are able to do bad things to you. thus, you have to take it upon yourself to be able to defend yourself--the state may not be there to protect you. that is the price you pay for not having to worry about the police dragging you away for no reason. personally, i'll gladly pay that price.
personally, i will never place being protected by the government above ensuring the government does not interfere with personal rights and liberty. i will never condone a government agent detaining someone just because he "isn't sure". and, as far as i can tell, that is what america is supposed to be all about--or at least it thought it was.
different philosophies, i guess...