The problem that occurred in Ferguson has brought up issues regarding the Police State mentality which arose from 9-11 and all the paranoia since then both rightly justified and overblown. Now, there appears to be a push back against police just being too much like soldiers with sub machine guns, shotguns, and armored vehicles. The people are feeling too threatened and possibly rightly so because this has become overblown since 9-11.
This is the natural pendulum effect of this kind of thing that tends to go in around 20 year cycles. When people are afraid they want the police better armed. When they feel less afraid they don't want their policemen to cut them in two with a machine gun blast from a .50 caliber machine gun like a friend of my mother's was named Bruce in World War II in the Battle of the Bulge.
So, Police and firemen armed to the teeth by the government in fear of people like Osama Bin Laden might change now.
Another thing that might also change is that police (and possibly firemen) might be required to have digitally filmed and sound of any altercations they are involved in like most front line soldiers do now too in our military forces on the front lines.
So, this is all morphing worldwide into something that is questioning police state tactics in all developed countries of the world now and goes beyond race.
President Obama is creating executive orders for police nationwide to have digital cameras on them during incidents today so both perpetrators and police will have better relationships with the public (hopefully).
Though one wonders about whether some police might say, "Oh. I forgot to turn on the camera." possible. And if something scary is going on not surprising either under the circumstances. Because most strange situations that officers deal with are completely surprising and unexpected and in the moment.
However, being trained to turn the camera on might save a lot of lives in the end both police and perpetrators as well as innocent people and bystanders.
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