With the Brown case and many others involving a cop shooting an unarmed person...

[Frustratedlady]

wouldn't you think the police and sheriffs' departments would be screaming for better gun control? Get the guns off the streets so a policeman/deputy can approach the person of interest without wondering if a gun is waiting for them? Wilson was probably scared, but it is obvious he overreacted in this case, be it out of fear or out of prejudice and hatred.

I can understand why law enforcement is cautious/scared of what they might be facing when stopping speeders or other violators, but it seems that they also support open carry and/or gun ownership. Am I wrong?

It seems that the NRA has supported and encouraged law enforcements' headaches by pushing gun ownership over the past 10 years or so. Gun ownership (I'm not talking about hunting or target/skeet shooting guns) has gotten out of control, so even the common citizen on the street or traveling in a vehicle is apprehensive to do or say anything that might pull the trigger from a complete stranger. It is out of control and probably too massive to ever correct the excesses in ownership. Just look at how the white supremacist numbers have grown. You can just imagine their arsenals.

I worry about our local police...we know many of them since the city isn't that large. A place like Ferguson has many other problems that most cities don't even come close to and it looks like their internal problems are self-made. Sounds like they need a complete cleaning. But, your average cop has to be scared to even go to work, let alone work the beat.

[HereSince1628]

1. This is my country sheriff speaking, elected as a democratic candidate

He blames Obama for Ferguson rioting. This is his gun recommendation to citizens

[dragonlady]

2. Let's be clear: He's not a Democrat

David Clarke has run four times now by filing as a Democrat because he knows, and has stated, that he couldn't get elected in Milwaukee County as a Republican. He gets his financial support from Republican groups and is a popular speaker at their events. In this year's primary, which was in effect the only election that counted, the right-wing hate talkers begged the Republican suburbanites to vote for Clarke on the Democratic side, and they did. The Democratic Party disavows him and actively supported the Democrat, who would have made an excellent sheriff. It makes me ill to think how much that fine officer could have done to repair all of David Clarke's damage.

[HereSince1628]

3. Not to be lost...the point is MY COUNTY SHERIFF IS PRO-VIGILANTE

not ANTI-GUN.

On the ballot, his opponent was a socialist.

It's a fair question, but outside the issue of law enforcement being anti-gun, to consider, what is wrong with a party that can't control it's trademark name?

[dragonlady]

4. That is a very good point you brought up

Certainly Clarke is wrong on guns (and most other things). I just wanted to give DUers outside of Wisconsin some background information so they'd know he's not a real Democrat and is in no way supported by the real Democrats in Milwaukee. Unfortunately, candidates can file nomination papers identifying themselves as whatever party they choose. The party has no legal means to stop that. It's also the case that the open primary, pioneered by the progressive movement a hundred years ago, now gives partisans the freedom to interfere in the other party's nomination process. In heavily Democratic Milwaukee County the local races are essentially decided in the lower-turnout primary. (In November I voted for the socialist candidate, identified on the ballot as the 'Draft Bernie Sanders" candidate, although she was never going to win.) And now we are stuck with Clarke for another four years.

[HereSince1628]

5. Yes, I voted the same way...it was the only option other than

writing in a name.

A process that doesn't allow the party to protect it's trademark is a process guaranteed to be gamed.

[Frustratedlady]

8. That is incredible...simply incredible.

I can't believe he could run as a Democrat without getting some pressure from the Democratic committee.

I'm sorry for you guys. You sure have some situations up there. I love your state and Door County, but am afraid to come back anymore. Good luck in the future. It will surely turn around once the Republicans get a bad taste in their mouths for your leadership. You've got your hands full.

[HereSince1628]

9. Maybe it's a prion disease from infected venison.

Mad Cheezehead Disease

[damnedifIknow]

6. "your average cop has to be scared to even go to work,"

Much of this could be avoided by officers not acting like arrogant dicks and the harassment of individuals. When called to a scene don't escalate the situation. Community interaction instead of acting like they are at war is another thought.

[Frustratedlady]

7. I agree. We are fortunate to have a force that works with the public.

They don't put up with the bullies (smart-mouthed cops) and they don't last long on the force if they can't get in step with the rest of the cops.

I can't even imagine Ferguson's situation. I think they have gone too far and stayed there too long to ever be able to get control of the force. It would surely help to balance out the number of AAs to whites. Good grief, just the percentage of blacks in the city should give them some hint as to the racial balance of their force.