Student In Coma After Being Tased

[Swede Atlanta]

2. While all the facts of this incident are not known it seems like we have

gradually devolved into a police state.

Law enforcement agencies are outfitting themselves with the instruments of war. So armed they are engaging in egregious behavior that not only violates their oath to "serve and protect the people" but is in many cases outright illegal.

But what happens? Incidents are investigated by "internal affairs" that more often than not just sweep it under the proverbial rug and nothing happens. They circle the wagons to protect not only one of their own but their own power and position. They have little interest in serving and protecting anyone other than their own self-interest.

I'm not saying this is universal. There are indeed many good law enforcement officers. An uncle of mine that was a beat copy in a large midwestern city for nearly 40 years shared his fears of what is happening to the law enforcement community with me last summer. He said he sees a systemic breakdown in law enforcement culture and discipline - something he never saw in all his years on the force. He said he has had the conversation with countless other retired police and sheriffs from around the country and they agree.

From armored personnel carriers to semi-automatic rifles to power water and sound canon to swat tactical squads the average American city's police force has more firepower than the military in some small countries.

Has this made us any safer? I don't believe the drop in violent crime overall is related to these developments. In fact I am as afraid or more afraid of running afoul of the police than I am a burglar, robber or kidnapper. The police believe they are right until they are brought to heel by indisputable evidence and that emerges, unfortunately, often too late.