The Bravery of the Thin Blue Line 10: The Lady and The Lady and the Tramps

There are two tragic December stories of female Police Officers exchanging gunfire with criminals.

In Bradely, Illinois two Officers responded to a call of dogs left in a vehicle at a motel. Locating the dogs owners they learned one of the suspects had a warrant.  So the two black suspects attacked the two Officers.  Initial court proceeding provide a horrific account of the death of Bradley Police Officer Sergeant Marlene Rittmanic, which alleges having already been shot and pleading for her life the murderers, wrestled her duty weapon away from her and executed Rittmanic.  It seems this vile, remorseless murder was all captured on her body camera.

The other exchange in and around Denver, Colorado involved a deranged tattooed White Incel killer traveling to several tattoo parlours, a residence, a Hyatt, and a restaurant shooting multiple people, killing 5, before finally being bravely confronted and killed by Lakewood Colorado Officer Ashley Ferris.

These two Officers both should be commended for their bravery and dedication to service; though one story ends in personal tragedy and one in "triumph".  It also highlights how the bad and criminal actions of other Officers have diminished us all and cast a shadow over every noble and dedicated Police Officer. 

But, has the proliferation of easily obtainable firearms made Americans and police work "safer"?

Guns don't save lives.  A gun has never sutured a wound, applied a tourniquet, performed surgery to stitch up and repair damaged tissue and organs.  Guns have one purpose: To Kill.

We've allowed insane gun nuts to craft a whole lexicon of false euphemisms surrounding firearms turning guns into a panacea which will usher in the Utopia.  Strip away all the NRA talking points and imaginary intruder scenarios and understand the metaphysical nature of a gun; Guns are tools for killing

Now, killing can sometimes be justified.  Defensive Gun Uses (DGUs) do occur.  Though, they are far rarer than the gun lobby would have you believe as they've crafted an outright fantasy about millions of incidents a year.  In the Real World, guns are most often used to murder spouses and for suicide.  Guns are overwhelmingly used to kill and wound innocent people.

This used to be known.  The NRA of the 1950's and Police and Sheriff Departments throughout the 20th century used to know the absolute truisms: More Guns = More Gun Deaths : Gun Take Lives.

But, the damage is done.  The United States is flooded with firearms and the Gun Industry is working on ensuring the US Government and American people can't do anything about it.  Moms Demand Action and other groups are fighting to reign in the political machinations of the murderous immoral NRA.  Police Departments and Sheriff's across the Nation would be wise to reevaluate their support of policy of unrestricted gun violence championed by the immoral GOP, the fanatical cadre of antisocial gun nuts, and amoral gun salesman.