Give Bullet-Proof Vests To Every Black Youth In The City - And Response (7)

  • Wednesday, July 27, 2016

I heard a report that the Chattanooga police were being given better bullet-proof vests, and I had an idea. What if Chattanooga became known for something besides electric buses and fast internet service? What if Chattanooga provided a bullet-proof vest to every young black man and black youth in the city limits?
 
I can hear the scoffing as I write, but think about it. Guns and poverty and street gangs are never going away. Trigger happy cops aren’t going away. But cops have two things: weapons and bullet-proof vests. Even Donald Trump doesn’t go out anymore without wearing a vest. For certain endangered people, a vest is necessary, only, the most vulnerable to attack, the black young men, are not afforded a vest like the police and politicians, and why shouldn’t they be? They’re shot and killed far more than anyone in America. 

Someone might say: “Oh, those young men would never wear one of those heavy, uncomfortable things,” but are you sure? It might give their self-esteem a lift. Not only will it teach them discipline, and not only would it teach them to take some personal responsibility for their own safety, but it will empower them in a way that they don’t feel now. They feel helpless, and that’s what Black Lives Matter comes from: a feeling of helpless anger that bullets are entering into black bodies at an astounding rate. And too, to be given a vest by the city would send the message that society does, in fact, care about them and their well-being. 

Someone might say: “It would just empower the criminals,” but remember that the police should not be acting as executioners anyway. Even a criminal deserves a fair trial and a chance to be heard and a chance to live. If a bullet-proof vest could save them from murderous cops, then so much the better. The police shouldn’t have the right to kill anyone before they’ve been tried and found guilty.   And anyway, if you just have to bring someone down, say, a home invader, just shoot them in the head.  Vests don't stop all bullets, you know. 

How to pay for it: I saw a news report about Tennessee on YouTube, and it was saying that Tennessee state troopers sit on Highway 40 South to pull over suspected drug dealers and confiscate tens of thousands of dollars a pop. Then, if the drug dealer is convicted or never sues to get his money back, the police departments give it to themselves. Well, that’s theft; I don’t care who you are. But, if the police are going to steal money, why not take all of that illegal drug money and give it back to society by buying bullet-proof vests for inner city black youth? 

The police will be very afraid of the notion of giving bullet-proof vests to black youth, because the police want all the power, and they want citizens to be at their mercy. But I think that if citizens can carry guns like the police, then citizens should have the same access to body protection as the police. There is nothing wrong with protecting the bodies of black youth from violence, wherever that violence may originate.  

So, Chattanooga could be the first city to implement such a trial, maybe a two year trial, and make headlines for at least trying to come up with solutions to a national epidemic.  Or, you know, it may not work at all, but nothing has been working so far.  

Pam Austen
Signal Mountain 

* * *

Dear Pam Austen, 

The oxygen level must be low on the mountain. Seriously, you have got to be running on carbon monoxide to come up with this fix to guns and poverty and street gangs. 

And Chattanooga does not have a police force that regularly executes people. Why don't you try a traffic stop and walk up to a car with dark windows and watch your carbon monoxide induced adrenaline level rise. And if a police officer has to defend him/herself against some moron with a vest on, the wild west will return. 

Education is the only cure for ignorance because this is a stupid solution. And don't think that this is a cure for the "Black Lives Matter" crowd that are racist and thrive on violence. This country has been and will always have racism both from whites and blacks; bullet proof vests will never change that. 

Jack Varner
Chattanooga

* * * 

This is literally, not figuratively, the dumbest thing I have ever read.  That is really saying a lot considering it is election season and all the liberal wingnuts are spouting nonsense every day.

Mark Maynor 

* * *

While thinking outside the box can be a great way to find solutions to complex problems, looks like Ms. Austin may have run over the box getting out of the driveway? 

I suggest that she first notice that the majority of shootings in Chattanooga are black on black and often gang related.  I'll keep the blue light over my garage burning for now. 

I blame the media and some high level leaders for bringing judgement in cases before all the facts are known and presented.  After due legal process, most all of the cases blown up in the media have not resulted in convictions against police officers. 

Ted Ladd
Ooltewah

* * *

Why in the world should we protect thugs from each other?  I know what will help...it's very easy....make daddy pay for the baby....raise baby in church and act like you have some kind of brain.

If you have a goal to live in a cell with 11 other thugs, be my guest.  Giving a vest away will make these people think they can be shot at by the police and walk away.

Woman, I have figured you out in less than 30 seconds....you need Jesus and meds.

Tony Dankowski

* * *

I have to agree with Mark, this may be the dumbest thing I have ever read and I don’t just mean on the Chattanoogan.  Sadly I was waiting for the punch line when reading through the post thinking this has got to be a joke and that’s when I reached the end and thought to myself, this person is actually serious.

I could just rip the entire post apart piece by piece but let’s go another route.   Since you so strongly believe it’s the police officers causing all the violence and not the armed criminals and drug dealers roaming the streets, let’s just try a different scenario that won’t require any bullet proof vests at all for inner city youths, criminals or law enforcement. 

So Pam, while we’re living in fantasyland and before we go giving the inner city youths bullet proof vests from illegally confiscated drug money (Your words not mine), let’s just nicely ask all the inner city gang members and drug dealers to turn over their guns to authorities so they won’t need the modified bullet proof vests.  We can then use all that illegally confiscated drug money to fund a city wide picnic all the while holding hands and singing "Kumbaya".  After that we can ask all the drug dealers to turn in their crack and meth to authorities and then we will no longer have to worry about all that illegally confiscated drug money that you are so upset about.  The drug dealers would also then have the free time to go get 9-5 jobs and pay taxes into the system and we could then use those tax dollars to fix up the inner city streets.  

Pam, I think my scenario would be a lot more productive for society as a whole but sadly is as asinine as yours.   

Lastly and now on a serious note, a very sincere thank you to the local law enforcement for their hard work and diligence on doing their best to keep our streets safe.  Tax dollars very well spent in my eyes to help ensure that officers make it home safely to their families.

Chris Morgan

Chattanooga

* * *

To my recollection, the last thug wearing a vest shot and murdered one Chattanooga's finest. 
The sergeant was stopping a business robbery. Now you want to give them all vests. 
 
News flash. The only people I see that are "trigger happy" are terrorists and African Americans shooting other African Americans.
 
I know you're upset that Bernie lost, but stop hating our valued police officers. 

Michael Burns 

* * *

Mr. Ladd, it's not due to a lack of guilt that a cop won't be convicted of a crime. It's due to a complicit and indifferent system, and a public that often favors the cop, no matter what crimes they commit. The cops already know the system favors them. The fact that a case against a cop will even make it to the court can be an uphill battle and a miracle. Usually the victim, or family of a victim, may get paid a personal visit and warned not to move forward with so much as a complaint, or even followed around town in an act of intimidation. There are all kinds of means to silence the masses.  

Perhaps, one day, over tea and crumpets, America will take serious the issue and find some middle ground that will be beneficial to both cops and the citizens they "serve".  

Brenda Washington 

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