In Washington state, most anti-gunners are centered around cities like Seattle. In recent years, they’ve successfully pushed a number of anti-gun measures through that have drastically curtailed the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Washingtonians. These “urban elites” tend to look down on rural parts of the state and generally make no effort to understand their needs. After all, they’re in Seattle.
If you ask them about protecting yourself, they’ll likely look at you funny and tell you to just call the police. After all, that’s their job, right?
Nevermind the Supreme Court decisions saying otherwise, of course, but now even the Seattle police are saying something along those lines. Well, they’re not saying they can’t so much as saying they won’t.
The Seattle Police Department alerted officers that the King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention will no longer allow bookings for most misdemeanor charges due to concerns over the coronavirus. One officer calls it the coronavirus crime “free for all.”
Assistant Chief Steve Hirjak emailed officers Tuesday afternoon with the news that most misdemeanor bookings will no longer be accepted. The exceptions including Assault 4, DUI, restraining order/no contact violations, stalking, and communication with a minor.
One officer is sounding the alarm, saying this move can put you at risk.
Coronavirus crime spree?
With this new policy, arrests will still happen. But bookings will not, which means the suspect won’t go to jail awaiting a judge to set bail. At a time when prolific offenders have plagued the city, the concern is that a criminal will quickly re-offend when otherwise, due to incarceration, you would be temporarily protected from the crimes.
“Even smoking meth at a bus stop will not get you a trip to jail,” one officer told the Jason Rantz Show on KTTH.
What does this mean for the average person in Seattle?
Well, it means that people can get away with a whole lot of nastiness before the police will step in to do much of anything. What’s more, the fact that there won’t be any bookings means those angry at having the cops called on them will be free to seek retribution rather than having some time to chill out in a jail cell.
It should also be noted that the human factor will likely kick in and officers knowing they won’t be able to take someone off the streets will simply opt not to arrest someone. After all, one would assume the paperwork would remain the same. If so, why put yourself through that when the guy will be back on the streets before you can even get your pen out?
This isn’t likely to go well.
I understand the whys of it. Don’t get me wrong here. I understand exactly why this decision was reached. I’m just saying that it’s not going to be a great decision for Seattle residents.
Yet this was also a fairly arbitrary decision. Officials just decided this was what they were going to do. This after a continual erosion of Washingtonian gun rights in recent years may well leave many in Seattle defenseless.
Is it any wonder so many of us demand that gun stores be considered essential businesses?
The truth of the matter is that the police are not legally obligated to protect anyone. While many officers seek out that line of work out of a strong desire to protect people, the truth is that they can’t save everyone. The courts have repeatedly ruled that police are not legally required to protect any individual. That’s without the outbreak of a deadly disease to contend with.
Now? There’s even less obligation on them.
If you want to keep yourself safe, you’d best be prepared to do it yourself. Buy a gun, learn how to use it safely, learn how to use it effectively, and practice regularly.
