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A Nosey Government

This may not be news to you but I just heard about it. The Los Angeles Police Commission has proposed scrutinizing the financial records of cops involved in gang and drug investigations. After a two-year grace period cops will have to disclose finances, debts, stocks and real estate holdings.

Now I’ve never been a big supporter of labor unions but this is precisely the reason we need them. And in this case LAPD’s officer’s association is vehemently opposed to the plan.

The scrutiny is one of the points in a federal consent decree attempting to reform LAPD after the Rampart scandal of the 90s. While many federal agencies make this a requirement for their agents, I can’t think of any municipal departments or SOs with the requirement, neither can LAPD’s officer association.

As far as I’m concerned, it’s none of their business and we need to support the idea cops have rights too. One of them is the 4th Amendment and protection from a nosey government. We’re randomly piss tested for drugs and tested when we’re involved in a shooting or vehicle accident. We take polygraph exams and are held to a higher standard of conduct. That’s enough.

Allowing another level of examination is allowing the camel’s nose to get that much further under the tent. Pretty soon we’re going to have the whole camel sitting right there in our lap watching reruns of the “A Team” with us.
A quote, arguable attributed to Benjamin Franklin states, “Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase temporary safety deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.” If cops as a group give up rights protecting us from undue search just so we can have the “honor and privilege” of working gangs and dope we’ll soon be without rights altogether.

If Not Us — Who?

If we band together and tell them no more of this invasion of privacy will be tolerated whom else will they get to be gang and dope cops? I don’t know, maybe the Sierra Club, ACLU, Green Peace or MoveOn.org can help out. Or maybe the moron assistant to the assistant to the assistant US Attorney who came up with the consent decree language might want to strap on a ballistic vest, thigh rig and rubber gloves to do the job.

I know this is starting to sound too much like a rant from the Toro Caca section. I’ll take a deep cleansing breath and force myself to remember it’s LA.

  

 

 
   
   
   

I am so worried about Lindsay Lohan and her “troubles.” I stay up nights just trying to come up with some solution to help her dear poor troubled soul. And, I don’t know about you, but I’m really grateful to that judge who recognized the simple truth that K-Fed is by far and away a better parent and role model to those children than Britney could ever be. As someone put it, She’s the High Priestess of Trailer Park Trash and should have never been permitted to procreate. That’s another one that kept me up nights.

Then there’s Paris, well need I say more? Seeing her perp-walked into the big-house just demonstrated no matter who you are or how much money you have, justice is blind and will always prevail. The “round-the-clock” coverage was riveting. It just made you feel empowered didn’t it?

They Don’t Get It

When is the media going to get it that we don’t care about the drivel they are feeding us. I want to hear about what’s happening with Ramos and Compean. Where do we stand on their pardon or better yet, new trial in a venue not poisoned by pro-illegal alien bias?

I want to hear about what Homeland Security is doing about preventing another attack or the invasion of America from Mexico. I want to hear about the schools constructed by our military in Iraq, the level of success we’re having standing up their police force and reduction of violence.

“You Can’t Handle The Truth”

And, why doesn’t the mainstream media ever show real photos and video of the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center? Perhaps the public (us) can’t be trusted to process information containing images of people plummeting to their deaths. Lord knows they don’t want the unwashed masses to become cognizant of the fact we’re still at risk; we might actually force our lawmakers into doing something about it or, worse yet, we might get angry at the misunderstood and much maligned Fanatical Islamic Terrorists.

I don’t give a rat’s ass about Hilary showing too much cleavage, if Mitt had pre-marital sex or whom Rudy was boinking while still married to wife #1, #2 or #3. Lindsay, Britney, K-Fed, Hilary’s boobs, Rudy’s dalliances and Mitt’s lack thereof is Toro Caca and simply a diversion from what is truly important. The really scary thing is there are people out there who are entranced by this crap and a lot of them can vote. If that’s not Toro Caca, I’m at a loss to understand what is.

    
 
 
   

A Completely Subjective
Look At Things I Like

Al Mar Knives

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Their Back Up Model 1 (Lower) and Model 2 (Upper), designed by ABS Mastersmith Kirk Rexroat, are smaller lighter fixed blades designed for all-day carry. They offer you exactly what their name tells you — backup for whatever your day may bring. Blades on both are AUS-8 stainless steel at 57-59 Rockwell hardness rating and scales are black Micarta. Each includes a leather sheath.

For More Info: www.almarknives.com


DeSantis Nemisis

During the summer I always carry my J frame with me — usually in my pocket. Most of the holsters I tried stuck to the gun like glue when drawn. The last thing I want some snotbag to wonder is, “Why is my meal-ticket/victim pointing a black bag at me?” I want him to wonder, “What is that explos….” Finding a pocket holster capable of breaking-up the outline of the gun and staying in my pocket during the draw was, at the very least, frustrating.

The Nemesis from DeSantis solved my dilemma. The ambidextrous design is lightweight and “sticky” as pine tar on the outside. You actually have to work to get the empty holster out of your pocket. Once in place the holster and gun are kept solidly in the same position until you need it.

The inside of the holster is the Ying to the sticky outside Yang. It’s silky smooth for a no hassle draw. That’s the way it’s suppose to be and for about $20 you can’t go wrong with this one.

For more info: www.desantisholster.com

 

  
   
   
 
First published in the March/April 2008 issue of American COP.
  
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