Trump Has a Question About Regime Change in Iran
Here's What Impressed This MSNBC Host About Trump's Air Strikes on Iran
Marco Rubio Obliterates CBS News Host Over This Simple Fact About Iran
Scott Jennings Took an Ex-DNC Spokesperson to the Cleaners Over the Legality of...
Completely Obliterated
Harris' Team Wanted Mark Cuban to Submit VP Vetting Papers. Here's How the...
An Alarming Number of Iranian Nationals Were Released Into the U.S. Under Biden
Jasmine Crockett Fumes That Trump Didn’t 'Holla' for Her Permission Before Hitting Iran
Flawless Execution: Vance Applauds Trump’s National Security Team for Crippling Iran’s Nuc...
'He Truly Saved the World:' Iranian Refugee Calls for Trump to Receive Nobel...
Suspect Killed by Security Guard After Michigan Church Shooting
Flashback: Chuck Schumer Thoroughly Mocked for His 'TACO Trump' Post on Iran
Authorities, Local Law Enforcement Remain on High Alert to Protect U.S. Cities from...
Iran Escalates Rhetoric After Trump Flattens Nuclear Sites
Dems Panic as Trump Obliterates Iran’s Nuclear Threat—Push War Powers Stunt While World...
OPINION

Black Lives Matter

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Townhall.com.

Before we examine the issue of police shootings of blacks, I would like to start the conversation with another question. Here it is: If a person chooses to stand on railroad tracks in the face of an oncoming train, who is responsible for his being run over? And if many people meet their maker this way, what would you recommend as the best way to reduce such deaths? Would you focus most of your efforts on train engineers, or would you counsel people not to stand on railroad tracks in the face of an oncoming train?

Advertisement

In principle, the answer to these questions might help with the issue of police shootings in general and particularly those of blacks. First, the Ferguson, Missouri, case: Having robbed a liquor store, the person is walking in the middle of the street and blocking traffic. A police officer tells the person to get out of the street. What would you suggest the person do? Would you suggest that he ignore the police officer's instructions, push the officer as he attempts to get out of his vehicle and afterward attempt to take the officer's pistol?

In the case of the New York City death of Eric Garner, what would you recommend? A person is illegally selling cigarettes. The police try to effect an arrest. What would you recommend that the person do? As the police try to take the person into custody, would you advise the person to swat away the arms of the arresting officer, to tell the officer "Don't touch me!" and to continue resisting arrest?

What about the shooting of Walter Scott by a North Charleston, South Carolina, police officer? If an officer makes a traffic stop, would you advise that the driver flee so as to avoid arrest?

Let me be clear: I am justifying neither the behavior of police officers nor the deadly outcomes of their confrontations with these three black men. Similarly, I would not justify the behavior of a train engineer or the outcome a person experiences standing on the train tracks in the face of an oncoming train. I would counsel a person not to stand on railroad tracks in the face of an oncoming train. Similarly, the advice that I would give to anyone of any race in dealing with police is: Follow the officer's instructions. Do not resist arrest or attempt to flee. Do not assault the police officer or try to disarm him. Had this advice been taken, Michael Brown, Eric Garner and Walter Scott would be alive today.

Advertisement

Criminal activity is a major problem in many black communities. That means many black citizens will have some kind of contact with police officers, either as victims of crime or as criminals. One of the true tragedies is that black politicians, preachers and civil rights advocates give massive support to criminals such as Brown, Garner and Scott. How much support do we see for the overwhelmingly law-abiding members of the black community preyed upon by criminals?

The average American has no idea of the day-to-day threats and fears encountered by the law-abiding majority in black neighborhoods on account of thugs. In addition to giving threats and instilling fears, criminals have turned many black communities into economic wastelands where there is a lack of services that most Americans take for granted, such as supermarkets, other shops and even home delivery. Black residents must bear the expense of having to go out of their neighborhoods to shop or shop at high-cost mom and pop stores.

The protest chant that black lives matter appears to mean that black lives matter only if they are taken at the hands of white police officers.


Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Recommended

Trending on Townhall Videos

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement