Police were continually screaming “don’t look out the window!” during their sweep in Watertown last week. This photo shows what happens to folks who disobeyed that order.
And here is a stunning video of how the raids were carried out. Maximum feasible intimidation…
So our security now depends on permitting police to threaten to kill anyone who disobeys any order? Or to treat every American like a terrorist suspect who can be gunned down on the flimsiest pretext?
As more people view photos and videos like the above, the knee-jerk pro-government reaction to last week’s finale will dissipate. It will not matter if 70% or 80% of people still support any action the government takes. There will be enough people – initially with camcoms and cell phones – that the legitimacy of mass crackdowns will not survive.
UPDATE: I have a strong reaction to the shutdown in part because, when I used to live in Boston, missing a day’s work would have placed a dent in the food supply. Details in the “Playing Left Field in Boston” chapter in Public Policy Hooligan, my new e-book memoir.
“So our security now depends on permitting police to threaten to kill anyone who disobeys any order? Or to treat every American like a terrorist suspect who can be gunned down on the flimsiest pretext?”
Jeepers, Jim, it’s been that way for decades now. Where’ve you been??? Google up “wrongful police shooting” and see how few of those reports from around the country (search warrants at wrong addresses, “furtive movements,” etc. etc.) result in any actual serious discipline for the officers involved.
It’s like good law abiding Americans die either way. By the hands of the cops or by the terrorists. Its crazy. Better arm up while you can!
Cops enjoy inciting people, especially gun owners.
Rodney King was brutalized by the police on camera decades ago. It doesn’t matter if you record them, because they KNOW that probably 90% of the people in this country either love it, or accept it as a necessary evil.
King had an ass-whoopin’ coming. He was a lifetime of FAIL.
I’m looking forward a recording of your well deserved ass-whoopin’, bootlicker.
Gee, I don’t know about you, ‘Lizzie’, but if I’ve just led duly authorized police authorities on a high-speed chase through a densely populated area, am finally brought to a stop, ordered to exit the vehicle, put my hands behind my head, and get down on my knees by 15 or 20 such authorities – who are now throughly ‘pumped’ with adrenalin and definitely ‘peeved’ at my reckless behavior up to this point – my thinking is that if I choose to disobey their directions, I’m DEFINITELY asking for trouble.
What happened to Rodney King is on Rodney King – first and foremost. Ask yourself this: If he had done as ordered, would we be talking about it now – all these years later? Get real.
And if the police pound on the door of your home, in which you are peacably going about your business, and order you to come out with your hands up, and you disobey, are you asking for trouble?
You must not believe in the Constitution. Do you have your head in the sand ? And what School did you go to ?
Lizzie, if you were to bother to watch the ENTIRE Rodney King video, instead of the limited portion the media showed, you would know King deserved what he got. Your post is liberalism masquerading as decency.
Nobody “deserves” to be beaten by several people while unable to defend himself – especially if they are armed with deadly weapons. Nobody.
What is the appropriate next escalation when dealing with a big arrestee who is resisting, and has continued to resist with a lesser beating?
Some arrests are valid; some arrestees don’t submit. This wasn’t kicking someone who was handcuffed, or shooting into the back of a truck like just cost Los Angeles $4.2million.
Matthew, should we eliminate those costly Judges and jails, and let the pigs decide and hand-out punishment ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1joImpo4l0
Video of Watertown Martial Law http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kqjWj67UVg
How do they know the person looking out the window doesn’t have a gun, isn’t a threat, isn’t the one they’re looking for or someone helping them, etc?
Should they just leave themselves sitting ducks out there?
And the way they enter isn’t to intimidate people who AREN’T who they were looking for, it’s to make sure that if the person they’re looking for IS IN THERE, they’re going in prepared. People look at stuff like this and forget that they’re putting themselves in danger of completely unknown situations. You go looking for killers in places you’ve never been and tell me you don’t go in with your gun held high. Sheesh, people. THINK.
Have you seen a terrorist profile that indicates that mass murderers stand in plain view in windows when cops with guns are in the street below?
Have you seen one that indicates they never do? Cuz, you know, a cop is dead because of one of them.
Don’t be stupid. There are no absolutes. I will offer you a perspective however. That cop doesn’t have to have himself be there as a sitting duck. He has the right to move along, or get behind a rock wall, or whatever. And I have the right to look out my damn window.
That cop is there doing his job, so yes he has to be there. His job is to get a freaking terrorist who unfortunately isn’t shining spot lights into the sky and swinging a hula hoop.
Paul..try reading to find out a little about what was going on. The kid that was finally captured was actually on actually back on the UMASS school grounds attending classes and going to parties from the time of the bombing until the photos started being dispursed. After his brother was killed, he was found hiding in someone’s boat. So, yes..this mass murderer absolutely was in open sight. The other point that people are missing is that these two were well armed, and could have been hiding out in the house threatening to blow up anyone inside. We do not know. I do know one thing, Boston did an incredible job of getting this taken care of as quickly as possible, with limited casualties. Well done!!! If you think this was not handled properly, go try living in the middle East.
I’m mystified by most of the preceding comment but — as to the last point – How many million people would the govt. have to place under house arrest before the apologists admitted that the govt. had done “an incredible job”?
I think you missed the part that NONE of what we saw in that video did any good. It wasn’t until martial law (and yes I’m willing to use that term after seeing this video) was lifted that the suspect was found, and he was found due an alert citizen.
What do you think caused the guy to have to hide in that boat in the first place? The lockdown pinned him down because to disobey it would have had him standing out like a sore thumb. Also, the fact that the police drew a 20 block perimeter and missed having him in it by only one block tells me (a) they are human and (b) nevertheless they came really close. Are you law enforcement? If so, please tell us all what you would have done differently in drawing the perimeter. If not, please shut the hell up, because you don’t know what you’re talking about.
You do not have to go that far…Venezuela is a Gem !! the Government allows the pro Chavez groups to shot people stuck in traffic at point blank!
they did such an incredible job that a dude going out for a smoke found him, and he didn’t cost $11,000 an hour to do that. looks like smoking saves.
this guy is just a paid troll, ignore him…
Which country in the Middle East would you suggest? One where the US is using drones to kill unidentified individuals, one that’s occupied by the US, one whose government was overthrown by the US, or one whose totalitarian government is supported by the US?
Great question snakearbusto
Yeah it happened in Boston not long ago smarty pants.
Dont be fucking stupid, they didn’t need all of this to find a 19 year old kid who got ahold of a pressure cooker. Simply a show of power.
Yeah – a fucking 19 year old kid who killed an innocent 8 year old and other innocent people. Doesn’t matter if it is a fertilizer bomb, C4 explosives or a pressure cooker the bastard deserved more than what he got. I am willing to let police come and look in my house anytime as ALL the people in the video dropped their hands after being frisked. There was a TV camerama filming it all. Stupid is thinking idiots like this deserve any type of sympathy.
Or, you know, “constitutional rights.” Those things just get in the way of a good police state, after all.
What constitutional rights do you feel were violated here? Just curious…
It’s sad that so many people are so willing to give up there true safety, security, and liberty for fear of the boogey man. Take responsibility for your life while you can. The next door your authorities escort your through may not reopen.
Can the cops search female crotches for Terror ?
I take it you won’t be visiting any of the 13 people whose limbs blown off by this little pressure cookers.. or the other 30 still in the Hospital? or the all the people who had to run careful not to slip on the blood, or trip over body parts !
Good point! At least someone has some common sense.
How do those boots taste?
Giving up freedom for security. Quickly becoming the American way thanks to delusional sheep like yourself.
it totally amazes that people think that they used martial law to catch this 19yr old,wrong it was a test to see how easy it would be to do and to see how much the people would put up with and apparently they will defend the Constitution breakers no matter what , they are not able to protect you from all the stuff that can happen,if someone wants to do stuff like this they can and did, didn’t they?, and taking away every ones freedom will not help either.
Good point! Ben. Let me add something
The pressure cooker used by terrorists applies the same principle that the cluster bombs used by the Pentagon en Iraq and Afghanistan. There more than 20 countries that signed the treaty to ban their use,USA are not included in these 20. Ironically in the news today in New York Times was reported that one of the charge against this young terrorist is for possession or use of weapons of mass destruction. If this is not hypocrisy, tell me what it is.
Never point a loaded gun at anyone, unless you plan to use it. You might slip and set it off.
Being alert and looking for problems does not require pointing a rifle.
As a member of the military, and based on that experience, I can tell you that if someone is running around blowing stuff up and and gunning down people in my unit, I will dang well point my weapon at anything that moves that I can’t identify. I’m not trying to threaten anything, I’m just doing my job and keeping myself and my fire team safe. This wasn’t some “innocent boy” from Mr. Roger’s here, he and his brother (and at this point we knew nothing about who did what, they were one unit as far as we knew) were highly effective and lethal killers who had little, if any, inhibitions about who they killed. Furthermore, as a tactical operator looking for someone, I’m gonna sweep my gaze (and therefore my rifle, those two things are always in line for an effective tactical operator) over every window and make sure nothing seems out of place. That’s how it’s done, folks. As far as the gun going off, while I applaud your rote memorization of the rules taught to boy scouts and hunters, soldiers are expected to be able to hold a gun without fear of it magically going off. Frankly, this entire article, and the dozens like it, disgust me. I’m as against a police state as anyone, and I don’t know what you’ve done to be patriotic, but I have sworn my life and honor to support and defend the constitution, NOT the government or the president, from all enemies. That doesn’t mean that I’m gonna cry and moan when they shut down a city and go door to door because some psychopaths are running around blowing crap up. Like someone else said, if you think that’s rough, try living in the middle east. We have it good here, and when I see things like this, I worry that we have it too good, and the environment that was designed to breed happy productive citizens has instead bred a bunch of self assuming, counterproductive naysayers who have nothing better to do then gorge themselves on the best of what the world has to offer and then have the gall to complain about people who are doing the best they can to keep them safe. Maybe those people should just leave, and you can pick up a rifle and defend your own home. What a concept.
Amazing that you “swore to honor and support” the constitution 11GTCS yet believe it is ok to violate it to get the bad guy. Freedom isn’t free. Losing our liberty will not make us secure. I would fry your “patriotic” ass or any others to preserve liberty if it came down to it. People die, emergencies come and go, how many American Constitutions and Bill of Rights are there? What happened to “Give me liberty or give me death.”? Now its’ “Take my freedom and give me the illusion of security.”. Oh yea, I’m an ex navy vet so get off your “I served my country.” high horse. You don’t have to be in the service, ex-service or law enforcement to know and love liberty.
Thank you. You obviously served for the right reasons. Thank you. And to 11GTCS, you’re not in a war zone. This is America, land of the free.
@Chaz the “ex navy vet”, I tip my hat to you sir! Must have been real tough -Haha! What is an ex-Navy vet any way? -Do you say “ex” because you’ve lost the sense of pride one obtains in having served their country at some point in time? -Because you no longer support our country’s military? – Or is it both? It’s blatantly clear that you have absolutely no experience in providing safety or security for civilians by means of force. If you don’t think the police and military aren’t doing their jobs correctly you obviously never experienced true corruption and mistreatment as I have while deployed. The things that the police/military do to children in other countries, specifically young boys, will make your stomach turn. That being said, the next time you think your liberal rights are at risk of potentially being infringed upon by police and military sworn to protect ungrateful citizens like yourself, just remember your place as an “ex navy vet” and do as directed or have your life potentially infringed upon by a terrorist bent on destroying you.
Excellent post, Chaz.
Good example of a brainwashed coward.
As a Bostonian, I thank you.
I do not need anybody to keep me safe. I look after that myself.
In the United States, it is illegal for ANY person to display a firearm without legal justification of force. A twig snapping does not provide you use of force justification to do so, nor do gawkers gazing through a window.
Being hyped up on steroids, adrenaline, and gay fascist circle jerks don’t give you an excuse to violate the law.
I agree, Paul. ALL of my family who are in law enforcement in the Boston area were ALL on the scene. Most of you folks have no idea how dangerous a situation like this can be. They didn’t care about walking up to a police officer and shooting him in the head – I don’t think they’d care about taking someone hostage in their home.
It’s sad. The police are damned if they do – and damned if they don’t.
PROUD BOSTONIAN AND PROUD RELATIVE OF BOSTON TERRORIST RESPONDERS.
I am glad to see somebody making sense…..when it comes down to it….when it’s all over, some raise to say how THEY COULD DO A BETTER JOB !!
It’s funny how those who are complaining about our freedoms know nothing about risking their lives for it. You are all just so bored that you have to find something to complain about. Try living somewhere else if you don’t like it here. To Ann’s family and the rest of the Boston responders, thank you for making it clear that people need to stay out of the way and let law enforcement do their jobs. It’s not like the police raid our homes the way they do in other countries. You are all too paranoid.
I have a better idea – how about we get rid of all the New Red Coats who like licking the boots of Empire (for whatever reason). That way “here” becomes a much more pleasant place to life.
You don’t move out of the house just because the dog has an accident on the rug – you clean up the crap and continue to live there.
What do you think the police were doing? Cleaning up the crap. We were just getting out of the way.
True. Bunch of barely trained guys with assault rifles and Attitude running around….LOTS of potential for lethal stupid happening.
Not that they’ll be held accountable or anything.
Police don’t serve and protect the public, they serve and protect themselves and the Govt from the public.
Our worst enemy isn’t a suicide bomber, it’s the govt and its police force.
Cops are always coercing govt to create laws that protect IT from us.
Fine. When someone comes and bombs your city, you handle it as you want. We wanted to get this guy, find out if he had more friends, and make sure he didn’t hurt anyone else.
Someone comes busting through my door, they might be met with a barrage of bullets. What happened to the Fourth Amendment? The second is there to protect the 1st and the 4th and for that matter the rest of the constitution.
Nobody came busting through anybody’s door. If you look at what Mayor Menino and public safety officers asked the public to do you would know that. The police can come into your home and search it for bad guys without a warrant if they knock, announce, ask politely, and you say yes.
And if you politely say no? they knock you against the wall, beat you to the floor and search your house anyway.
Nothing about this incident gave the locals the right to order everyone out of their homes at gunpoint and search.
One individual perpetrator is not an excuse to declare martial law…and they did this without even bothering with that formality.
If the person with the camera was a threat, he’d have already been shot.
How does anyone know that anyone else isn’t a threat? I’d better not look at you, Paul, because I do have a gun, and you have no way of knowing I’m not a threat, which means you are now a danger to me.
Oh grow up, you panty wetting hypocrite. If people with guns are QED threats, then there are a bunch of pictures up there of people who are threats.
Sitting ducks you can see how many cops are there what could they have done shot one then they would of been blown away your a typical reason your country is so f**k up
Well said!
Easy. It’s called “presumption of innocence.” Not so popular these days, but it’s an old American thing that fascists don’t understand – and don’t particularly care for.
True that! —>The Infamous Oregon Lawhobbit
WOW. Those two boys didn’t do anything other than cooperate with the FBI.
You want to know who planted those bombs? http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=480771405329110&set=a.440096002729984.103893.438021249604126&type=1
Your government you’re oh, so proud of. TURN OFF YOUR TV.
Really? Who was it tossing grenades out the window at the police who were following them in the car they carjacked in Cambridge? Was THAT the government too?
Uninformed = IGNORANT
Wow… another conspiracy theorist.. how original.. keep reading the internet.. it’s full of truth.
You don’t think the police probably thought that could have been a “terrorist” looking out the widow? What are you all a bunch of idiots. They were searching for a dangerous man and you are trying to make the police look bad now?
They did a great job and apprehended the terrorist.
So shut you pie hole and be thankful for the great work they did without any further innocent people being hurt in the process.
-You don’t think the police probably thought that could have been a “terrorist” looking out the widow?
It doesn’t matter what he THOUGHT, it matters what he DID. He pointed a lethal weapon at a Citizen who had been forced to be a prisoner in their own home.
-What are you all a bunch of idiots. They were searching for a dangerous man and you are trying to make the police look bad now?
YES! Because despite the massive display of force they didn’t find the guy. An alert citizen found him AFTER LOCKDOWN and tipped the cops, much like very criminal EVER has been caught.
-They did a great job and apprehended the terrorist.
They terrorized the city for hours and accomplished nothing.
-So shut you pie hole and be thankful for the great work they did without any further innocent people being hurt in the process.
Read: “Shut up and do as your told by your betters!”
Again I say: what do you think put and kept that kid in the boat? The lockdown. Anyone moving outside during that time would have stuck out like a sore thumb, so he had to hide, which meant the opportunity for someone to find him went WAY up.
Police work is often a collaboration between law enforcement and the public, btw, in part because police are fallible like all humans are.
YAY, Sandy! I can’t believe the stupidity of some. It’s sad, really.
Never heroize the pigs; it makes them into our masters.
They at no time should any govt have this kind of power. Yes let’s shut down an entire city over some kid. I don’t care what he did If it happened here I sure wouldn’t want my city shut down over this. I am a free man and if I choose to go somewhere I do.
Oh please with the comment saying well they might have been the guy looking out a window. Excuse me but even if he was you have no right to search my house and property without a warrant.
People like to make the claim this kind of thing makes them safe but it doesn’t no amount of security will ever make you completely safe. .
Actually, if the police come to your door, announce who they are, ask politely, and you let them come in and look, they can search without a warrant. They can also follow any bad guy anywhere without a warrant if they’re in hot pursuit. There are other exceptions to the 4th Amendment tied to public safety.
You would not give them permission to enter without a warrant, presumably, so you have nothing to worry about.
Those who do not work in law enforcement will never understand why this situation (in the picture) is normal procedure. Especially when you consider the circumstances of what had happened early that morning. No one knew where the 2nd guy was at.. he could have been in any one of these homes. And there were many incidents that were reported to the police that were deemed suspicious by those living in said homes. So this put (rightfully so) the idea that he might be hiding inside one of the homes in the area into the minds of those looking for him. Also add to the fact that the suspect was armed and dangerous. The suspect was also posting comments online that confirmed his eagerness to kill. So combining all those aspects of the individual being looked for… safety would have been put in front of any regular understanding on how these situations are handled and a shoot to kill mentality would have been in the mind of all those in uniform. If you know that he wants to kill you, you will try and take the threat out before he takes you out. The uniformed officer pointing the gun at the person could have just shot the person in the grounds of safety. They didn’t know who the person in the window was, it could have been the terrorist or maybe even an unknown accomplice. Saying that this was too much, is beyond reason. If you knew someone was out there trying to kill you (You specifically) and that they would do anything to achieve it, how would you respond? what if he were hiding in and around your neighborhood.. what would you do? There are far too many other aspects that fall into this mess that just add to the reasonable response done by these uniformed officers. And the outcome shows what a great job they did. And I know that I’ll get crap for saying this.. by all means.. I could care less what anyone thinks, says or assumes about me… have at it. 😀
So what you’re saying is the Constitution only applies when it’s convenient for law enforcement?
I never said anything about the constitution applying only when needed by law enforcement. those are your words.. not mine. Which is obviously your interpretation of what I wrote.
In the grounds of safety, the actions of the uniformed officers were reasonable. Again, if you have never worked under these circumstances you will never know and understand why it is. Unless you can simply put yourself in their shoes. But no one will understand and everyone will jump to conclusions and assumptions as one can see in these comments.
It’s really simple. People are too nosy when they shouldn’t and not involved when they should. I wonder if the person who sent in the photo was paid for it…. hmmmm…
Ah, the good old reliable “if you haven’t done it, you can’t understand it” argument favored by socialists the world over.
Really?
I can’t condemn pedophilia without having sex with a 5 year old child? I can’t condemn rape without nonconsensual sex with an adult? I can’t condemn theft without sticking a gun in our host’s nose and saying, “Gimme your money, Jim?”
I don’t THINK so.
But hey, so what, I’ll even play your game – I *have* “been there, done that” and, in fact, am still involved in “doing it.” And those constitution-rapers were so freakin’ far off base in regard to upholding their sworn oaths that if they had an ounce of integrity they’d shoot themselves out of shame – after shooting the ones who gave them the orders they were “just following.”
The burden is on law enforcement officers to take the risks needed to uphold the rule of law. That means they have to obey the rule of law themselves, even if it puts them in danger. If they are not strong enough to handle that danger within the rule of law, they should quit and apply to be fry cooks or street sweepers.
I agree 110% with what was done and why! It is obvious what they were dealing with. Good lord people. Damned if you do damned if you dont. They did a stellar job! Amazing!!
You say that crap because you’re a coward and you want the pigs to do anything to keep you safe.
“If you know that he wants to kill you, you will try and take the threat out before he takes you out.”
I’d say driving a tank down my street and pointing a gun in my window is quite the threat — are you advocating killing cops now?
Cops have killed a lot more innocent people than I have.
And those who are old fashioned American republicans (versus the fascist New Empire types, not the political party) will never understand how the above picture has become “normal.”
“They didn’t know who the person in the window was, it could have been the terrorist or maybe even an unknown accomplice.” And it would never have occurred to them that it might be someone who lives in the house? The whole point is that the fundamental right to be peacably in your own home seems to no longer exist, and that that has come about since 9/11. When you consider Chalmers Johnson’s statement that empire and democracy can not coexist, seeing signs like these that we are indeed being locked down into a police state is very disturbing and seems to prove his point. Nobody’s saying a cop (if that is a cop and not a soldier in the tank, if any such distinction can still be made) doesn’t have a right to protect himself. What people are saying is that 9,000 troops and tanks and war-zone tactics like these are not necessary and should not be tolerated. The fact that we no longer have a choice only goes to prove to what extent we have moved toward a police state.
Very unreasonable, John.
I spent 14 years in ‘enforcement” from combat to taking doors, and in general, treated non combatants more respectfully than these over zealous state issued punks. I promise you, their training in these matters is pathetic and they should not have access to the weaponry they possess. In the eyes of the casual bystander, I’m sure they look like the proverbial knights in shining armor, but the reality is that they are woefully inept. It was messy, un coordinated, chaotic, and dangerous to any number of innocents.
The “elite” state police and SWAT teams are inadequately trained and acted like over pumped cops instead of a well trained squad. Trust me, they looked and acted like goons, and were completely out of line. The reason they went over the top, mishandled, scared and threatened these citizens was completely driven by fear. They were unable to control their fear, and their actions were unstable, uncalled for and borderline unpredictable.
However, in the usual liberal manner, the topic has been misdirected. we, as citizens have been nannied and bullied by an overreaching government.
Citizens are being disarmed at an alarming rate, have become unable to defend themselves, and now rely on a scattered and over worked police force to come save them.
Aint gonna happen. Put a armed citizen behind every door, and watch the crime rate go down. Instead of locking your doors like a cowing fearful child, stand there with a loaded weapon ready to defend your life and property.
I have faith in the American people. I believe that we can care for ourselves and defend what is our god given birth right. I will never believe that the government’s job is to care for my health, safety, or morality or children. I was trained differently, and have a clear vision of my place in, and my duty to society.
People need to put down the video games, turn off MTV, go outside, and take a good hard look at the broken world they have created by being too lazy to take a hand in. Take your life back and stop letting others tell you what to do, what to eat, what to think, where to educate your children, what their morality will be, and how you live your life.
This is not just about mistreatment from the state police, it’s another symptom of the cancer that is killing the once fiercely independent spirit of the American people.
I want to know where the search warrants were. They could use it as an excuse to revisit some homes due to things they found in them. Such BS. I would have asked for a warrant to search.
Paul, Goodnough, I would also like to know when Marshall Law was declared?
http://www.notybookcity.com/Noticias-ms-ledas/falsosatentadosboston
Don’t point gun at a person unless you intend to use it. The office in that picture should be fired. He has plenty of backup if it is the bad buy and he’s in a friggin tank! Serve and protect! That’s what they are sworn to do. Many of the commenters above seem to be saying it’s the officers job to protect him or herself above the citizenry, I do not agree. Citizens caught this bad guy and most others. Generally the officers fill out the reports, let’s stop making them superman or batman or something and realize they are just regular folks and have no more right to shoot us than other regular folks…
I truly have no idea how to respond to this… I mean lets start off where you did. Never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot. Basic weapon safety rule correct? The word intend is in there, “intend- to have in mind as a purpose or goal”, with the obvious definition there you can not ague what it means. The officer in the shown photo is pointing his weapon at what he believes could be the suspect, so he intended to fire upon the suspect if that was him/her. However as we can all tell he DID NOT FIRE. We can all tell as well he intended to fire because he was unsure who was looking at him though the window. For all he knew it could have been a 5 year old, an elder woman, or the suspect. He did not know. So taking his safety and every one around him into consideration he pointed his weapon at some thing he COULD intend to shoot. So putting your self into his shoes, or I should say boots, what would you do? Not point your weapon? Take the chance of not going home to your wife/husband and kids? Taking the additional chance of every one around the area having the same effect? All because you did not want to point your weapon at some one? Taking the chance of the suspect then killing who ever else he/she wants? Also that is not a “friggin tank” he is in, last I checked, that would be a Humvee.
Next up on your rant would be the citizens catching the criminals. What your suggesting is just ludicrous. If you want to be taken serous, please do not mention vigilantism as a good idea. Yes, citizens do tip off the police as far as crime, but “citizens caught this bad guy and most others”. Last I checked that was combined police forces working together handcuffing the guy correct? Not some John Rambo citizen handcuffing him and handing him over to police so the officers can “fill out the reports”.
I do agree with you on one aspect of what you said however and that is that all police and law enforcement are just “regular folks”. People, much like your self tend to forget that. Thus causing a large up roar about how law enforcement are wrong, and they have no right to point a weapon at some one. If that is how you feel that is how you feel. But seeing as how they are just “regular folks” they have a right just like every other citizen to defend them selves and the ones around them.
To Reefrocket.. under Martial Law, Search Warrents are not required since Lincoln Passed an Executive Order that Congress upheld. Habeus Corpus does not apply to Martial Law under the Maritime Law that governs our current court system.
Paul, Goodnough, I would also like to know WHEN Marshall Law was declared?
This is what we’ve come to: a dress-rehearsal dry run for martial law and tyranny. A system test. Any meaningful pushback? Negative. Proceed with the next test. The marathon bombing was a very good pretext, very serious, but after Bomber 1 was dead, they were looking for a 19 year old with a pistol in a stolen car. In no way did that justify the “lockdown” of Boston. BTW, the term “lockdown” comes from prisons, where rioting or rebellious convicts are forced back into their cells. Sort of like Boston. “Stay away from the windows, prisoner!”
Please see the youtube video “Welcome to the U.S.S.A., Comrade,” before they take it down. They have already disabled the hit counter to slow it down, due to its content.
There will forever be factions of the population that will be born as sheep to be herded. To them, there will be masters and herders, leading them to whatever pasture or water of their choosing, and the sheep will be thankful for their meager care.
Others are born to be sheep dogs, that are charged to watch over the flock to see that no harm comes to them while they stupidly graze and become fat.
Most of these sheep will accept mistreatment from their masters (government) and praise them as benevolent benefactors, while cursing the sheep dogs (soldiers) that lie in constant vigil over them to be sure that no harm comes to them.
Messed up world we live in.
Cut in half the size cops and then we will be more free, have more privacy, and be more safe.
Silly me.
I always thought that windows were designed to be looked out of.
I guess I need a few more indoctrination sessions.
Once the officer was shot at MIT all bets were off.
More like “all the Constitutional safeguards were off,” but that’s the joy of living in a police state. Any excuse to advance fascism, eh?
They are looking for a terrorist you killed three people, injured 200, car jacked a citizen, engaged in a shoot out with police while throwing home made bombs at them in the middle of the night…they had NO IDEA who or if any one was helping them, since the suspects stayed local they had to assume they were receiving help….the lives of thousands still hung in the balance….what would you have them do? Even after all of that, they still missed him. They had to flush him out and lift the stay put order while staying still to see if he moved. Damned if you do, damned if you dont. From what I have heard and seen, MOST Bostonians were proud and more than happy to let them in. It is a bit jarring, but that is the reality this situation created. They were doing their job and that is what caught these men. So instead of giving them grief, a thank you would do nicely. Goodness
Hitler had the Gestapo, Boston had the pigs.
Where is the Wehrmacht? Right there, with the uniforms and guns…
The cops were a bunch of jack booted thugs. People can look out their windows if they want to. This is a sad state of affairs when law enforcement feels that bullying law abiding citizen is justifiable because they hear sirens and activity in the streets and look out the window. A police officer’s life is no more valuable than any other citizen, so don’t try to lionize them because of their chosen profession. They are paid for what they do, they do not do it out of the goodness of their hearts.
And so it begins. If you see any of this as acceptable , you have seriously lost your way in life. People have become willing victims and lay down at the slightest command by anyone in real or perceived power or authority. No questions, no outrage, just simpletons cowering to unreasonable and outrageous demands from government thugs beating at your doors, pulling you from your home at gunpoint and treating you as a criminal combatant.
We have allowed ourselves to become poorly cared for and mistreated pets of the government so that we can go about a lifeless existence. Where is the anger? where is the outrage? Where is the demand that we have answers and accountability from the people that have assumed rule over us?
Nope, After this last attack, the tide rose with great hope that people would finally take command and become fighters once again, then quickly faded to lifeless victim status.
Now the poor me candle light vigils begin, the “prayer vigils” from people that would (a day before) have proclaimed God to be the boogey man, the hand wringing, the whining and bull shit tears from absolute strangers that if not for this criminal act, would have shoved any one of those victims into the street to take their taxi cab. Now their full of misery, sadness, and teen age bull shit drama.
Quit being a victim, and quit letting government run amok. They will not, I repeat will not be the ones to defend you when a criminal is kicking in your door. Take responsibility of your own lives, raise your own families, and demand accountability.
Where I live, had any such criminal or terrorist come through my door, he would have been met by 2 Rottweilers, followed by a very determined man with an M-4 rife. No one takes my home or liberty. I don’t depend on the police to defend me because they can’t. Instead of being mindless subjects, try telling that cop to kiss your ass, Im looking out my damn window, watering my lawn, or washing my car. No need to be a hindrance to their duties, but my home is my home, and I will not be denied my liberty.
Jesus, people, Get it right. This was NOT a “TRAGEDY” quit regurgitating the words you have been programmed to repeat. A tragedy is what happened in West Texas, or Hurricane Sandy. THIS, was a violent criminal action from terrorists. They were not pissed over a bad sandwich order or a parking ticket, they were fundamentalist Muslims bent on murder. When are you going to wake the hell up and live in reality.
^ Like
+1!
…and a tragedy is what happened in Serbia and in Iraq, and is still happening.
Sure puts the lie to the claim that they “asked” people to search homes.
There was no “ask”. It was a demand backed up with lethal force, no matter how politely worded.
“Your money or your life, please.”
Something is very wrong in this country. I am a natural born American citizen yet I cannot do something as mundane as going to the local Post Office, Courthouse or other government building without being confronted by armed guards and going through a metal detector. Yet the very same “system” that puts me and other Americans through this scrutiny allowed the 19 hijackers of 9-11 to enter the U.S. without even the raising of an eyelid. No, Mohammed Atta and his compatriots did not have to cross the Rio Grande under cover of darkness or parachute in from an enemy aircraft into a remote area of our country. They were allowed in under the (watchful?) eyes of of our public officials. The Tsarmaev family of Boston Marathon fame (or infamy) did not sneak in as stowaways or hidden in freight containers. They came here in 2002 (note AFTER the 9-11 attacks) and again were allowed in by the very same public officials sworn to protect this country. Even after the FBI was alerted by the Russians (usually considered no friends of the U.S.) to the possibility of America facing a threat from a terrorist, a cursory “investigation” gave Tamerlan Tsarmaev a clean bill of health and allowed him to remain in America “cleared” of any further scrutiny. Instead of waking up to the realities of these people coming to America, our public officials create smokescreens to give the illusion of security yet are complicit in terrorism by allowing the terrorists to enter our country unabated. Until Americans wake up and hold our public officials accountable, things will likely only continue to get worse.
It’s all about cutting the head off the snake. Disarm the people, vilify those that resist reeducation, enact laws that make them criminals when they were not. Remove the family structure, remove religion, remove accountability and most importantly, destroy morality. Create legions of entitlement based generations that rely on government, and surrender your will to your rulers.
I have witnessed this behavior in places all over this globe, and could never understand how people just laid down and allowed themselves to be enslaved by a tiny faction of government thugs. And now I see it happening here in plain sight of day, and no one seems to see it or care.
With the current ability we all have to study the events of history, Im dumbfounded that we would sit by and allow this to happen to us. Americans have become lazy and stupid.
Roy, you may be technically correct., but what would it take for 100% success rate that you seem to expect? Totalitarian dictatorship or similar? Many people are indoctrinated that its all our governments responsibility. They should have LIMITED powers. Its really a two edged sword. Boston and other cities have deferred their individual responsibilities to the most inefficient of protectors, the government.
Govt is always our worst enemy (not Terrorists).
Was a five star video (YouTube is amazing). Equally emotional is some readers here at James Bovard blog will defend the Boston Gestapo.
At Newtown, Sandy Hook school, the cops told the survivors to close their eyes while a cop escorted them out of the school.
Bill O’Reilly wants everyone to visit the great city of Boston. Not me, I’m terrified of cops. They harass me 24/7. Boston is run by communists.
Some Americans will learn why the pigs don’t want anyone armed with guns, especially AR’s and AK’s. See what gun control does, and who the largest most antigun group of Americans are (cops) ?
In the end the UNARMED Terrorist was found by a homeowner, not by the Gestapo, outside the search area, after the lockdown was canceled. The Terrorist never harmed the homeowner, but the Gestapo still shot-up the Terrorist and the boat. If you find a Terrorist in your home or boat, NEVER call the police until you remove him from your property, otherwise the cops will destroy your property.
The lockdown was forced to be canceled by people who had enough power to stop the cops (major sport team owners). In the end, ignorant sheep were treated like sheep by wolves. When the majority allow this, the Gestapo are able to treat the remainder of us the same way.
America, like Boston, is a nation of sheep, nazis, communists, and cop-collaborators. John Adams started this crap with his sedition decrees. it has never ended.
Most of my deployment was in South America, where the culture is nothing but ruthless violence and absolute corruption on every level. I have great respect for the rank and file police officers doing their jobs in an increasingly ignorant and violent society where thy are hopelessly out numbered, and their efforts are constantly undermined by a politically correct and corrupted legal system. But they are police officers charged with keeping the peace and collecting evidence, not a combat unit. Unless there were combat veterans among them, they are not trained to handle this kind of operation. f you cannot understand that, I can’t help you. Also, I am not a Navy vet. I am former Army airborne, 3rd Rangers. I love my country, my freedom, my Constitution, and the bill of rights. Where any police force is given free reign over the citizens, there will be abuse of the system and the people.
I will not be dragged off topic, and enter into pin point facets of one fact or another, be part of a conversation that lends itself to hate, or calling into question the integrity of an individual police officer. Nor will I entertain hatred for my country from willing subjects that work to dissolve our liberties in the name of perceived safety. The picture is far greater than this single incident, but this is an operation that bears notice watching and questioning. The end result was the capture of a wanted suspect. Portions of how this was achieved was not acceptable, and to simply accept this treatment is shameful. To comply with the law is what makes us a polite society, and we should do so when the law is reasonable. Heavily armed men beating on your door demanding you surrender is insighting fear in an innocent person inside their own home. When they comply and are placed under demand to raise their hands held at gunpoint and pulled from their home while it’s searched is unacceptable. Being grabbed and shoved when you comply with demands, is unreasonable.
I have been personal witness to police actions where no rights exist outside of government power. It looks like that video, and I have no desire to see it take hold here. I have been present when uniformed police have carried this action to violent beatings of innocent people within their home to prove their unquestionable power over them. People that lose their vigilance over their lawmakers generally become ruled over. History, fact.
The distinction between police and military has been erased. Local, state, and federal forces work together under military command. Posse Comitatus, which provided proctection against a standing army – seen as a grave danger to freedom by the Founders – is now null and void. NORTHCOM (http://www.northcom.mil/) is an army of occupation in our own homeland. All of this has been enabled by the events of 9/11/2001, but the plan was in place long before. At the risk of repeating myself, Chalmers Johnson said that democracy and empire cannot coexist. US citizens support empire; we should not expect democracy and civil freedoms. The meaning of the chants of “USA!” in the streets of Boston is that we are willing to accept the bargain.
Dave G, agreed, and I’ve heard it echoed from others.
I wonder if it was that same mentality that led them to give Tsarnaev a Get Out of Jail Free card labeled “We don’t need no stinkin’ Miranda litany”.
As for police thinking they can be military, I’ve heard (2nd or 3rd hand) complaints from Regular Army folks in southwest Asia that when they get a group of reservists who are police the rest of the year, those are the ones who lack discipline, act like renegades, and reduce goodwil from the locals. I’ve never been military, but I’m sure it’s not like Call Of Duty, where the objective is to shoot anything that moves. And civilian police, even less so.
The police were doing exactly what they should be doing in a potentially hostile environment with terrorists around the area. This guy is trying to make the Boston PD look bad by making them seem like they’re overstepping their boundaries as lawmen. He argues that the Policemen were trying to intimidate and wrongfully threaten civilians if they disobeyed their instructions.
They were after from what they knew, a well armed, and dangerous individual. Hence all the gear and armored vehicles. Now in a situation that requires that sort of hardware, you don’t need people peering out of their windows presenting themselves as targets for these men who need to be focused on their task, as opposed to being distracted by curious people.
What they were shouting were very real and possible scenarios that could play out should the suspect act violently. Once the first round pops off everything will get crazy and curiosity could kill the cat in this case. Let the police do their job, stop being nosey, They are doing their jobs trying to find guys that WILL kill you. If only they did this for every murder.
The ignorance in here is astonishing.
Much more dangerous fugitives have been safely captured without calling in a militarily organized (and trained and equipped) coalition of 9,000 troops and suspending the civil liberties of the population. This has gone far beyond what normal police procedure would have been pre-USAPATRIOT. The fact is that the police have been organized and databased on a national level, coordinated with the military and given military training and hardware, and put in place to handle a domestic counterinsurgency scenario, not “crime.” And this is rehearsal for that. Look at all the noise being made about considering Tsarnaev a “combatant.” That tells you all you need to know. And notice how you automatically assume that all the hardware was necessary *simply because* it was deployed. Don’t forget that the kid was found after all the war-movie stuff was over by a citizen moving freely around his own property.
This is also a way for the different agencies involved to justify their ever-increasing funding – which coincidentally has become yet another way of extracting wealth from the population.
I’m not knocking the police when they’re in a dangerous situation. Far from it. But this goes far beyond police work. When citizens are in their own home, they should be able to be secure in their property and not invaded and challenged – and possibly taken away – unless there is immediate cause to believe that they have become a danger to someone. That’s fundamental to American tradition and law, and it’s being challenged here.
Make no mistake about it, in 21st century America the police can and will shoot anyone they wish, any time they wish, and for any reason they wish. This is reality. The only thing you and I can do is practice “survival mode.” Cooperate with the police as per their instructions but make no statements whatsoever to them, keep your hands open and in view of the officer at all times, and make no sudden moves which could be perceived as a threat. Teach your families and children this. We need to live for another day. In many respects we have to treat interactions with the police the same way we treat interactions with a robber or home invader. Make no eye contact, don’t appear as though you are observing descriptions of their identity, follow instructions, and pray that you may live for another day. Photography or video recording from a distance may be advisable for documentation at a later date, but remember that the police officer may decide your camera or cell phone is a weapon and open fire on you. You may be legally and Constitutionally in the right, but end up “dead” wrong. This is the new reality and we had better get accustomed to it.
Give me a fucking break. My brother works in the police, and I can tell you right now that they would much rather there be no shots fired at all. When someone is killed you cannot even imagine the sort of investigation that goes on afterward. Don’t be stupid.
The newsmedia always defends and heroizes the pigs. They do so to help them demonize public gun possession. Most Americans think it won’t happen to them (be harmed by police).
Police don’t serve and protect the public, they serve and protect themselves and their employer (govt) from the public. Their hero status, given to them by the news media and their employer, makes all of them think they’re superior to the public (and their employer).
The Right uses police to impose their version of morality (Prohibition) with total contempt for the Bill of Rights. The Left uses police to enforce anti weapon laws that ignore the 2nd amendment. The Right and the Left are destroying the country thanks to the pigs.
In the end, it’s the Public that allows the pigs to destroy their privacy, freedom, and safety. I’ve never feared a Terrorist, but I live in constant fear of police. I obtained my first gun after living next door to a cop.
I’d agree, but I’d add one thing: “They serve and protect themselves and their employer (govt), and their employer’s employer (corporations)”
Still, “pigs” was never accurate (“dogs” would have been better) and is inappropriate. In France they call them “les forces de l’ordre” (the forces of order), which is a pretty good designation. “Peace officers” is not accurate. “Police officers” is respectful. I’d suggest that, because they are working people after all.
Police are making us unsafe. Americans need to learn to view them with contempt.
Future remembrance day ceremonies in Boston should include a moment of shame for the soldiers who ‘served’ in this operation.