An Answer of Sorts

The reporter who wrote about the SWAT machine gun stolen from a car while the "Only One" it was assigned to "relaxed" at a sports bar has responded to my inquiry:

That’s a good question and one we discussed before the story aired.

I certainly see your point.

In the end, we decided that since this deputy did not violate any department policy, has not been placed on leave or reprimanded or charged with anything, the most relevant point was, hey, there’s this really dangerous gun and other serious SWAT gear out on the street. Watch for it.

But I’m glad you sent the e-mail.

I forwarded it onto a contact at the sheriff’s department.

It’s always worth re-examining things like this.

Thanks for watching.

And remember we need story ideas literally every day.

Tyler Lopez

That kind of begs the question as to why the "Only Ones" are the only ones who have the judgment and temperance to have machine guns available to respond to emergencies after they've been "relaxing" in bars, doesn't it? Or why the inequity of treatment: if it had been a non-"Only One," charges would have been filed, and we damn sure would know their name.

"Authorized journalists" are a lot like horses. You can lead them to water...