Sunday, March 30, 2008

We're the Only Ones Who Want to Do Something Enough

And he wonders: Could he have done more to prevent the deaths of five Northern Illinois University students when a former student opened fire in a crowded auditorium last month?

“I know intuitively there’s nothing I could have done to protect them,” said Grady, the 54-year-old campus police chief.

“But it doesn’t change the fact that, inside, I feel like I wanted to be able to do something.”

How about just doing nothing, Chief?

Or if you must do something, how about becoming a vocal proponent for armed self defense, and conducting training classes for students and faculty at your police facilities?

Your physical courage is not at issue here--you acquitted yourself bravely. But you'll never be able to get there in time and you know it. And despite your belief to the contrary you're not "The Only One" capable of an approprate armed response.

Why should someone who wishes to defend himself fear you as well as a criminal assailant? And considering "the supreme law of the land" and what your likely response would be, why are you so sure there's a distinction?

[Via Discontented Cookie]

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

No, Chief Grady, there is absolutely nothing you could've done, but there is something an armed student or professor could have done. Come to think of it, perhaps you could do something after all, come out in support of law abiding citizens having the ability to defend themselves wherever thier business happens to take them. The true first responders are always going to be the people on the scene, not the police ninety seconds away. Please lay aside any ego issues and see the truth. Ordinary citizens are on the side of law and order, we'd just like to see a little respect come the other way. J.B.

Kent McManigal said...

I am only on the side of "law" if law is on the side of "right". Too many "laws" only enable "wrong" today.

Anonymous said...

Amen, KM

Anonymous said...

How honorable this creep is... he actively seeks to leave law-abiding citizens disarmed by enforcing unconstitutional and bigoted gun laws. Now he plays the hero card, while he actually accomplished zilch during this shooting.

And what do the students say;
“Before, he always said, ’I’ll be right there with you if anything happens’. And you kind of think, ’Yeah, right,”’ said Ellington. “But he was there when the time came.”

What reality is this person living in? This "only one" left you and your classmates disarmed to DIE! He than showed up after the fact to make his report. Not quite sure what part of "filing a report" is honorable.