It's ironic, isn't it? The modern conservative movement was found in the reaction of the 1960s, which supposedly was all about law-and-order (remember 1968 and the streets of Chicago?). Now it's 40 years since the arrival of "Nixonland," and right-wingers have moved so far off the reservation -- with a little help from their friends on your AM dial -- that it's the cops that are the fuzzy-headed liberals, at least compared to them. It's 2009, and we have some of the best and the brightest law enforcement minds in the country trying to use common sense to bring down crime. Common sense, as in the complete opposite of the modern conservative agenda.
Take illegal immigration, the cause celebre of modern right-wing talk radio. This is from a story in today's New York Times that should have received more attention than it did:
MIAMI — Seeking to inject their views into the revived debate over immigration overhaul, several big-city police chiefs urged Congress on Wednesday to draft a new policy that improves public safety by bringing illegal immigrants out of the shadows.
The chiefs — updating recommendations made in 2006 by the leaders of more than 50 urban police departments — called for an overhaul that would integrate immigrants into the legal system, possibly with driver’s licenses, and separate the local police from immigration enforcement.
“We’re in the business of delivering a police service whether the person has had a car accident, been a victim of a crime, or been a witness to a crime,” said Chief John Timoney of the Miami Police Department.
He added that immigrants needed to come forward without fearing “that they are going to wind up being reported to federal authorities and deported.”
Yes, that John Timoney, the one who was universally hailed -- especially by the WPHT crowd, though -- for bringing down crime rates during his tenure in Philadelphia in the late 1990s through the 2000 GOP convention. Of course, people will always disagree on a thing or two, but when it comes to the issue of guns -- the cause that conservative politicians and pundits have been using to whip the rank-and-file into a frenzy since the dawn of the Obama presidency -- conservatives and police chiefs have also parted ways.
Here's what those bleeding hearted police chiefs think:
Miami-Dade Officer Jose Somohano was shot and killed with a Mak-90 assault rifle three years to the day after the federal law prohibiting the sale of such weapons expired.
The International Association of Chiefs of Police issued a report at noon Wednesday calling for, among other things, a renewal of the ban, arguing that it helps keep police officers safe by reducing the ``firepower available to criminals.''
The report hits home for South Florida law enforcement officers, who have been facing an increasing number of these guns on the street since the ban expired. Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez, a former police officer and police director, can't hide his anger when he talks about the fact that lawmakers let the ban expire.
''While I feel very strongly about the Second Amendment, I don't think that our founding fathers had AK-47s in mind,'' he said. ``There's absolutely no reason I can see having these weapons out on the street.''
Note that I posted this Miami Herald story as it appeared on conservative Web site Free Republic, so you can read all the supportive comments.But then, who are you going to believe on important issues like immigration or assault weapons, experienced law-enforcement officers, or your friendly local Freeper?
what?— bobbyd24- Police across the nation want to ban cop-killer bullets that can penetrate their vest, but the NRA and their stooges say no.Glad to see they support our police.— mike l
- Police across the nation want to ban cop-killer bullets that can penetrate their vest, but the NRA and their stooges say no.Glad to see they support our police.— mike l
Comment removed.
Common sense when it comes to dealing with undocumented (aka "illegal") immigrants and person-to-person weapons flies out the window. The police have been steady in their belief that they should not try to be immigration control and that assault weapons should be banned. I think the police have the ground truth on these issues. Listen to the people who face crime every day, not to the folks on the radio or TV or in politics, most of whom have never actually met an undocumented immigrant (unless they hired one as a gardener or babysitter) or a real armed criminal.- the police chiefs that have been in favor are beholding to the local politicians for there job,sheriffs elected are not opposed. Miami is the most politically corrupt region of fl. Illegals who commit crimes cost local counties millions to try and jail they are the ones that police want to identify mainly. cop killer bullets are not readily available and were designed by police. the weapons that are so called assault weapons are not full auto which are strictly regulated . click on the link there is a great rundown of the facts and where they are from. In Phila. last year there was much grandstanding from the previous mayor about people with cc permits but not one murder that i saw reported was from a licensed person.— jr23
- yeah will. all conservatives hate cops. anyone who opposes illegal immigration hates the police. great logic there Will. Are you going to post an article saying Cheney eats the souls of homeless people next?— beeron
- Comment removed.
We have immigration laws for a reason and they are Federal laws which should be enforced by the Federal gov't. and not left to State & local police to deal with. If the Federal government would enforce the laws and remove illegals from the country then State & local police wouldn't have to worry about them in "the shadows" or in plain sight. I don't object to immigration, I object to illegal immigrants receiving a benefit for breaking the law. With the current state of the nation we can't afford to be giving away health care to illegals and with 9.5% unemployment (and growing) maybe some people need to rethink what work is "below them" to do.— bird11- Comment removed.
- As to assault rifles and "cop killer" ammo - I have no problems with restricting sales but I'd also argue that the crimes perpetrated with these weapons are more than result of illegal gun purchases than legal gun purchases. Again it is a problem of enforcement that is not being taken seriously at the Federal level. Maybe with a 900+ billion stimulus we could hire more Federal law enforcement to address these problems.— bird11
- Comment removed.
- Here's the thing, the far left's and the far right's run this country. The crazy's out there always make the loudest noise and politicians side with them because they are afraid of losing elections. Most people really didnt care about the Janet Jackson thing. Was it wrong, yea. Was it as bad as it was made out to be, no. Since then the FCC has been bowing down to mothers who are afraid of what their kids might see or hear and dont want actually be parents to their kids. It's the same thing with the NRA. Politicians dont want to offend the NRA because of how big they are and how many votes they could lose if they go against them. Personally, i see no reason for automatic weapons being legal. I just dont get it. Though, i guarantee that if you could look up the facts, that most crimes are committed with ILLEGALLY purchased weapons. Most NRA people understand gun safety. Do a couple nuts jobs go crazy, yes. Is it a reason to prosecute the whole group, no.— whiplash240
- The modern conservative movement...(remember 1968 and the streets of Chicago). I certainly do remember August 1968 and Chicago. That was during the Democratic National Convention. Mayor-for-life Daly ran amuck with his upholding of American values. He set the police loose upon the poor defenseless peaceniks. Remember, this was the party of Johnson, Humphrey, Kennedy et al. Those bastions of conservative thought. Hey Bunch, when did you start giving a rat's arse about what happens to our Police Officers?— junethe4th
- I've asked this before, Will. What percentage of these crimes/murders are committed by people who obtained their guns lawfully? If the guns are being obtained illegally already, then why focus on regulations for the law-abiding citizens who AREN'T committing these crimes?— Vandy
Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
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