"The important thing is that we introduce more guns into the mix so we can have less shootings."
-NRA

Yesterday afternoon at 4:00 pm, I was doing my regular volunteer work, teaching young children in an after school program, at a local rec center. Across the street, merely a few yards away, there was a drive-by shooting. I was on the other side of the wall when it happened in a room filled children. Thankfully no one at the rec center was harmed.

I and three other adult men would have fit the profile (i.e. a "thug" ). Every time I hear a story like what happened to this security guard, I cannot avoid worrying one day it might be me.

I saw this story yesterday. A Wa State ballot measure was passed this last Tuesday to require better police training. Wa State has the lowest standard for training and all it really does is bring the state up to the requirements in other states. Yet on facebook is a big "We're sorry officers you have to go through this". WTF?!?!?!
It's a dangerous job from and jump, one would think more and better training would HELP but the push back from the right in Wa was sad to see.
Prior to the measure passing cops got 8 hours of training B4 putting on the uniform and a voluntary 2 hours continuing education/training every year.

I do not even know where to begin to start addressing black phobia. I do think it is a huge issue in this country.

I think cops need to be trained better.

This provides another argument against people who want citizens to have more guns. If more people have guns to defend themselves from domestic terrorists, then what's to stop another person or a cop from thinking the good guy is the bad guy?

America's love affair with guns is a sick, abusive relationship.

I think the key to this story is this bit. "The department said the Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force would investigate the shooting in order to “ensure transparency and maintain public trust."" Not, we are investigating the shooting to find out if it was legitimate. Just to "ensure transparency and maintain public trust". In other words a white wash.

Disgraceful