Salt Lake City Utah Police found the body of five-year old Destiny Nortson this morning in the basement of a house 150 feet from her home. [KSL News Story]
The police can’t protect us, they cannot protect our children. They are not chartered to do so, they are not required to do so. Their job is to protect the citizenry at large, not individuals. They’re not even required to protect a citizen in the presence of a “Protective Order” issued by the court (Supreme Court, Castle Rock v. Gonzales).
In this case the Police failed society. Whether by (yet to be proven) incompetence or by the shackles of the law and department policy that we have placed upon them.
The Police could not search that home without probable cause or a warranty (Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution). They were prohibited by the very document that all our law is based upon.
But what can we as law abiding citizens do? When the police aren’t obligated to protect an individual or perceived as not doing enough, we the People have the right to form a well regulated milita to arm ourselves and protect our families and our children.
Of course, a militia cannot operate outside the bounds the the law either. Conversely, a militia isn’t bound by police rules and regulations — they are only bound by the law.
Let’s face it, if you are a criminal who has just committed a crime against your own neighbor (as in this case), who would you prefer to be questioned by?
- The police (whom the ACLU or any number of lawyers would love to sue if they don’t follow procedure to the letter of the law)?
- An armed Militia of your neighbors, friends, and/or associates (who aren’t bound by red-tape and political nonsense)?
Were you in that situation you’d most likely choose to enter into police custody for your own protection if nothing else.
In summary, let the police do their job: investigation and apprehension; but don’t let them stop you from doing your job: protecting yourself, your family, and your neighbors.
After all, the courts have clearly told us, it’s not the Police’s job to protect you, or your child. If one of my children goes missing, will you take up arms and help me find and detain the perpetrator? If you ask me the same, I’ll be there to help you.
References:
U.S. Constitution, Amendment II
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
U.S. Constitution, Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Supreme Court, Individual Protection Not Required:
[Police] fell back upon a rich history of court decisions that found the police to have no constitutional obligation to protect individuals from private individuals. In 1856, the U.S. Supreme Court (South v. Maryland) found that law enforcement officers had no affirmative duty to provide such protection. In 1982 (Bowers v. DeVito), the Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit held, “…there is no Constitutional right to be protected by the state against being murdered by criminals or madmen.” Later court decisions have concurred.
