Dec. 1, 2014 - PPM - Michael Brown Law

This week's PET PEEVE MONDAY (PPM) is the proposed Michael Brown Law.  

This PEEVE is also available on the Political Prospect web site.

The Michael Brown Law? 

In the wake of the Ferguson Grand Jury’s decision not to indict Officer Darren Wilson in the killing of Mike Brown, there are already calls for the “Michael Brown Law” – a law that would require police to wear cameras in the line of duty. Regardless of the merits of the law, the proposal is flawed form the outset by virtue of its name. 

While laws following tragedies are ordinarily named after their victim—Jessica’s Law, Amber Alerts, the Brady Act—the  “Michael Brown Law” would unjustly name this measure after the perpetrator rather than the victim.

The Grand Jury has spoken and released an unprecedented 4799 page report supporting their vindication of Officer Darren Wilson and his decisive action against Michael Brown’s felonious assault. 

But the controversy has not diminished.  In fact, it escalated this week with riots and violent protests.  When are facts, NOT facts?

Adding gasoline to the fire is the outrageous demand by the family of Michael Brown for a new “Michael Brown Law” that would require the police to wear cameras.

These type of laws are ALWAYS named after the VICTIM:

  

The Brady Act required a background check for the purchase of certain firearms.  It was drafted and passed after President Reagan’s Press Secretary James Brady was tragically wounded by John Hinckley, Jr. in a 1981 assassination attempt on Reagan.  It is NOT called the Hinckley Act.

Jessica’s Law is named after Jessica Lunsford, a twelve year-old girl from Florida.  Jessica was sexually assaulted and murdered in February 2005 by John Couey.  Couey was a previously convicted sex offender.  The law requires mandatory prison sentences for sexual predators who commit crimes against minors, hopefully eliminating their chances to re-offend.  It is NOT called the Couey Law. 

Amber Alerts were created following the kidnapping and disappearance of 9 year-old Amber Hagerman in Texas in 1996. Her body was recovered 4 days after she went missing. Unfortunately her killer has never been found.  The Amber Alert system is in use throughout the US and in many countries.  It provides immediate alert notification via all possible media (TV, phone, radio, electronic road signs, etc.)

That said, Michael Brown had just robbed a convenience store, was high on marijuana, and decided it would be a good idea to attack a police officer.  The Grand Jury deliberated and released a comprehensive decision.  It outlined Brown’s actions that led to his unfortunate, yet justified, outcome.  To canonize this individual with a named law insults REAL victims.

I believe having the police wear body cameras is a great idea.  But let’s call it the “Officer Darren Wilson Law.”  Darren Wilson is the real victim of the situation caused by Michael Brown’s tragic actions.  Going forward, Darren Wilson will need to retire from his chosen profession.  He will be forced to move away, thanks to the New York Times, which had the audacity to publish the name of Wilson’s street, and possibly enter the Witness Protection Program to protect himself and his family from known and unknown threats.  

Why?  Because he did his job that day.

It’s ironic that the lawful shooting of Michael Brown has started a protest movement titled, “Hands Up for Justice.” It is based on the false premise that Brown had his hands up, complying with Officer Wilson’s demands when he was shot.  This was never the case, as corroborated by several eye witness accounts, the forensic evidence, and the autopsy, as detailed in the Grand Jury report.

Brown ignored the officer’s instructions and was aggressively running toward the officer until he was finally stopped by lethal, legal force.  The “Hands Up” narrative was a myth propagated by social media and distorted and distributed by professional race baiters like Reverend Al Sharpton.

Additionally, elevating Michael Brown to civil rights martyr status diminishes the accomplishments of real civil rights pioneers like Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Is there racism in this country? Absolutely. Does police brutality exist? Sure. 

But hitching your wagon to the Ferguson case to focus on racial profiling and police tactics is a huge mistake. Michael Brown fit the description of a suspect in a recent local robbery. Officer Wilson had probable cause to detain Brown.  Read the Grand Jury report.  The media created a narrative “Hands Up” that didn't exist. Ironically, had Michael Brown obeyed the Officer’s “Hands Up” declarations, he would be alive today.

The real message from the Ferguson events should be to follow police requests.

We need to have dialogue and discussions about race, police policy, and other flash point issues.  Before we start, we must find some common ground.  It would be nice if we could agree that not EVERYTHING is about race.  It would also be helpful if national leaders would not insert themselves into local events and try to lead, influence, or distract from the TRUE realities.

Sometimes people of all colors make poor decisions.  Michael Brown died because of his failure to follow the explicit directions from a uniformed Police Officer.  

Daniel Moynihan (D- NY) once said, “Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but they are not entitled to their own facts.”  

Read the Grand Jury report and decide for yourself.