Out-of-control spending and plunging government revenues may have unintended consequences — as far as tax-and-spend, and spend-some-more politicians are concerned — of reminding people that we are ultimately responsible for our own safety. The pot of gold is empty and inevitable cutbacks in important public services, including law enforcement, are on the horizon. It is happening in Oakland, where the police chief has announced officers won’t respond to a whole list of crimes, and now more than 80 officers have been laid off. It’s been happening in Vallejo for a long time, and the Times-Herald reports more cutbacks are coming including, more fire services.
What’s a citizen to do? Perhaps follow the advice of Ashtabula County, Ohio, Judge Alfred Mackey and Hudspeth County, Texas, Sheriff Arvin West. In the past few months, both of them advised their neighbors to arm themselves. The judge said, according to a report on WKYC back in April, “Be very careful, be vigilant, stay in touch with your neighbors because we’re going to have to look after each other.” Vallejo is no different.
Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts is no less a victim of government’s out-of-control spending than King County, Washington, Sheriff Sue Rahr. She is begging voters to approve a small sales tax hike to pay for sheriff’s department services, and maintain the county prosecutor’s office. It will likely be rejected, as it should be.
Last year, Rahr reportedly advised county residents during a series of public meetings on public safety that faced with the possibility of a burglary, home invasion, or some other crime and the nearest deputy being several minutes away, she would “have a gun.” According to King County Sgt. John Urquhart, without additional funds, his agency will be forced to trim 48 sworn positions from its patrol staff for unincorporated areas of the county, Washington’s most populous. That is a 20 percent reduction (one-fifth). On top of that, 16 sworn positions for regional police will be cut.
Vallejo’s police count used to be near 200 and is now down to around 90. It’s bad here. And there.
Government’s first priority is to provide certain services, primarily public safety. Over the years, budget priorities have become whatever the self-serving politicians want them to be. Special programs for key special interest groups have taken priority over basic services, and have become “entitlements.” Some who have made a career of elected office rather than a temporary detour from private enterprise — as the Founding Fathers had originally envisioned public service — evidently never believed that the well would run dry. They were horribly wrong and the people are paying the price.
The Drudge Report posted this headline: “Criminals delight: Oakland cops won’t respond to minor crimes.” It is a shameful signal to be sent by a law enforcement agency, but this situation must be kept in perspective. Many Americans will now re-discover what made this nation great in the first place: Self-reliance. This is not a call for anarchy but for a return to reality. Too many in public office have tried to create their Utopian dream on the taxpayers’ backs, and at the expense of basic public needs. In the process, they have literally squandered fortunes on projects that were good for a headline, but didn’t work and accomplished nothing. All of this adds to the many reasons for voting all incumbents out of office in November!
There’s a saying in the firearms community: “When seconds count, police are minutes away.” That’s about to change in Vallejo and elsewhere now that police agencies are strapped and facing reductions in staff and services. Rural agencies may be hit the hardest. When seconds count, police may be hours away, if they come at all! Faced with that, citizens have two choices: Submit to victimization or fight back.
Nobody is advocating “vigilantism,” which is what gun prohibitionists (gun banners) always cry when private citizens arm themselves for self-defense. Nobody is “taking the law into their own hands.” Armed citizens who carry guns or keep them in their homes or businesses are acting within existing law, and thanks to the Supreme Court’s recent Heller and McDonald rulings, law-abiding citizens now have the full force of the Second Amendment behind them. Communities throughout the entire nation are in for a very rough ride, and many people who have been indifferent about their personal safety may now find themselves grateful that they have the right to keep and bear arms.
Instead of anarchy, that most important right, the Second Amendment to the Constitution, may ensure order and civility, because those we elected have decided upon other priorities in order to suit their own agendas.
Bob Ireland
Vallejo
[Via Timesheraldonline.com]
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