In this column, I recently argued in favor of a grand jury’s refusal to indict Officer Dan Pantaleo for the death of Eric Garner. To my dismay (and, frankly, shock), a great many “conservatives” and “libertarians,” I’ve had the great misfortune to discover, disagree vehemently with the grand jury’s decision. Some have gone so far as to describe Garner’s death as murder.
Bear in mind, the critics’ knowledge of this case extends no further than a 15 second or so video of the fatal arrest and the fact that Garner was illegally selling cigarettes. That’s it. It is coupled by their belief—one that I share, by the way—that this offense of Garner’s should not be a criminal offense at all. Thus, the police, so goes the reasoning, never should’ve placed him under arrest in the first place.
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I agree. I don't know what loose cigarettes are but, from my point of view, the
ReplyDeletepunishment did not fit the crime. What about clearing the city of the violent,
vicious gangs. I believe Plum Island needs a new host.
I don't know what loose cigarettes are
DeleteI guess the tax is so high that many don't have the money to buy a pack, so they are sold individually. Very common in Vietnam, by the way except that it is legal under their Communist government which tells you a lot about ours. :)
If Garner bought a bag of tobacco, some filters, papers, and has a cigarette rolling
ReplyDeletemachine, then he paid taxes on all these items and what he does with the
cigarettes is his business. It's like property taxes - when you bought your home
you paid taxes so why do you keep paying taxes on the same home, year after
year. Makes no sense unless its called highway robbery.
its called highway robbery.
DeleteIt is, just like the death tax, but the PTB will tax everything they can as many times as they can.
The sale of tobacco and tobacco products requires the payment of a tax....each and every time the product changes hands for money. I have no doubt that Mr. Garner paid the tax on the cigarettes he bought as a pack. But by turning around and selling them...in any fashion be it singly or as a pack the law states he must pay a tax. He of course was NOT paying such a tax. THAT is the crime for which he was being arrested....and to a politician nonpayment of taxes is FAR more serious than something as mundane as robbery, car theft etc. as it deprives them of their very lifeblood....tax dollars. In fact "contempt of cop" is probably the ONLY "crime" one can commit that is more serious to those who wield power than non payment of taxes.
ReplyDeleteNever forget.....as far as politicians and the badged thugs they hire to enforce their edicts are concerned NO crime no matter how small, no matter how minor, no matter if there is a victim or not has the potential to become a Capital Offense. The state WILL KILL YOU for something as ridiculous as jaywalking if you refuse to bow, scrape and submit INSTANTLY to their authority.
Yes, Sir.
Delete