“If they can’t protect me from their own police who’s going to? I mean I’m worried if I’m going to get home to see my three children and then I find out the person who pulled the gun on me was a person of the law.” – Witness Ronna McAlister, interviewed by Channel 40/29

http://www.4029tv.com/news/arkansas/northwest/Two-officers-on-leave-after-fight-at-restaurant/-/8897460/19742414/-/wdsh47z/-/index.html

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Billy’s Bar & Grill could have been the site of a stupid tragedy a few days ago, when two off-duty police officers (one from Little Rock, the other from Prairie Grove) got into a public fight in a Fayetteville pool hall. During the scuffle, one officer pulled his weapon, and was whirling about in circles, covering the crowd.

After Fayetteville police officers were called to the scene, everything settled down – but no arrests were made.

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Evidently, the two officers – who have since been suspended by their respective departments – are allowed to carry weapons in an establishment which serves alcohol.

Of course, sit in any restaurant, and the civilian sitting next to you may well be packing heat, ever watchful, ever waiting, should his services be required. They might even be knocking back a brewski or two, to help with their concentration.

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But why the hell would cops feel the need to mix alcohol and guns?

Witnesses at the scene were upset that the cops were allowed to walk, and with good reason. At least for the sake of propriety, and to assure the public that everyone in Fayetteville is treated equally under the law, handcuffs should have been put on, and it could all have been worked out at the station.

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Just try getting into a fight in a restaurant even without pulling a gun, and see where you might spend the night. Try waving a fork around, for good measure.

Just because the Men with Bad Haircuts in the Arkansas legislature seem to feel that an armed society is a polite society, is no reason for folks to hitch a wagon to their rapidly tarnishing star. Sometimes that thing called common sense should creep in, and you should think twice about slipping that gun into its holster before going out for a night on the town.

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Especially if you are a police officer.

You can’t drive when you have been drinking too much, but you can carry a weapon, and wave it around like Barney Fife at a bachelor party? With no immediate consequences?

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Okay . . .

******

Quote of the Day

Most of us would be far enough from vanity if we heard all the things that are said of us. – Joseph Rickaby

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rsdrake@cox.net