The Value Of Human Life

This evening I watched two related programs on TV:

(1) After supper I saw the CSI episode entitled "Paper or Plastic?" Two policemen stumbled upon an armed robbery in progress, and as a result of police gun play five people died.

(2) A little after 8 PM I watched the prosecutor announce the Ferguson grand jury no bill decision in the death of Michael Brown. Apparently a strong-arm robbery led to police gun play which resulted in Brown's death.

In both cases it was determined that proper police procedure had been followed, so the officers involved in the shootings were cleared of any wrongdoing.

But also in both cases it was clear that what led to the deaths was the belief that personal property rights are more important than human lives. In the CSI episode, 5 people died to keep $1,000 or so from being stolen. In the case of Michael Brown, he was killed following the alleged theft of merchandise worth less than $100.

Is this the value of human life in America? Apparently it is.

Had the police not gotten involved, no one would have died. If we want this kind of crap to stop, we must start by preventing police or anyone else from using deadly force to protect private property. If we don't, the result will always be the same:

NOTHING JUSTIFIES THE KILLING OF INNOCENT (OR GUILTY) PEOPLE, EXCEPT FOLLOWING PROPER POLICE PROCEDURE.