Every time I read about the latest murder, the killer’s lawyer, usually accompanied by the killer’s family, gets up in front of the T.V. cameras and claims that the killer was suffering a “mental health crisis.” “He was a good boy,” they allege. “He didn’t deserve to get murdered by the police in this way.”
I call bull.
Even supposing that the killer was actually in the throes of a “mental health crisis,” I always ask, “How were the cops supposed to know?” All they knew was that this maniac was coming after them with a gun or knife, or maybe just his bare fists. So they very properly defended themselves and their fellow cops by shooting him. This is perfectly legal. Then, the next thing you know, John Burris is suing them, holding press conferences to influence a potential jury pool. The news media goes into a tizzy, publishing timelines and witness statements. The District Attorney begins her investigation. The cops involved are put on administrative leave, but since their identities are now widely known, they’re subject to death threats and shunning. The whole thing turns into a circus. Lost in the chaos is that cops who rightly feared for their lives and defended themselves now face years of trouble, including loss of their careers and the condemnation of large segments of the public.
Don’t believe me? Just ask Johannes Mehserle.
Besides, what is a “mental health crisis” anyway? I asked Google’s AI and here’s how it replied: “A mental health crisis is any situation in which a person’s thoughts, feelings, or behaviors put them at risk of hurting themselves or others, or prevent them from being able to care for themselves or function safely in their community. It is often described as a moment when a person's usual coping strategies are overwhelmed by intense emotional distress or stress.”
That’s not very helpful, is it? Lots of us, probably most of us have had moments when we were overwhelmed with distress or stress. But we didn’t go out and kill somebody, nor did we resist arrest if the cops showed up or attack those cops with intent to kill.
Let me emphasize that I’m not denying the existence of so-called legitimate mental health crises. I’m sure there are forms of schizophrenia or psychosis in which the person undergoes a more or less complete break from reality. But put yourself in the position of a cop who’s called to respond to an incident. All you know is what you see and what has been reported. Your training has taught you to be respectful to the apparent perp: you call him “Sir” and use the words “please” and “thank you.” You repeat yourself many times, slowly and clearly just in case the guy has a comprehension problem. But still, he comes at you with his weapon. You have a split-second to decide how to react. You’ve issued, as politely as you know how, your warnings. All to no avail. At the last moment, when the guy is within lunging distance, you finally pull the trigger.
I suppose I can’t blame the parents, sisters, brothers and cousins of the victim who cry “mental health crisis!” when the reporters video them. They’re anguished and devastated by the loss of their loved one. They naturally seek justice. Of course, they can’t help but think that Mr. Burris, or some other “civil rights lawyer,” may also be able to get them a few million dollars to compensate for their emotional suffering. Now, I’m not suggesting that’s their primary motive, but maybe, just maybe, it factors into the equation a little bit? Just saying. At any rate, it can’t hurt. The lure of free money is very powerful, especially in the underclasses.
My takeaway from all this is, don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time (or if you’re not prepared to get shot for it). Murder is murder. I do not accept the premise that a “mental health crisis” compels anyone to attack, much less kill, another. The “mental health crisis” excuse is just that, a load of crap not worthy of wasting the time of a judge or jury. The problem in a city like Oakland is that the police are so despised by such large portions of “the community” that they can’t possibly expect the fair trial and impartial jury the Constitution guarantees. John Burris knows this, and has gotten rich from suing cops because, in the kind of civil cases he brings, he knows he can depend on biased juries, who in their own blind racial fury ignore facts and morality by finding cops guilty when they’re not. This is why cities like Oakland prefer to settle these cases, rather than let them go to trial. If I were leading this city, I would never, ever settle such a case. I’d fight it out, for as long as necessary. Resistance to tyranny is the obligation of every good citizen, and the epitome of tyranny is when grifters use racial divisions to get rich.
Have a wonderful, healthy and safe weekend! Back on Monday.
Steve Heimoff