the play is on first
There is a baseball saying that “the play is on first base”. This is a reference to there being more than one runner in play so which should be taken out (A. the one on first base).
The recent clashes between police and communities has a similar logic to it. There were many places where the current chain of events could have been disrupted and the current situation negated:
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hire balanced, educated LEOs, specifically avoiding the overly aggressive, sociopaths, racists, steroid abusers, self-described “Punishers”, etc. <– police duty
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obey the law, in order to minimize run-ins with LEOs, including the sociopaths that leak through the above step <– citizen duty
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do not punish/kill suspected lawbreakers on the streets <– police duty
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make LEOs personally responsible for their actions, just like anyone else <– judicial duty
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if you’re going to protest, do it peacefully and lawfully. Wear armor. Be lawfully armed. Remember that it’s counterproductive to fsck up your own neighborhood. <– citizen duty
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if you’re on riot duty, only follow lawful orders Understand the law and your role in it. <– police duty