From: Vin_Suprynowicz@lvrj.com (Vin Suprynowicz) Subject: Re: Send in The Waco Killers>Vin, I recently received my copy of your book from amazon and have since >been unable to put it down. I should begin by stating that I am a Sergeant >with a Sheriff's Department in western New York, with almost 12 years >experience in law enforcement, and as such I am probably not a typical fan. >I first learned of your book after reading John Ross' excellent book >"Unintended Consequences". (Your review was on the back cover, I looked you >up on the internet). When I took my oath as a Deputy Sheriff, the first >line of that oath stated " I swear to uphold the Constitution of the United >States of America". I have always felt that to be the most signifigant and >meaningful portion of my swearing in. It never ceases to amaze me how many >of my fellow police officers have forgotten the oath they took. I was first >interested in your book because of your strong stance on the 2nd >ammendment. As a long time gun owner, you were preaching to the choir on >this topic. But imagine my suprise when I found myself agreeing with many >of the other important topics covered in your book, some of which I had >previously given little thought. Indoctrinated as I have been in the >rhetoric of the "Drug War" by over a decade in police work, you have >challenged many core beliefs and have given me much food for thought. I >could go on and on about each topic covered in your book, but I will merely >be repeating myself. I am curious if you could offer any other book titles >that cover similar issues. I am also curious if you have written anything >in the past about the "legalized stealing" commonly referred to as asset >forfeiture. You touched on it very briefly in the book but such a huge >topic surely demands more coverage. Perhaps in a future book. In closing I >would like to say that while I am sure you are not a great fan of the >police, please know that there are some of us out there who do not embrace >the role of government thug, ( although I am wondering if I am in a >minority). I became a police officer because I don't like bullies, not to >become one. Thank you for your outstanding book. It should be in every >library and bookstore in this once great nation. > >Best wishes, > >[Name & location excised at writer's request] > >PS. As my department forbids any correspondence with news agencies, etc. >expressing political views which could be interpreted as an endorsement by >them, I ask that this communication remain personal. Thanks.
Hi, XXXXXX --
Thanks for writing. You may want to take a look at a series of columns I did last spring on the John Perrin shooting here in town -- and especially on the police response to my INITIAL columns (some reassuring; some chilling.) I'll see if I can dig them up for you.
Yes, it's both frustrating and a little frightening to find out how many officers have sworn an oath to "protect and defend," but will then turn around and explain to you that "Times have changed; we just can't let people have the same freedoms they had back in the old days. After all, we can't very well let some guy just walk down the street with a rifle in his arms, or allow someone to keep a pig in his back yard, or paint his house just any color, or drive around without a license, can we? What? An 'internal passport'? No, we don't have those. What do you mean? Only fascist countries require someone to carry 'travel papers' with them at all times. Arrested someone for not having proper ID? Give me a break. That's a ridiculous comparison. We only do that if someone looks suspicious!"
(Of course, I get accused of being "anti-police." Maybe it's just that I'm enough of a doddering 50-ish geezer to pine for the days when all of us non-cat-burglars could actually smile and breathe a sigh of relief when we saw "Friendly Officer Brown" hie into view, figuring "Now I feel a little safer," instead of going, "Jeez, is he running my plates right now to find out if I've got a concealed-carry permit? Is he going to pull me over and ask if I've got a firearm in the car? Did I leave the rifle in the trunk when I got back from the range Sunday? Have I inadvertently driven across the line into North Las Vegas, where it's illegal to have a box of ammo in the trunk WITH the target rifle? I hope my idiot nephew didn't drop some marijuana seeds on the floor when he borrowed the car last week. And of course the state computers are still three months behind processing their license renewals; do I have the checkbook stub that shows I sent in my renewal fee on time? Will that be good enough?"
And mind you, this is the response of a middle-aged white guy who generally wears a necktie. If I were some young fellow of more exotic ethnic extraction, who'd been pulled out of his car on the way home from the university library and made to lay face down on the pavement five or six times this year for driving a "supiciously expensive car," I can see where my fantasies might indeed be characterized as "anti-cop." Yet try to explain to most of these fellows that it's the highly-visible blue-clad centurions on the street who will be the first to be decimated when the pressure cooker of more and more and ever more laws finally explodes, and you're immediately classified as a "dangerous anti-government nut."
"May you live in interesting times," as the Chinese used to say.
Asset seizures is a topic I've written some columns on, and to which I should probably devote a chapter in the sequel. I'll list some web sites below, where you can scan some of my back stuff.
Thanks for writing (and for caring enough to think about this stuff -- all too rare, I'm afraid!) I'll be sure not to give out your name -- though you should feel free to quietly circulate a few copies of my books among your uniformed brethren, if you think it would do any good.
Happy Y2K,
-- Vin > > >SEND IN THE WACO KILLERS, by Libertarian syndicated columnist >Vin Suprynowicz, has been selected as _Freedom Book of the Year_ >by Free-Market.Net. Their review is located at >http://www.free-market.net/features/bookofthemonth/ > >The best libertarian outreach tool in years. If you haven't read it -- >you're missing something important. > >Copies of "Send in the Waco Killers" are in stock for immediate shipment >and can be ordered by mailing check or money order for $21.95 for each copy >plus $3 shipping for the first copy ($6 Priority; $2 shipping per each >additional copy) to Mountain Media, P.O. Box 271122, Las Vegas, Nev. 89127. >Orders can also be placed (with credit card orders welcome) by dialing >Huntington Press at 1-800-244-2224. Inquire about volume discounts. On the >Internet, go to http://www.thespiritof76.com/wacokillers.html, where credit >card and bulk orders are also accepted, as is payment in silver, >gold, and other hard currencies. >