Military equipment protects police

President Barack Obama and some politicians clearly have no regard for the safet y and/ or respect of our law-enforcement officers (“Military gear for police restricted,” May 19). The military-st yle tactical gear used by law enforcement in the demonstrations, which led to violent destruction of public and private property, was for the protection of the law-enforcement personnel. It was not to intimidate the protesters.

It was only through their presence that the rioting did not escalate. Obama’s limits on this t ype of tactical equipment will drastically increase the injuries and/ or deaths of our law-enforcement community in future confrontations.

If it were not for our law enforcement and military, I would venture to guess that our rights to assembly, as dictated in the U.S. Constitution, might not be our rights at all.

The next time you see a veteran, a member of the armed forces or a law-enforcement officer, stop them, shake their hand and thank them for their service. If it weren’t for their unselfish dedication to protecting all of the American people, including the criminals, we would not have the freedom we do.

So give (no strings attached) the kids a free cellphone with texting only. This is something immediately useful that they will be intrinsically motivated to use, and watch them read and write for hours.