HOWARD'S NOTEBOOK

  If you study law enforcement one of the things you learn about is the history of the police and the system in the UK.  I admire the idea of the Bobbies.  The Metropolitan Police began in 1829.  People respected the Bobbies.  They did not wear a uniform that looked military in appearance.  There only weapon has been a short truncheon and they keep it out of sight.  They try not to use it except in self-defense.  For someone to attack one of them was rare and people would be very upset if someone did.
  Our police over here have gone the other direction.  They are more like a military force. They were masks. They are armed with everything you can think of and then some.  The police over here seem often to shoot first and ask questions later.  I think all of now feel like if the police have contact with us that we are in danger.  Are we going to make some error and move or reach for something.  Police use force on children.  The police break down doors in the middle of the night and sometimes it is the wrong door.
  But my God after the hacking attack in the UK I think it is time for change for the UK.
  I am not sure if it is correct or not but it is reported that it took the police 30 minutes to show up!  I suspect that was because they had to round up some armed police officers to respond.  I think it is time for all police officers to be armed in the UK.

  I know homes cost a lot of money but homes in areas that are hit by tornado should have shelters.  A basement will work.  But there should have to be shelters for all new built homes in those areas.  The problem is going to be on what areas.  Is that going to be Texas, Kansas, OK and Missouri?  I see a lot of problems with that and costs. 
  I live in an apartment in Fort Worth.  There is no basement here and no shelter.  We would all have to head for our bathrooms.  Hell this apartment complex only has about two wheelchair ramps. It was built, I guess, before they were required. 

  The Boy Scouts are going to vote on the gay ban.  Right wing talk radio and groups have been doing all they can to get the people voting to keep the ban on gay boys. 
  A lot of the Boy Scout post are supported by churches.  They are threating to pull their support of the Boy Scouts vote to admit gay boys to the scouts.
  It is a mess.  Boys need organizations like the Boy Scouts.  No one should be asking if boys or anyone is gay.  It should not matter.  It should be a private and personal thing. 
  I looked on the internet and most people seem to think that about 4% of Americans are gay.  I was thinking it might be more like 10%.  But come on…For Christ sake..Gays have been in the Boy Scouts from the very beginning.  Just as they have been in the military, in government, in the churches and all over America.  It seems to be that the percentage of gays in the Republican Party must be like 30%.  We have had a gay President I am sure.  Many people think President Lincoln was gay. 
  I hope the Boy Scouts do the right thing and I hope the right will accept it and not try and punish the Boy Scouts and America’s children.