When Freddie Gray died while being transported in police custody, the Baltimore police force was told to “stand down” as riots erupted. I didn’t work to quell the rioting, but it did keep police from having to be confrontational with citizens and possibly shoot someone.

After the black men who were shot by police in Louisiana and Minnesota and prior to any official investigatory findings, protests broke out. Twelve cops were shot by a black man who said he wanted to kill white police in Dallas. Five died. There were public celebrations regarding these innocent officers’ deaths and more protests nationwide. Today, the Dallas police headquarters went into lockdown after an anonymous threat.

Some people are really angry with cops (particularly white cops). Who can forget the “Black Lives Matter” chant? “Pigs in a blanket. Fry ’em like bacon…”.

I suggest cops “stand down” rather than responding to calls in anti-cop neighborhoods. People have a right to protect their own hometowns and usually employ police to do it. So, in lieu of using cops, let  those residents patrol their own neighborhoods as an armed version of the Guardian Angels. Surely they can protect their neighbors and themselves without being forced to shoot.  Problem solved?

One other thought: Each and every person who celebrated the deaths of those five innocent Dallas police officers were protesting against Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s  beliefs, at the same time. Will we see protests against them?