POTUS press conference/Commentary 2-16-17

"I don’t think there’s ever been a president elected who in this short period of time has done what we’ve done."

"But a new Rasmussen poll just came out just a very short while ago, and it has our approval rating at 55 percent and going up." 

Rasmussen's daily Presidential Tracking Poll found a 55 percent approval rating for Trump among voters. But Pew Research Center only found Trump with 39 percent support — a 16 point-difference between the two polls. Rasmussen, which has traditionally found results that are more positive for Republicans than other polls, seems to be an outlier among major polls, with Gallup also giving Trump a lower 41 percent approval rating in its most recent weekly average. The Pew poll was conducted between Feb. 7-12 and surveyed a pool of 1,503 adults. The poll revealed that a 56 percent majority of Americans disapprove of the president while 46 percent strongly disapprove of the commander-in-chief. The Pew survey also noted that Trump's strong disapproval has surpassed the strong disapproval of former President Obama during his entire presidency. On the other hand, the Rasmussen poll showed that only 45 percent of Americans disapproved of the president and 36 percent felt strongly about their disapproval. The Rasmussen poll surveys 500 likely voters per night and presents the results on a three-day rolling average basis .The survey's full sample includes 1,500 likely voters with a margin of error of 2.5 percent.

"This morning, because many of our nation’s reporters and folks will not tell you the truth, and will not treat the wonderful people of our country with the respect that they deserve." 

"The press has become so dishonest that if we don’t talk about, we are doing a tremendous disservice to the American people. Tremendous disservice. We have to talk to find out what’s going on, because the press honestly is out of control. The level of dishonesty is out of control." 

"As a result, the media is going through what they have to go through too often times distort - not all the time - and some of the media is fantastic, I have to say - they’re honest and fantastic." 

I assume the test for which camp you fall into is According to Stephen Miller, advisor to POTUS, "...our opponents, the media and the whole world will soon see as we begin to take further actions, that the powers of the president to protect our country are very substantial and will not be questioned."  

"To be honest, I inherited a mess. It’s a mess. At home and abroad, a mess. Jobs are pouring out of the country; you see what’s going on with all of the companies leaving our country, going to Mexico and other places, low pay, low wages, mass instability overseas, no matter where you look. The middle east is a disaster. North Korea - we’ll take care of it folks; we’re going to take care of it all. I just want to let you know, I inherited a mess." 

You volunteered and spent millions to assume responsibility for the mess.  Quit whining and blaming others.  Address the issues, provide solutions.  Please stop telling me how great you will make it and do it. 

"On foreign affairs, we’ve already begun enormously productive talks with many foreign leaders," 

"We have had great conversations with the United Kingdom, and meetings. Israel, Mexico, Japan, China and Canada, really, really productive conversations. I would say far more productive than you would understand." 

OK, he also said he was speaking directly to the populace and allowing the media to be there.  So, just what does POTUS consider to be the limits of our understanding?  I am an Army veteran, I have assembled nuclear weapons, I was a part of the Initial Response Group for American Airlines on 9/11.  I am well-read and even adequately educated.  Personally, I have always held that if you cannot explain something in a manner which allows me to understand it that is actually a reflection that you have not fully grasped the concept you wish to share.  Get back to me when you are prepared.  This kind of condescension pisses me right the F off.   

"I’ve ordered plan to begin building for the massive rebuilding of the United States military." 

"We’ve pursued this rebuilding in the hopes that we will never have to use this military" 

"But our country will never have had a military like the military we’re about to build and rebuild" 

Mr. President, here is the ranking of the U.S. military for 2016 based on weapons systems, available manpower, logistics, and capabilities according to Global Fire Power;

United States of America

Ranked as 1 of 126

GFP Power Index rating of 0.0897 (0.0000 being perfect)  

What the hell are you afraid of that we need more? 

"We have to have a strong law enforcement also. So we do not go abroad in the search of war, we really are searching for peace, but its peace through strength." 

Here's the deal.  A lack of conflict based upon possessing an overwhelming military superiority is not peace.  Peace is the desire of each party to not inflict harm upon the other.   

"We got 306 because people came out and voted like they’ve never seen before so that’s the way it goes. I guess it was the biggest electoral college win since Ronald Reagan." 

Actually, here are the electoral votes received by the winner over the past 44 years from 2012-1972 respectively; 332, 365, 286, 271, 379, 370, 426, 525, 489, 297, and 520.  So, Reagan garnered 489 electoral votes in his first campaign and 525 in his second.   Since Reagan's 2nd success there have been 7 Presidential election prior to yours.  You received more electoral votes than 2 of those.  

"I turn on the T.V., open the newspapers and I see stories of chaos. Chaos. Yet it is the exact opposite. This administration is running like a fine- tuned machine, despite the fact that I can’t get my cabinet approved." 

No comment 

"We’re going to make trade deals but we’re going to have one on one deals, bilateral. We’re going to have one on one deals." 

Outstanding, do you intend to withdraw from the WTO?  Does this mean you will be unable to conduct business with groups of trading partners? 

"We’ve stood up for the men and women of law enforcement, directing federal agencies to ensure they are protected from crimes of violence."

Awesome, because there is nothing local law enforcement and citizens prefer more than Federal oversight. 

"We’ve ordered the Department of Homeland Security and Justice to coordinate on a plan to destroy criminal cartels coming into the United States with drugs. We’re becoming a drug infested nation. Drugs are becoming cheaper than candy bars. We are not going to let it happen any longer" 

I'm on board with this.  However, there appears to be no discussion of curbing demand.  Were the U.S. not clamoring for the goods and services the cartels provide the would be no infestation.  Will your approach to curbing demand be to offer a health care system that treats addiction issues or incarceration in the name of economic growth with a burgeoning private prison system? 

"And the wall is going to be a great wall and it’s going to be a wall negotiated by me. The price is going to come down just like it has on everything else I’ve negotiated for the government. And we are going to have a wall that works, not gonna have a wall like they have now which is either non-existent or a joke." 

What everything else are you referring to and where is that data available? 

"We’ve ordered a crackdown on sanctuary cities that refuse to comply with federal law and that harbor criminal aliens, and we have ordered an end to the policy of catch and release on the border. No more release. No matter who you are, release. We have begun a nationwide effort to remove criminal aliens, gang members, drug dealers and others who pose a threat to public safety. We are saving American lives every single day." 

"The court system has not made it easy for us. And are even creating a new office in Homeland Security dedicated to the forgotten American victims of illegal immigrant violence, which there are many." 

"The court system has not made it easy for us. And are even creating a new office in Homeland Security dedicated to the forgotten American victims of illegal immigrant violence, which there are many." 

If there is 1 crime victim that is too many, regardless of the perpetrator.  However, I can find no report from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting that has this data.  What are the numbers, "many" is ambiguous and from where are the derived?  However, I do support saving American lives.  Hell, I support saving all lives.  I'd even try to save the lives of undocumented aliens who die making the trek with no water. 

"In fact, we had to go quicker than we thought because of the bad decision we received from a circuit that has been overturned at a record number. I have heard 80 percent, I find that hard to believe, that is just a number I heard, that they are overturned 80 percent of the time. " 

I presume POTUS means by overturned, a combination of reversed/vacated. This claim is at best disingenuous.  The body which would reverse a Circuit Court decision is the Supreme Court.  The Supreme Court hears an average of 64 cases a year from ALL the Circuit Courts.  That means SCOTUS will render some type of decision on less than 1% of the cases of the Circuit Courts.  Of the cases head by the Supreme Court, a significant number of those are reversed or vacated.  The vacated/reversed rate of cases heard ranges from 55.3%-83.3% depending on the particular Circuit Court.  There are 13 Circuit Courts. 

"We’re issuing a new executive action next week that will comprehensively protect our country." 

That's a pretty impressive claim for 1 Executive Order 

"We have also taken steps to begin construction of the Keystone Pipeline and Dakota Access Pipelines. Thousands and thousands of jobs, and put new buy American measures in place to require American steel for American pipelines. In other words, they build a pipeline in this country, and we use the powers of government to make that pipeline happen, we want them to use American steel." 

I am sure those CEO's will be thrilled to have you dictate their supply sources.  What's next, price controls?  Will Jimmy Carter be validated? 

"To drain the swamp of corruption in Washington, D.C., I’ve started by imposing a five-year lobbying ban on White House officials and a lifetime ban on lobbying for a foreign government." 

Good work.  

"We’ve begun preparing to repeal and replace Obamacare. Obamacare is a disaster, folks. It is’s disaster. I know you can say, oh, Obamacare. I mean, they fill up our alleys with people that you wonder how they get there, but they are not the Republican people our that representatives are representing." 

Who are these people and what alleyways are they filling up? 

"Jobs have already started to surge. Since my election, Ford announced it will abandon its plans to build a new factory in Mexico, and will instead invest $700 million in Michigan, creating many, many jobs." 

Excellent, according to Ford there will be 700 new jobs.  Is this many, many?  I don't know, but it's 700 so, GO FORD!  

"Fiat Chrysler announced it will invest $1 billion in Ohio and Michigan, creating 2,000 new American jobs." 

Again, well done.  

"Intel just announced that it will move ahead with a new plant in Arizona that probably was never going to move ahead with. And that will result in at least 10,000 American jobs." 

Well, almost, according to Intel CEO Brian Kraznich it will result in approximately 3000 new jobs.  So, it's not 10,000 but it's nice. 

"Walmart announced it will create 10,000 jobs in the United States just this year because of our various plans and initiatives."  

Wtg, Walmart.   

"This last month has represented an unprecedented degree of action on behalf of the great citizens of our country. Again, I say it. There has never been a presidency that’s done so much in such a short period of time. And we have not even started the big work yet. That starts early next week." 

Kinda difficult to quantify. 

"Mike Flynn is a fine person, and I asked for his resignation. He respectfully gave it."

Does this sound like POTUS requesting a resignation?

"And, you know, you can talk all you want about Russia, which was all a, you know, fake news, fabricated deal, to try and make up for the loss of the Democrats and the press plays right into it".

"It’s all fake news. It’s all fake news."

So, why did Flynn resign?  

"I called, as you know, Mexico. It was a very, very confidential, classified call. But I called Mexico. And in calling Mexico, I figured, oh, well that’s — I spoke to the president of Mexico; I had a good call. All of a sudden, it’s out there for the world to see. It’s supposed to be secret. It’s supposed to be either confidential or classified, in that case."  

"Same thing with Australia. All of a sudden, people are finding out exactly what took place. The same thing happened with respect to General Flynn. Everybody saw this. And I’m saying — the first thing I thought of when I heard about it is: How does the press get this information that’s classified? How do they do it?" 

"You know why? Because it’s an illegal process and the press should be ashamed of themselves" 

OK, something being classified does not mean it is always secret or confidential.  Saying something is classified does not have any inherent meaning.  However, I guess this is an example of that fine-tuned machine in action.  For your edification, here are the levels of classification used by the U.S. government:  Restricted, Controlled, Public Trust, Confidential, Secret, Top Secret, Code Word, and Restricted Data/Formerly Restricted Data.  I am unsure what classification the above phone calls would be subject to and apparently so is POTUS. 

"Well, I don’t know, I was given that information. " 

Response to being advised of the inaccuracy of his electoral college victory description.  Always easier to place blame than to take responsibility. 

"Because there’s nobody I have more respect for — well, maybe a little bit but the reporters, good reporters." 

"People — I mean, you have a lower approval rate than Congress. I think that’s right. I don’t know, Peter), is that one right?" 

I thought you were addressing the "people".   

"I think we’re setting a record or close to a record in the time of approval of a cabinet." 

Maybe some of that extreme vetting could have helped. 

"They’re giving stuff — what was said at an office about Hillary cheating on the debates.

Which, by the way, nobody mentions. Nobody mentions that Hillary received the questions to the debates." 

Why would they?  You were sworn in on January 20, 2017.  The campaign is over. 

"QUESTION: Did you direct Mike Flynn to discuss sanctions with the Russian ambassador —

TRUMP: No, I didn’t.

No, I didn’t direct him, but I would have directed him if he didn’t do it. OK?" 

So, you would have instructed him to violate the Logan Act?  No, it's not ok. 

"I won. I won. And the other thing, chaos because zero chaos. We are running - this is a fine-tuned machine and Reince happens to be doing a good job but half of his job is putting out lies by the press .

You know, I said to him yesterday this whole Russia scam that you guys are building so that you don’t talk about the real subject which is illegal leaks, but I watched him yesterday working so hard to try and get that story proper. And I’m saying “here’s my chief of staff,” a really good guy, did a phenomenal job at RNC. I mean, he won the election, right?

We won the presidency. " 

Yes, you did.  Why is that being addressed? 

Flynn resigned after reports that he had discussed U.S. sanctions against Russia with the Russian official before Trump took office.  Where is the scam part of this?  

"I think they don’t believe it. I don’t think the public - that’s why the Rasmussen poll just has me through the roof. I don’t think they believe it. Well, I guess one of the reasons I’m here today is to tell you the whole Russian thing, that’s a ruse. That’s a ruse." 

How big is your conspiracy world?  

"Hillary Clinton gave them 20 percent of our uranium" 

Yeah, that's just not true. 

"The greatest thing I could do is shoot that ship that’s 30 miles off shore right out of the water." 

Wait a minute, you think engaging in an act of war is the greatest thing you could do? 

"Tax reform is going to happen fairly quickly. We’re doing Obamacare. We’re in final stages. We should be submitting the initial plan in March, early March, I would say. And we have to, as you know, statutorily and for reasons of budget, we have to go first. It’s not like, frankly, the tax would be easier, in my opinion, but for statutory reasons and for budgetary reasons, we have to submit the health care sooner.

So we’ll be submitting health care sometime in early March, mid- March. And after that, we’re going to come up, and we’re doing very well on tax reform." 

So, you intend to put together a replacement for the ACA in 1 month?  I ask that question because I spoke to Senator Cruz' office today and they said there was no plan at this point.  This being the middle of February I think your time frame may be a little hopeful. 

"QUESTION: On the travel ban — we could banter back and forth. On the travel ban would you accept that that was a good example of the smooth running of government...

TRUMP: Yeah, I do. I do. Let me tell you about this government...

QUESTION: Were there any mistakes...

TRUMP: Wait. Wait. I know who you are. Just wait.

Let me tell you about the travel ban. We had a very smooth rollout of the travel ban. But we had a bad court. Got a bad decision. We had a court that’s been overturned. Again, may be wrong. But I think it’s 80 percent of the time, a lot.

We had a bad decision. We’re going to keep going with that decision. We’re going to put in a new executive order next week some time. But we had a bad decision." 

See above regarding 9th Circuit 

"I am the least antisemitic, least racist, person in the world." 

I am going to take you at your word.  According to what you said, you are a racist and antisemitic, however you are the least of these.

Is this how a police state starts?

Compare and contrast.  Regardless of the presentation, any expansion of police powers in a democracy is cause for concern.  This is particularly true when that expansion is a product of Executive declaration rather than as a result of legislative compromise and action.  The proposal to prevent violence, on its face, is quite admirable.  However, when one considers means there is pause for concern.  Other than fortified settlements, the American approach to defense is that it is the result of a robust offensive capability.  Consider the MAD doctrine promulgated during the cold war.  How might one enhance the protection and safety of Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement?  Before we pursue that, as an aside, it amuses me this Executive Order includes tribal law enforcement in lower case and concurrently with the Presidential Memorandum Regarding Construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline which allows private industry to exploit native lands.  But, to the issue at hand.  What makes a strong defense for a police force?  That would include, but not be limited to, improved body armor, more capable weaponry, vehicles more resistant to small arms and rifle fire, and fewer restrictions on surveillance activities.  Of course, more flexible rules of engagement would be a big help.  This would make shootings much easier to justify, based on preventing violence or providing an effective defense. 

February 9, 2017 Presidential Executive Order

Defining new Federal crimes and increasing the penalties for existing Federal crimes will definitely be a boon for the prison industry.

Is the current strategy use of existing Federal laws to prosecute individuals who commit crimes inadequate, if so, how?  How do you define "attempting to commit a violent crime"?

Will the coordination of these items require new agencies capable of exercising multi-jurisdictional authority?  Would this result in increased Federal oversight or a diminution of  State, local, or indigenous people's authority?

Presidential Executive Order on Preventing Violence Against Federal, State, Tribal, and Local Law Enforcement Officers

further enhance the protection and safety of Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement officers; and

define new Federal crimes, and increase penalties for existing Federal crimes

develop a strategy for the Department's use of existing Federal laws to prosecute individuals who commit or attempt to commit crimes of violence

 coordinate with State, tribal, and local governments, and with law enforcement agencies at all levels, including other Federal agencies, in prosecuting crimes of violence against Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement officers in order to advance adequate multi-jurisdiction prosecution efforts;

review existing Federal laws to determine whether those laws are adequate to address the protection and safety of Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement officers

make recommendations to the President for legislation to address the protection and safety of Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement officers, including, if warranted, legislation defining new crimes of violence and establishing new mandatory minimum sentences for existing crimes of violence against Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement officers, as well as for related crimes;

recommend to the President any changes to grant funding, based on the evaluation required by subsection (f) of this section, including recommendations for legislation, as appropriate, to adequately support and protect Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement officers.

From <https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/02/09/presidential-executive-order-preventing-violence-against-federal-state>

German Police in the Nazi State

Hitler posed as a champion of law and order, claiming he would uphold traditional German values.

The Nazi state in fact alleviated many of the frustrations the police experienced in the Weimar Republic.

The Nazis centralized and fully funded the police to better combat criminal gangs and promote state security. The Nazi state increased staff and training, and modernized police equipment. The Nazis offered the police the broadest latitude in arrests, incarceration, and the treatment of prisoners. The police moved to take "preventive action," that is, to make arrests without the evidence required for a conviction in court and indeed without court supervision at all.

The Third Reich has been called a dual state, since the normal judicial system coexisted with the arbitrary power of Hitler and the police.

I don't know, whaduyathink?

Wild Colossus

Just like the brazen giant of Greek fame

With conquering limbs astride from sea to sea;

Here at our fear-washed , padlocked gates shall stand

A berserker with a torch, whose flame

Is a fire bolt of intolerance, and her name

Forsaker of exiles.  From her beacon hand

Glows world-wide rejection, her wild eyes command

The bridge spanned harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips.  "We reject your tired, disdain your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. 

Hinder these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, forbid them from me,

I douse my lamp beside the impermeable door!"

Governance by proclamation

Presidential Memorandum Regarding the Hiring Freeze 1/23/17

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order a freeze on the hiring of Federal civilian employees to be applied across the board in the executive branch. As part of this freeze, no vacant positions existing at noon on January 22, 2017, may be filled and no new positions may be created, except in limited circumstances. This order does not include or apply to military personnel.

This hiring freeze applies to all executive departments and agencies regardless of the sources of their operational and programmatic funding, excepting military personnel.

According to Executive order of 1/25/17,

Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the U.S.;

Sec. 7.  Additional Enforcement and Removal Officers.  The Secretary, through the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, shall, to the extent permitted by law and subject to the availability of appropriations, take all appropriate action to hire 10,000 additional immigration officers, who shall complete relevant training and be authorized to perform the law enforcement functions described in section 287 of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1357).

According to Executive order of 1/25/17

Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements

Sec. 8.  Additional Border Patrol Agents.  Subject to available appropriations, the Secretary, through the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, shall take all appropriate action to hire 5,000 additional Border Patrol agents, and all appropriate action to ensure that such agents enter on duty and are assigned to duty stations as soon as is practicable.

Based on the above the President of the United States has by memorandum on the 22nd of January 2017 directed all executive agencies, excepting the military to freeze hiring.  Subsequently, on the 25th of January 2017, the President of the United States by Executive Order has directed the Secretary of Homeland Security through the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Commissioner of  U.S. Customs and Border Protection to hire a total of 15,000 agents and officers, combined. 

Would such actions taken within  2 day period indicate to anyone other than myself that policy directives of the Office of the President are disjointed, or, there is a failure to recognize that governance by proclamation can result in such contradictions?  The agencies which have been directed to engage in additional hiring are agencies of the Executive branch.  According to the hiring freeze memorandum of 23 January 2017 the freeze is applicable across the board in the Executive branch.  Such conflict instructing managers always results in less or other than desired results. 

1. A presidential memorandum is a type of executive instrument typically issued by the President of the United States to manage and govern the actions, practices and policies of the various departments and agencies found under the executive branch of the United States government.
2. Executive Order, A presidential policy directive that implements or interprets a federal statute, a constitutional provision, or a treaty.

So, whaduyathink?

How many must die?

In 2015, according to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) there were 16,121 homicides in the United States.

 According to https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/series/counted-us-police-killings there were 1246 citizens killed by police in 2015.

42 LEO's, http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/12/29/461402091/number-of-police-officers-killed-by-gunfire-fell-14-percent-in-2015-study-says

6855 uniformed U.S. and civilians in military operations, 2001-2015 https://fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RS22452.pdf.

17,502 civilian deaths in Iraq 2015 http://www.statista.com/statistics/269729/documented-civilian-deaths-in-iraq-war-since-2003/

6 in Dallas, 5 police officers and 1 civilian, 7 July 2016

28 U.S. executions, 5th in the world.  5th, that doesn't even qualify for a bronze medal.

Total: 41,800,  only 34,945 with the 14 years of military deaths excluded.

If the United States of America was other than a peaceful, Christian nation where would we be?  We kill each other.  We kill family members, strangers, foreign nationals, prisoners, soldiers, and civilians.  At least in this case our commitment to diversity cannot be questioned.

However, I have had it explained the VAST majority of these killings are justified.  I love all of the people who attempt to comfort me in my anguish and grief.  I even admire and respect many of them.  Unfortunately, rationalization masquerading as justification does not make it so.  A wolf in sheep's clothing is still a wolf.

http://www.globalfirepower.com/active-military-manpower.asp indicates the United States has the 2nd largest military force in the world based on active military personnel.  http://www.globalfirepower.com/countries-listing.asp rates the U.S. military to be the most powerful in the world.  In 2014 military spending accounted for 54% of the entire U.S. budget.  We are the 3rd most populous nation in the world.  Depending on your source of reference our economy ranks anywhere from 1st to 3rd in the world.  Our northern and southern borders are Canada and Mexico, respectively.  On our east we have the Atlantic Ocean and on the west the Pacific Ocean.  There is no credible land based threat to our security.  Yet we spend our treasure at a level that exceeds that of the next 11 most "defense" minded nations, http://www.globalfirepower.com/defense-spending-budget.asp.

This is not indicative of a peaceful nation.  Rather, it appears to be symptomatic of a country suffused by fear.  According to Carl Von Clausewitz, "to secure peace is to prepare for war", and, "war is merely an extension of diplomacy by other means".  Is this a philosophy that we as a nation have come to embrace?

In preparing for war you have not secured the peace.  You may delay aggression but if your definition of peace is merely the absence of conflict then I find this to be a hopeless situation.

The God of the Old Testament was certainly capable of violence to achieve His ends.  See Genesis 19:24-26, Exodus 15:3-7, Numbers 21:3, Joshua 6:20-21.  This is not meant to be a comprehensive list.

 However, once we proceed to the New Testament, the genesis of Christianity, there is a new paradigm.  Peruse Mathew 5:1-12.  I find verses 7 and 9 to be particularly germane if one is to make a claim to Christianity.  You also have Mark 12:30-31 as a reference for Christian living.  One may wish to read Luke 10:25-37 for a disclosure concerning who is a neighbor.

How many more?  How many more must die?

Go, Utah, Go! or, How killing an unarmed restrained human furthers the process of democracy

Way to go Utah!  Set an example for the rest of the United States.

For too long the "Industry" state has been either ignored or even dismissed out of hand and treated with disdain.  That shall no longer be the case.  Utah is demonstrating how industrious it can be in the pursuit of the democratic ideal where all can participate and reap the benefits.

In its decision to utilize the firing squad as a means of execution, should the approved drug/s/ for lethal injection not be available, Utah is bringing the opportunity to actively participate in capital punishment to the masses.

Lethal injection, hanging, electrocution, cyanide gas are all forms of capital punishment in which only one person is allowed to play the part of executioner.  It only takes 1 person to depress the plunger, flip the switch, or drop the trap door.  With the firing squad, multiple people are allowed to take part in the killing of one of their fellows.  For far too long, being allowed to practice the ultimate power of the state has been restricted to a privileged few. In many cases the position of state executioner does not even rotate.  Rather, just one person is allowed to engage in this activity for years.  This is certainly contrary to the ideals of the United States where all are encouraged to engage in the pursuit of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in the exercise of their God given rights. Surely it is anathema in a country where, theoretically, anyone can achieve anything, we restrict the right of the average citizen to practice the tradition of capital punishment.  Allowing them only to engage vicariously as a member of the state. With the revitalization of the firing squad in Utah more citizens will be allowed to actively participate.  Surely this is a much more egalitarian method.

For those of you who may not be familiar with the process of execution b y firing squad, here's how it works.   For execution by this method, the inmate is typically bound to a chair with leather straps across his waist and head, in front of an oval-shaped canvas wall. The chair is surrounded by sandbags to absorb the inmate's blood. A black hood is pulled over the inmate's head. A doctor locates the inmate's heart with a stethoscope and pins a circular white cloth target over it. Standing in an enclosure 20 feet away, five shooters are armed with .30 caliber rifles loaded with single rounds. One of the shooters is given blank rounds. Each of the shooters aims his rifle through a slot in the canvas and fires at the inmate.  The prisoner dies as a result of blood loss caused by rupture of the heart or a large blood vessel, or tearing of the lungs. The person shot loses consciousness when shock causes a fall in the supply of blood to the brain. If the shooters miss the heart, by accident or intention, the prisoner bleeds to death slowly. The gunmen are chosen from a pool of volunteer officers, with priority given to those from the area where the crime happened.  There are always more volunteers than spots on the squad.  The shooters' identities are kept anonymous, and one of their rifles is loaded with a blank round so nobody knows which officer killed the inmate.

I will grant you there are some limitations to this method.  The shooters are chosen only from a pool of law enforcement officers.  Why should they have any more access to participation than any other citizen?  Furthermore, preference is given to individuals based on location.  If the condemned has committed a crime against the state then the entire state should have equal opportunity to participate in disposing of them.  Also, one weapon is loaded with a blank round.  This seems absurd.  The theory is this practice allows the trigger man a  reasonable doubt as to having actually killed the prisoner.  The shooters are volunteers,  These are people who want to see the prisoner die. In all the other forms of capital punishment there is no doubt who has executed the guilty party.  The executioner is allowed full responsibility and credit. Why should firing squad shooters be deprived of this?   And why only accept volunteers?  Have a lottery system that includes all the citizens of the state.  This offers everyone a chance practice the privileges of citizenship.  

Now, in the spirit of full disclosure, let it be known that Utah should not get all the credit for having a firing squad option.  Idaho also provides this choice.

It is a good thing to see the justice system apparently making itself more accessible to every citizen. Progress is being made.  By allowing citizens to participate in state sanctioned blood letting, in this case literally, perhaps people will become more engaged in the democratic process.  They may even be moved to exercise their ability to voice their opinion at the ballot box.  But, I don't want to get ahead of myself.  One step at a time.

In closing, You Go, Utah.  No doubt, America commends you.

Understand

That which you do not understand, you fear.
That which you fear, you hate.
That which you hate, you destroy.
Seek to understand rather than a means to destroy.