Throughout my life I have heard politicians and others who were racist and bigoted stretch the truth for their own advantage. This may be the biggest stretch of all.

Rutherford County Tennessee Sheriff Robert Arnold is blaming Beyoncé’s Super Bowl performance for shots being fired outside of his home, and the resignation of law enforcement officers.

“Well, you have Beyoncé’s video and how that’s kind of led over into other things it seems like, about law enforcement.”

Arnold claims that eight shots were fired outside of his home about 8 p.m. on Monday evening.

The right wing is denying the fact that our nation’s law enforcement needs a complete revision which will include more extensive training. This training must include community relations and give officers the tools to communicate effectively with all races and ethnicity.

As for Arnold, last April the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation raided his home. They were searching for information regarding the manner in which he runs the local jail.

We must see an end to the use of violence by law enforcement as a first choice. When an officer shoots an unarmed victim, that officer must be prosecuted.

I sincerely question the issuance of weapons to every member of law enforcement. This is far too much power for some to handle properly. It always makes sense for law enforcement to work in pairs, and only an officer who has five or more years of experience should be allowed to carry a deadly weapon.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

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Photo Courtesy of Tony Webster

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