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[Cal Carpenter]

21. Hindsight may very well prove me wrong

but I'd like to play devil's advocate here.

My understanding is that there are 5 or more locations of interest right now, in part because the bombers are known to have had many IEDs and possible accomplices. This isn't contained to a tiny area and there are multiple bombs involved. There are concerned about more explosives in a couple houses or apartments connected to the suspects, vehicles, etc.

As of yet, I haven't really heard of any problems of people being arrested for being in the streets, or heads bashed in, or military being called in 'to keep order' (although they do seem to be getting into the search now), or any other signs of real abuse of power.

Additionally, it is surely not martial law, which has a specific definition which is very different from this situation, even given the 'shelter-in-place' orders.

It may be an over-reaction, there may some over-reaching. It honestly wouldn't surprise me if more innocent people get hurt at some point in this process because of all this.

In hindsight, it may have been over the top to close all public transportation and schools in the city and surrounding towns. I don't know. But I don't think it is necessarily due to abuse of authority in the way you are positing. The militarization of police in general is scary. Our rights are vulnerable in general in this country. I just don't know that this is the case we need to worry about. It ain't N.O. after Katrina. Now THAT was an example of martial law and abuse of authority.

I feel the need to use a disclaimer I used earlier today: I am NOT a cop apologist/defender. I err on the side of 'cops are pigs'. So I am sort of amazed I find myself posting these sorts of things today...and as I said at the beginning, hindsight could prove me wrong and make me feel more naive than I have since I was a kid, LOL.