Larmer

I was watching COPS a few nights ago, one in Florida, one in Oregon, and an hour long one in London, England.

Wow.

Let's just say that from what I saw, you guys in the UK really have your **** together.

The Oregon one wasn't too bad, a bunch of domestic disturbance calls, the cops were pretty cool. Florida, now that was entrapment city... I have never seem so many young black men get arrested by so many cops. All three segments were undercover stings, all for small amounts of drugs. The force used by the police was astounding, and in all busts, guns were drawn and pointed at the suspect.

The UK episode was one helluva constrast. I am aware that this is just tv, but the non-violent methods they used were great. Instead of pulling guns, they relied on riot shields, and other non-violent take-down procedures. In all of the segments, the people they arrested sat down in the cruiser themselves, with no handcuffs being used!!!

One bust was for marijuana, and they let the kid go, told him to go home.

Seeing these episodes back to back was quite an experience, really showed the difference between a country with a violent war on drugs and one without. The fact that there gun control policies are polar opposites really showed as well.

COPS: the only reason I watch it is to reassure myself that I'm much better off in Canada....