Well the news about the UCLA taser student is all over the web today, isn't it? Michelle Malkin has various reactions to it and Stop the ACLU mentions how, yes, the ACLU wants cash. I mean, to sue someone.
From viewing the video, there's no way the cops overreacted. As one writer mentioned on Michelle's site, if anything, the cops under-reacted. They were clearly fearful of the photographs and other possible feedback. When they were resisted, they should have tossed the guy on the ground, cuffed him, and carried him out. Then they'd only have to taser him once. Much more effective would have been a baton to the head. But that has the potential to make too many blood stains on the carpet, so they can't do that.
But instead of talking about the police reaction, I'd like to ask what the police were doing there in the first place. In various stories and repeated all over the place is "Because of the safety of the students we limit the use after 11 to just students, staff and faculty." Why is that?
Look, *I* paid for that damn building. It was MY tax money that built it. It's my tax money that pays the salary of the people who work there. By what right can they keep me out of it? How does keeping me out of their precious building "after 11pm" make anyone safer? Is 11pm some magical hour that indicates crimes can and will only be committed after 11pm? Are students safer if an axe murderer visits at 10:45pm instead of 11:15?
This is just another example of big government gone crazy. Again, the police handled the incident fairly well under the circumstances. But if government wasn't so bloated and useless, there wouldn't have been any need to call the police. If you want to have a private library and not let me in after 11pm, or any other time, you go ahead and build one -- without my money. Once you use my money, you lose all rights to keep me out.
Why keep out the general public after 11? Clearly, you've never been a young female. Libraries, especially late at night, are generally empty places, with lots of potential for assault if somebody were so inclined. Students are focused and distracted - and they feel safe. They do so because they have a sense that the library staff won't let anybody in who doesn't belong there. The number of predators trolling goes up after dark - anybody knows that. Finally, as to your "it's a public school, I paid for it" argument - I'm sorry, if that's all it takes to gain access to school grounds and resources, then why exactly am I paying $24,000 a year in tuition?
As to the danger, then why shouldn't we not let anyone outdoors at all after 11pm? If it's not safe, then everyone should be prevented from doing anything that might remotely be dangerous. Of course, freedom doesn't matter, if it's about "safety."
As for the second part, you're making my point. Why are you paying the tuition? Government should NOT be in the "education" business at all. They're taking MY money and giving YOU an education. That's wrong.