BlackLivesMatter vs BlackOnBlack Crime

Debating the FOCUS on police officers or agents of the state shooting unarmed, or undeserving people of color, a typical retort will be to ask what about black-on-black crime?

Without even mentioning the percent of people of one ethnicity who perpetrate crimes against people of the same ethnicity, I will calmly ask does one form of violence justify the other?

The answer is no, but, equally weighted on both sides. Most encounters with police do not end in murder as most black on black encounters do not end in murder. But the results of the minute percent of encounters that result in death or maiming of an individual do not hold equal weight. One perpetrator is regularly punished for their crime, the other is not. While both crimes should have the same results the solution to reduce violence is different, therefore our the focus is different. In the former scenario, change will be more systematic. Since the police are a government entity, we can help to enact laws that change certain aspects of the system. We largely have had no input in the creation of the system, the laws governing the system and the people that enforce those laws.

A few changes or laws enacted that I would like to see:

• An independent prosecutor appointed anytime there is an individual killed or maimed by a police officer.
• Required mental health exams on a regular basis. I'm not sure we can ever figure out what's in a man's heart, but these would help.
• Increased training requirements.
• Higher education standards. Minimum two years of college or community college.
• Required interaction with the community they serve outside of normal police duties.
• Citizen review boards that have the power to, at the minimum, recommend discipline for officers.

The latter issue of one ethnicity killing people of the same ethnicity, while not exclusive to black people, largely is one that the government cannot solve. Although, I have no issues putting the blame for the totality of our current situation squarely on Americas shoulders. There are very few laws that could keep someone that is determined to kill another person from doing so especially if it's about survival, without trampling constitutional rights. It's the mindset that needs to change. The insertion of hope. The spotlight shinning on a better path. This is largely done through the community. There are already many organization that strive to provide a different reality for young black males. They provide mentoring, education and mental health services. They work! But change won't happen overnight. The high level of murders by blacks perpetrated on other blacks is in some ways a recent phenomenon in America. It hasn't always been this way.

We will resolve this.