What we missed during the Capitol Riots…

What did we miss ending 2020...focusing on the run off election in GA...and the attack on the Capital?

We missed that the Department of Justice closed the investigation into the murder of Tamir Rice without bringing any charges on the police officers who murdered him.  The DOJ essentially determined that the officers could not have known that Tamir had a toy gun and the video "shed little light on Tamir's actions." 

Here is the quote from the DOJ, "Based on this evidence and the high burdens of the applicable federal laws, career prosecutors have concluded that there is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Tamir did not reach for his toy gun; thus, there is insufficient evidence to establish that Officer Loehmann acted unreasonably under the circumstances."

Tamir was 12 years old but he was 5 feet 7 and authorities say he weighed 195 pounds. Ok so he probably looked like an adult...even though the 911 caller was able to determine from a distance that Tamir was probably a juvenile...He was playing with a airsoft gun...not exactly a kiddie toy...but again the 911 caller was also able to say that the object in his hand was probably fake. But let's go with he looked like a grown man with a gun.

Officer Garmback and Officer Loehmann responded to the 911 call of a shooter in the Cleveland park. Officer Garmback drove the police car over a curb to within feet of the gazebo where Tamir was sitting. Officer Loehmann immediately opened his passenger side door and began shooting Tamir who was literally just feet away. This happens in less than 2 seconds! Neither officer rendered any first aid to Tamir.

So the DOJ says that there is not enough evidence to charge Loehmann and Garmback?? The video is not good enough. Tamir may have went for his waist. Tamir did not obey the officers commands? In what world is this ok???

If police pull up on you hoping a curb and stop within feet of you while immediately opening the door closest to you and begin firing, how good does the video need to be? How can we believe the officer in question even gave any commands to Tamir...not to mention the more important point, HE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TIME TO RESPOND TO A COMMAND if one was given before multiple rounds were fired into his 12 year old body!

We also missed the top prosecutor in Kenosha, Wisconsin failing to bring charges against the police officer who shot Jacob Blake 7 times in the back! Two officers were not able to handle, and felt threatened by one man and their justified response was 7 shots in the back....with no consequence!

If black or brown people were the ones storming the capitol, do you honestly believe the restraint would have been the same? Can we not see the hypocrisy in shouting about protests, riots, looting and law & order but then screaming patriotism breaking into, overrunning the police and vandalizing our nations capitol?

We missed a lot trying to celebrate and even process recent events. I know it is easy to highlight problems but can be difficult to find solutions. Today, let's start with these solutions:

• If you shoot and kill an unarmed person you are automatically going to face a trial by a jury of your peers.

• If you shoot someone in the back 7 times you are automatically going to face a trial by a jury of your peers.

• If you are acquitted for either of these crimes, you must still face extensive training by an outside agency before returning to the job.

• If you break into the Capital of the United States you will go to jail before facing a trial by a jury of your peers.

If you are a believer in Jesus, like I am, you really need to ask yourself:

Where is your identity? Are you a Christian who is a Republican/Democrat/White/Black/Brown or are you a Republican/Democrat/White/Black/Brown Christian.

Where is your focus? Is it here on this earth or is it in the Kingdom of Heaven?

Where is your trust? Is it in Jesus or a President?

Where is your loyalty? Is it in Jesus or country?

Where is your love? Is it in God and His people or is it in self and "law"

Pride is being disguised as truth. Self righteousness is being disguised as God's righteousness. Idolatry is being disguised as nationalism, but there is no disguising your heart before God.

If you are a believer in Jesus, like I am, our response begins with prayer. We also must speak up and speak out to help bring justice and righteousness to this nation that so many proclaim as Christian. We also must follow the guidance of a God who sees, cares about and loves people and therefore justice.