Amy Goodman: A Tale of Two Sheriffs

[marmar]

from truthdig:



A Tale of Two Sheriffs

Posted on Jan 11, 2011
By Amy Goodman


The Tucson massacre that left six dead and injured 14, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, brought into sharp public focus the local sheriff, Clarence Dupnik. He’s been the sheriff of Pima County, which includes Tucson, Arizona’s second-largest city, for 30 years. For the 20 years before that, he was a police officer. Dupnik has gained attention this week for linking the shooting to the vitriolic political climate in the U.S., and in particular, Arizona.

Speaking at a press conference shortly after the shooting, Sheriff Dupnik said: “The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous. And unfortunately, Arizona, I think, has become the capital. We have become the mecca for prejudice and bigotry.”

Arizona is one of three states in the country that allows people to carry concealed weapons without a permit. When asked about the law, the sheriff was emphatic: “We are the Tombstone of the United States of America. ... I have never been a proponent of letting everybody in this state carry weapons under any circumstances that they want. And that’s almost where we are.” He also decried a proposed Arizona bill that would allow students and professors to carry guns on campus.

........(snip)........

Contrast Dupnik with the sheriff of nearby Maricopa County, Joe Arpaio. He is notorious for the harsh conditions in which he jails people, using canvas tents in the searing summer heat. He has pledged to expand his tent city to accommodate the expected influx of detained immigrants. He is the subject of a U.S. Justice Department federal civil-rights lawsuit into his treatment of prisoners and immigrants, and abuse of power. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/a_tale_of_two_sheriffs_20110111/

[Solly Mack]

1. K&R

[tularetom]

2. The annual Arizona Sheriff's convention must be a real hoot

Somehow I don't think these two guys get along at all.

[upi402]

3. Thanks the cloud beings for Democracy Now!

Just when I was hoping AZ would join TX in seceding from the union... Sheriff Dupnik rides into town.

[cascadiance]

4. Dupnik should run for Attorney General or higher office in AZ. Might be refreshing...

Though his manner suggests he likes to continue to be sheriff in Tucson, as that's the job he's accustomed to and he knows it well along with the people he works with.

But that state needs more people like him in politics to correct its trend towards craziness in politics.