Massacares, and government power

Tomorrow, as most people know, is the 40th anniversary of the Kent State Massacre. At the risk of boring you, on May 4, 1970, Ohio National Guardsmen fired 67 rounds over 13 seconds at unarmed anti-war protesters who were between 75 and 400 feet away, murdering four, and wounding another nine, including paralyzing one from the chest down for life.

It is slight comfort that the Kent State Massacre was a pivotal moment in our war in Vietnam, and one of the events that started turning mainstream public opionion against the war, leading to our ultimate withdrawal. It is of somewhat cold comfort that Kent State helped lead to the development of so-called "less lethal" munitions, like rubber bullet guns and beanbag guns.

A point worth making is that this is not the last time that US government personnel, under the color of law, have murdered and tortured US citizens. Almost every day, someone is gunned down in a major American city by police. Absolutely every day, indeed, right this minute, someone is being tazed or pepper sprayed or beaten by a cop somewhere. Maybe it's "necessary" for the administration of "justice." Like the broken broomstick was "necessary" for NYPD officers to anally rape Abner Louima. Like all 41 rounds were "necessary" when NYPD officers murdered Amadou Diallo while he was reaching for his wallet. Like it was "necessary" for the LAPD to beat Rodney King. Like it was "necessary" for a NYPD officer to gun down unarmed Ousmane Zongo, including shooting him twice in the back, as part of protecting the world against the horror of pirated CDs.

Now, don't get me totally wrong here: as many of you know, I'm a big fan of big government, the welfare state, and am a staunch tax and spend leftist. But maybe -- just maybe -- giving government employees guns and nearly unfettered discretion to discharge them against unarmed citizens is a poor idea. Can we learn something from our history? Or shall we only think about for a few days each year, and be condemned to repeat it?