This is Part 1 of a 2 part series. To read Part 2, click <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;">here</span></span>.

There's growing concern in Scotland County and Laurinburg that Law Enforcement has lost its way. Crime is high and appears to be getting worse.

There are two sides to every story. After reading both sides, you decide where the truth lies.

<strong>What's Wrong:</strong>

There are plenty of bad guys and Law Enforcement stands between them and us. Their service is greatly appreciated and in exchange they are well compensated.

The Police are our employees. They work for us. They are paid with local tax dollars.

<em><strong>Americans are not required to obey laws that are unlawful or unconstitutional, nor is Law Enforcement empowered to enforce laws that defy the Constitution.</strong></em>

<img class="size-medium wp-image-1021 alignright" src="http://carolinacrossroads.news/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/we-support-our-police-300x198.jpg" alt="we-support-our-police" width="300" height="198" />

Why does local law enforcement now feel it needs a cheerleading squad to post signs of support?

It's true, the internet is brimming with <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;">videos</span></span> <span style="color: #0000ff;">http://youtu.be/g8Kx_bscRMo </span>showing Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs) harassing, abusing, pepper spraying, tasing, beating, robbing, arresting, shooting and killing innocent citizens.

Yes, LEOs are using powerful, unlawful means like <span style="color: #0000ff;">'<a style="color: #0000ff;" href="http://carolinacrossroads.news/who-is-spying-on-you/" target="_blank">Stingrays</a>'</span> to collect private information, conversations and metadata on <strong>each and every citizen, </strong>regardless of whether we are suspected of criminal activity. Did you know that when an innocent looking white van pulls up next to you at a traffic light, it might in fact be the police using 'Backscatter X-Ray' to look at everything inside your vehicle? Not only is this an unwarranted invasion of your privacy, it exposes everyone in the vehicle to harmful, cancer causing x-rays.

Sure, LEOs routinely <span style="color: #0000ff;"><a style="color: #0000ff;" href="https://youtu.be/kfzwjd8EWdo" target="_blank">stop citizens</a> </span>going about their normal business, in a 'supposed' effort to prevent crime.

<img class="size-medium wp-image-1601 alignleft" src="http://carolinacrossroads.news/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/police-shaking-person-upside-down-300x168.png" alt="police-shaking-person-upside-down" width="300" height="168" />FBI statistics disclose that in 2014 alone $4.5 billion was <span style="color: #0000ff;"><a style="color: #0000ff;" href="http://davidstockmanscontracorner.com/when-the-state-is-not- your-friend-police-asset-seizures-in-2014-exceeded-all-burglaries/" target="_blank">stolen</a></span> from the American people.

Homes, cars, business assets and cash are being routinely <span style="color: #0000ff;"><a style="color: #0000ff;" href="http://www.naturalnews.com/041828_cops_innocent_civilians_civil_forfeit ure.html" target="_blank">seized</a></span>, without any charges filed or even the pretense of illegality or wrongdoing.

In contrast, the FBI states that only $3.5 billion was lost due to actual burglaries. <strong><em>That’s right; according to our own FBI, the vast majority of <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;">thefts</span></span></em></strong><span style="color: #0000ff;"><em> http://www.activistpost.com/2016/03/federal-asset-forfeiture-program-already-back-in-business.html</em></span><strong><em> are being committed not by burglars, but by Police</em>. </strong>Many Departments now build <em>'theft'</em> right into budgets so they can accurately plan in advance how much to steal.<strong>
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Is it any wonder Americans increasingly view Police as dangerous predators? Should honest, God fearing citizens be forced to cower before those paid to serve and protect us?

Police recruits are trained to view the American people as 'the enemy'. Are LEOs increasingly becoming mafia style enforcers who make sure we don't forget who’s really in charge?

Many LEOs are ex military, and while there can be valuable synergies between the two positions, there are important and fundamental differences as well.

Those drawn to military and law enforcement careers often express a strong preference for <strong><em>order</em></strong> and <strong><em>control,</em></strong> versus <em><strong>individual freedom</strong></em> and <em><strong>liberty</strong></em>. This might work well in a military setting, but it can make it difficult to strike the <em><strong>right balance</strong></em> needed to ensure peace, security, freedom and liberty in an open society. LEOs must walk a fine line, and theirs has never been an easy mission. In today's politically charged atmosphere, it's more challenging than ever.

Departments screen recruits to eliminate those with high IQ's because intelligent individuals are much more likely to question illegal, immoral and unconstitutional orders. This hiring bias robs society of a most valuable human resource at this critical time in our republic's history.

As if to spray gasoline on an already blazing fire, Legislators pass tons of laws each year, most of which are neither well thought out or needed. The legislative process does not ensure laws are <em>just, lawful or constitutiona</em>l.

Most legislation isn't written by the legislators we elect, but rather by <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;">professional lobbyists</span></span> <span style="color: #0000ff;">(Abramoff video)</span> in the employ of large corporations. Legislators routinely vote for Bills they've never even seen, let alone read.

Such <em><strong>Legislative abuse places an enormous burden upon LEOs </strong></em>who take a solemn oath to enforce the laws and defend the Constitution. How can LEOs defend that which millions of Americans have sacrificed, fought and died to preserve if we don't give them clear and lawful instructions?

To make matters worse, Washington DC now showers state and local law enforcement with virtually unlimited taxpayer funded <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;">grants</span></span> <span style="color: #0000ff;">http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2007/03/federal-law-enforcement-grants-and-crime-rates-no-connection-except-for-waste-and-abuse </span>to acquire gnarly war wagons, military style combat gear, sophisticated surveillance technology, ALRs (automatic license plate readers) and the latest in crowd control. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to tell the difference between Law Enforcement and Soldiers going off to war. <em><strong>This poses a systemic threat to our nation, our freedoms and liberty.</strong></em>

Departments are equipping vehicles with Dash Cams and officers with Body Cams in a 'stated effort' to reign in rogue behavior, supposedly introducing transparency and accountability. This sounds great until you realize that Officers are able to selectively turn cameras <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em>on and off</em></strong> </span></span> <span style="color: #0000ff;">http://youtu.be/4J4VR4gFlwU</span> to suit their needs, and despite claims to the contrary, can and do <strong><em>edit footage</em></strong> to make sure videos fit the narrative they want told.

We’ve attended community programs sponsored by Local Law Enforcement, and quite frankly, came away very disappointed. There's little understanding and even less interest regarding the role today’s policing is expected to play if we are to successfully battle crime while remaining a free people in an open society.

Officers appear more interested in controlling and manipulating public dialogue and perceptions rather than doing the hard work needed to address genuine criminal activity.

Local Law Enforcement agencies are among those feeding at the <em><strong>Federal</strong></em> taxpayer trough to acquire the latest gadgets, gear and surveillance equipment. In exchange they agree to share information (through <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;">fusion centers</span></span> <span style="color: #0000ff;">http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/item/16942-dhs-creates-new-fusion-centers-taking-control-of-local-police<span style="color: #000000;">)</span> </span>with Federal agencies that could not otherwise legally obtain such information.

This innocuous, seemingly innocent exchange <strong>is<em> extremely short sighted </em></strong><em><strong>and potentially very dangerous. </strong></em>By the time Americans discover the all too real dangers, it could be too late. <em><strong>Once a nationwide Police State is firmly established, there won't be any going back.
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Those who know their history understand that what's going on today is an <em><strong>exact replay of what happened in Hitler's Nazi Germany</strong></em>, only with today's much more advanced technology.

A large and growing number of Law Enforcement officials are themselves extremely concerned and have formed the <a href="http://cspoa.org/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>CSPOA.org</strong></span></span></a> (Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association) in an effort to protect their citizens and our nation. Local law enforcement officials are not members of this group.

<strong><em>Local Law Enforcement exists to serve and protect u</em>s</strong>, not roll out the red carpet for Washington's <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;">schemers, scammers, kleptocrats and psychopaths </span></span><span style="color: #0000ff;">(Abramoff video)</span>.

<em><b>"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety". </b></em>Benjamin Franklin<b>
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Numerous attempts were made to engage Laurinburg Police Chief Darwin Williams and Scotland County Sheriff Ralph Kersey regarding the issues raised in this article. No response was received.

<address>Sources:</address><address><a title="123" href="http://davidstockmanscontracorner.com/when-the-state-is-not- your-friend-police-asset-seizures-in-2014-exceeded-all-burglaries/" target="_blank">David Stockman's Contra Corner</a></address><address>Natural News</address>&nbsp;

<address>Related Articles:</address><address><a title="123" href="http://carolinacrossroads.news/privacy-surveillance-spying-video/" target="_blank">Privacy, Surveillance, Spying (VIDEO)</a></address><address><a title="123" href="http://carolinacrossroads.news/mayor-police-chief-poised-to-shift-gears/" target="_blank">Mayor &amp; Police Chief Poised to Shift Gears</a></address><address><a title="123" href="http://carolinacrossroads.news/we-support-our-police-part-1/" target="_blank">We Support Our Police</a></address><address> </address>[polldaddy rating="8361352"]

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