Humanity is described as the human race.  I believe that we witnessed a significant failing of our respect for fellow human beings this past week.  Before I get too deep into the issue, let me describe what constitutes humanity.  

For an American citizen, the statement, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” best represents humanity.  We may compromise those rights if we have broken the laws of the land.  The Constitution has a due process clause that states if we commit a crime, we are entitled to a fair and public trial, the right to an attorney, an impartial jury and the right to be heard in our own defense.

Christopher Dorner had proven, by his actions, that he was a vile individual.  Dorner had a twisted perspective of justice that allowed him to murder in cold blood and then release other unharmed individuals who were able to identify him.  Unexplainably he was able to murder and then still show compassion.   None of this justifies what he had done nor does it in anyway make him anything more than a murderer, a criminal.

Dorner’s death was a failure of our system, and we will, as a society, pay the price for that failure.   It was no accident that the cabin Dorner was hiding in burst into flame.  That cabin burned for the same reason that the Branch Davidians died a fiery death in Waco, Tex., and the members of MOVE died a fiery death in Philadelphia.  The common denominator in each of these events is the use of a tear gas canister called a burner.  

Burner tear gas cartridges are designed for outdoor use.  They are intended for riot control.  There are designed to burn hot — very hot.  The high temperature prevents rioters from picking up the canisters and throwing them at the police.  Some of these canisters burn at temperatures approaching 2,000º F.  These devices are not designed to be thrown into flammable structures.  They are designed to be used for riot control in open areas.  That one of these is placed in a structure and it burns might be described as an accident.  When seven of them are placed in a wooden structure the subsequent fire is not an unfortunate, timely accident.

Immediately following the placement of the canisters, sheriff’s department personnel were heard stating that it was burning and excitedly yelling to “let the (expletive deleted) burn!”  The Los Angeles Police Department immediately issued a statement that they, LAPD, did not use a pyrotechnic gas canister.  That statement is true because the county sheriff’s personnel conducted the action to capture Dorner, not the LAPD.

You might say, “There was no doubt that Dorner was a murderer, and he got what he deserved.”  We are being told that he committed suicide rather than burn to death.  Show me where any US law enforcement officer had the authority to burn a person alive.  We don’t even allow people to destroy rabid dogs by burning them alive.

Like the deaths at Waco, like the MOVE deaths in Philadelphia, we will never know what happened because the law enforcement departments controlled the scenes until it was sanitized.  You might say, “Well, that happened in California but, it couldn’t happen here.”   

Many events that would never happen under normal conditions can and will happen when public servants or their families are attacked or murdered.  Our police departments today are armed like military units.  Local law enforcement officials have access to fully automatic weapons, explosive and incendiary devices, varieties of “non-lethal” gas delivery systems and armored vehicles.  

There must be a trust that exists between the citizens and law enforcement officials.  When public officials are willing to burn people alive, regardless of the justification, it is gross violation of constitutional rights.  When will your rights be violated?  How will it be justified?  What will happen if you resist?  Can armed citizens resist the overwhelming force controlled by local law enforcement?  Who was protecting Dorner’s rights?  Who represents the force that says, “He is scum but, he has rights and we are sworn to protect those rights.  We will do the lawful thing no matter how long it takes”?

Ed Tyler lives in Pell City. He may be reached at ed@edtylerinc.com