Well, I wrote a story on the front page of this edition about a former Mississippi Highway Patrolman who decided to ignore the laws and try to take matters into his own hands.
I’ve been told there are people who don’t think I should have printed the story. I disagree. And here’s why.
When Senatobia Police officers were speaking with the gentleman, he decided to show his retirement card as if it were “free pass” to go and do what he wanted. He also boasted that the “high sheriff” would let him out of jail.
Well, here’s the deal, the laws are the same for all of us in this country. If I were on the interstate and a MHP trooper ran radar to catch me speeding, then I would very much deserve that ticket. I wouldn’t try to use an excuse and be cocky about being with the press to try and get out of paying it.
It all goes back to how Grandpa used to tell me, “What’s good for the goose, is good for the gander.” Of course the meaning for this is quite simply, there shouldn’t be a double standard.
During the time this incident was occurring there were 229 participants including children and residents from The Baddour Center who were on our city streets running and walking the route of the 5K. They were put in harm’s way because one man decided he didn’t care about the safety precautions set in place for their wellbeing.
I also learned about a gentleman who happened to be visiting our little town. He is a U.S. Marshal and happened to get stuck in the traffic when the city shut down the streets for the race. He didn’t go around barricades. He sat in his vehicle and patiently waited for the streets to open back up. It seems clear to me there were two ways to approach the situation.
Someone handled it correctly and someone did not.
It is also glaringly apparent, favoritism was shown. Why should one person be forced to pay a bond to get out of jail and others not have to pay? The law was established to make us all equal.
Without standardized laws for everyone, we can’t have a successful government.
It’s time to do away with the “good ol’ boy” system. The jail should not show leniency and be a revolving door to those who find favor with jail officials while others find themselves sitting in cells without their timely appearance before a judge.
It’s time for equal treatment for everyone. Not just those who have the connections.
