In Oakland, California, the NAACP reported that out of 45 officer-involved shootings in the city between 2004 and 2008, 37 of those shot were black. None were white. One-third of the shootings resulted in fatalities. Although weapons were not found in 40 percent of cases, the NAACP found, no officers were charged. In 2007, ColorLines and the Chicago Reporter investigated fatal police shootings in 10 major cities, and found that there were a disproportionately high number of African Americans among police shooting victims in every one, particularly in New York, San Diego, and Las Vegas. The New York City Police Department has reported similar trends in its firearms discharge report, which shows that more black people have been shot by NYPD officers between 2000 and 2011 than have Hispanics or whites. There's been dozens of shootings since then , where's the Justice from the Police who are paid to protect and serve? It's time to put an end to the murdering of unarmed citizens. If a Cop has the right to use deadly force; we the public deserve to know why. Why not get the story direct from the officer. "Before you Shoot Rec." Sign this petion if you support this Act. It keeps the police and the public safe. It's time to put an end to unjustifiable homocide ! This petition for the "Don't Shoot Act" goes as followed: "Don't Shoot Rec Act" Body cams for police to wear in every state; To record every lawful arrest and interaction with the community /Create a website open to the public /every arrest made by an officer will be logged in the database to be used as a silent witness for the people and the police. "Don't Shoot Rec Act" The Law that gives mandatory up to 25yrs in prison/ lost of gun/shield and fined $50,000 Applies to any police officer/law enforcement/Charged and found guilty of the murder of an unarmed citizen. We are asking the President directly to make this a law! Thank you for your signature and, keep spreading the word!

1 year ago, almost to the day, we lost someone very dear to us, because a driver ran a red light and plowed his truck into the car she and her sister were riding in. Mary-Ann died at the scene, but the officers did not do alcohol/drug testing. A six pack of beer, and marijuana were later found in his car, but by then it was the next day, and too late for testing. Please help to get these types of drivers off of our roads and make testing mandatory for Vehicular Homicide.

I am starting this petition because it is unfair to people who are convicted of a felony and that have changed their life for the better, have gotten a college education, and are discriminated against with employers! We deserve a second chance to become successful too! And people wonder why felons revert back to their old illegal ways! Because no one is willing to give us a chance! One mistake and we're given a life sentence! No good jobs, no housing! Considered the black sheep of America! Its not right! How are we supposed to get our lives back on track? Employment discrimination against us needs to stop!!!! Unless it's murder, rape, child molestatation or something to that effect, it shouldn't have to be disclosed! You could even make it where after a certain number of years, it doesn't have to be disclosed ! We need fair treatment!!!

I have lived several places and find there is little continuity in different policed forces. I find those who are using community policing to be very superior to all others.

On the evening of October 24th, 2000 Edward Blankenship and Gordon Baker Jr. who had been long time friends met up during the day and spent the day working at Gordon's trailer home in Manistique Michigan. Also present was Jennifer Johnson and several other friends they spent the early part of the evening drinking and visiting. Early in the evening Gordon and Edward went into town to get more beer and met up with Cheryl Baker (Gordon's mother) at a local bar (Christy's) they spent the evening drinking in Christy's bar at one point Cheryl made remarks and an attempt to go after the bartender Candace Resmussen Gordon stopped his mother and they had a knock down drag out fight to the point they moved the pool table. After the fight they continued to stay at Christy's and drink. Gordon and his mother were later seen behind the bar having a words. Cheryl was seen at some point giving the two drugs believed to be LSD. At bar closing there was some issue of not being able to find the car keys. Gordon after fighting with his mother several times that night and knowing his mother was going to kick Jennifer out of the trailer decided to go to his dad's house a few blocks away leaving Edward to go with his mother out to the home. When they arrived at the trailer Cheryl and Jennifer had some words leading to a physical confrontation and Jennifer being hit. Jennifer then left looking for Gordon. These are the known facts and where the story changes depending on who you talk to. Edward went into the back bedroom to lay down and at some point Cheryl came in the room and attempted to have sex with Edward and there was some issue as to if they started to have sex or if Edward could perform. At some point they had a small scuffle resulting in Edward being hit with a small board and or pushing Cheryl away from him. When Edward attempted to go outside and leave this is when we believe Gordon and Jennifer showed back up. Jennifer had met up with Gordon at his dad's house after speaking to him on the phone. They were supposedly heading to Katrina Marks home and stopped at the trailer because Gordon wanted a pack of cigarettes he had left out by the fire pit. We believe at this point there was another third fight between Gordon and his mother Cheryl that got way out of hand leading to Cheryl being hurt. We believe Cheryl was hurt bad and both Gordon and Edward went into a panic about what might happen if she wakes up. At ten to five that morning Gordon went next door to the McKinney home and said his mother had been violated and he needed help. 911 was called and they returned to the trailer. When the officers arrived they could not gain entry into the trailer as Cheryl's foot was against the door. Gordon at one point picked up an ax and was swinging it around claiming the tree's were attacking him. He admitted to the officers he had been taking LSD and was not in his right mind, that if it wasn't for the drugs he would be flipping out. He was in and out of control during the time they were at the scene. The officers asked Gordon and Jennifer for their cloths for forensic testing and they were taken next door to the McKinney home to change into cloths Jennifer had in her car. The officer made the observation the cloths were wet like they had been washed but not dried. At this point the police began looking for Edward for questioning. Edward had left the scene in Cheryl's car and gone to his mothers looking for money. Edward's statement to his mother was "Me and Gordy are in some trouble." He asked for 40$ which she said she did not have then went to use the bathroom at this point Edward took her work apron and left. Edward got part way down state when Cheryl's car broke down and he then hitch hiked to Detroit and was arrested. At the time of his arrest Edward was wearing the same cloths he had been wearing all day and been seen wearing in the bar that evening. His cloths were tested for blood and the only blood found on them was a few small splatter on his pant leg and on his one shoe. At his first questioning Edward denied any knowledge of what happened, then he told them they needed to speak to Gordon about what happened. He made several calls to friends and family telling them all that someone needed to speak to Gordon about what happened. Officers from the state police in Manistique traveled down to Detroit to transport Edward back to Manistique. It is during these interviews that the officers are telling Edward they don't believe that Gordon is involved that Edward first states he must have killed her but doesn't remember. That he blacked out. His version of the fight outside and the attack on Cheryl changes several times based on what they are telling him and why they are telling him they don't believe him. The officers notes state they told Edward he needed to drop the smoke screen and just tell the truth. When asked why he didn't just tell them about Gordon from the beginning Edward tells them he was afraid of what might happen to him or his family if he talked about Gordon, they told him that was not a realistic reason. There is several inconsistent statements from Gordon starting with his first interview when he tells the officers he got to his mother, held her then realized she needed help and went next door for help, to him telling the officers that they could not get the door open but could see her. The responding officers noted several scratches and red marks on Gordon's stomach when they arrived on the scene but his shirt was never found or tested for blood evidence. In the end of October in Northern Michigan at 4/5 in the morning no person would be running around without a shirt. Our question is where is Gordon shirt and why the changes in his story. There is also the question of time. From Gordon's dad's to his mom's in not more then a 15 minute drive. What happened between 3:20 when everyone states Jennifer picked Gordon up from his dad's to 4:50 when they went to the McKinney hom...

American police forces have become increasingly militarized since the attacks of 9/11. Incidence of SWAT responses has increased markedly since that date. There have been numerous recent incidents of excessive use of force by American policemen, including shooting of unarmed children and battery of elderly people. This can be dealt with effectively only by a special independent commission constituted to study the issues and produce guidelines for effective and humane policing.

It's past time for Edward to have his day in court. If the police did not do anything wrong why don't they want to have a trail. If Edward had killed someone he would have been arrested and tried by a jury. The grand jury in Ohio is a joke when the DA is fighting for the police and not Edward.

The state of Hawai‘i wants to spend about $1 billion on new prison bed construction. It plans on imprisoning over 6000 people for a state population of about 1.3 million. This large prison population makes Hawai'i less safe because the rate of repeating crime increases when people are imprisoned and the communities that they come from and usually return, suffer continual erosion. Instead of spending a $1 billion on a new prison, Hawai‘i should implement Justice Reinvestment, Restorative Justice, and increase community programming for safer communities.

The police are armed, have the right to detain us, to seize our assets, investigate and monitor us, and to use deadly force against us. If the officer that shot Michael Brown had been wearing a recording device there would be no question about what actually happened. There would be no need for an investigation. Even Dashboard cameras are not enough. They must wear helmet cameras or glasses similar to Google Glass. We pay for the salaries of the police, we pay for their jails and their cars and their guns. They work for us. We have a right to know how they are doing their jobs.

Bob McCulloch must fully recuse himself and his office from the investigation related to the murder of Michael Brown. 
 McCulloch's decision not to charge officers who murdered two unarmed African-American men in 2000 by shooting into their car 20 times, especially in the face of the U.S. Attorney's independent investigation finding that those officers lied about their actions, gives us no confidence that his office can provide a fair and impartial investigation into this current matter. 
 That failure, coupled with McCulloch's recent participation in one of the most racially polarizing elections in the history of St. Louis County, means that his office's continued oversight of this tragedy will only sow further distrust and discord in our community. 
 For the good of the entire St. Louis region and the nation as a whole, we call on Robert P. McCulloch to recuse himself and his office from this matter and to appoint a special prosector to investigate the murder of Michael Brown.

it is our hope to channel this collective anger into effective policy.

We need more law that will help the victims of domestic violence. As it is now, a victim cannot bring forward any damaging testimony against her abuser. The state says it makes them look like a bad guy. A victim can only talk about the day the restraining order was broken and only bring forward a witness that was present that day. We all know abusers do not abuse in front of others and violate restraining orders in front of others. Let your signatures be seen. Let victims of abuse know they don't stand alone.