We welcome responses to the Wolfpacket, as it allows for us to provide an open forum for the community. In an effort to convey both sides of this topic, as the CHS parent graciously suggested, the Wolfpacket has published the contrasting perspectives on this matter.

“I was disappointed at the one sided journalism here. Not one law enforcement officer was interviewed.”

As this is an opinions piece, quotes are not required. Opinions pieces heavily rely on analysis, evidence, and the opinions of the journalist. We would also like to clarify that individual opinions, which do not necessarily represent staff opinion, are clearly distinguished from editorials.

“We are outgunned, outnumbered and with politics leaning in a more passive manner, the laws are becoming more and more lenient…leaning toward criminals. The same people we arrest to ensure safer communities are being prematurely released from jail to further commit heinous crimes.”

The United States has the highest documented incarceration rate in the world (743 per 100,000 population). It is illogical to assume that incarceration rates need to increase past the point they already are, considering that every other country does not feel this way.

“Are you serious? Peace officers don’t walk but RUN into the World Trade Center. We battle gunmen such as those in the North Hollywood shooting. We dive head first into burning homes to save children. We apprehend criminals such as Christopher Dorner.”

We do recognize that police officers are vital to countless communities across the nation. However, the examples mainly used in the parent’s letter only regard densely populated areas, such as New York City and Los Angeles. Adam Ernst’s opinions piece only advocated that military grade equipment not be given to police in small cities or towns that do not typically experience such threats. We would also like to point out that Christopher Dorner was a former police officer and was such a large threat because he was a trained marksman. He would have been a substantially smaller threat if the police force he was a part of had not been militarized so extensively.

“Some endure more than others but criminals know no boundary. Being a resident of Claremont myself, a very quiet and safe community, I pray to God that if there were an “extreme emergency” in my neighborhood, the local officers are equipped with the proper protective gear and weaponry to handle it. Don’t you?”

Extreme emergencies that could possibly happen are a given. However, such cases can be handled by a SWAT team, a team that is properly trained and hired to handle such equipment in a more efficient manner.