Letter to the editor: PROFILING AND APOLOGIZING

The Police in Nova Scotia issued an apology for profiling black people. I think everybody would agree that this wasn’t the right thing to do. Everyone, regardless of race or colour, should be treated equally, but I think street checks are a valuable tool for the Police. I believe that there should be more of them done in every city or big town. I am sure that if they stopped people at random and checked to see if they had permits or licenses to carry the 45 that’s tucked into their belts, it would help to get a lot of illegal guns off the streets and probably a few switchblades, too. And if they happened to also pick up a few bale jumpers, or people who have missed their court appearances, or those who have outstanding warrants for their arrest, all the better. I think we are all profiled in different ways because the Police can pull cars over that any of us drive at any time and give a breathalyzer to see if we have alcohol in our systems or check for drugs, and I think this is a good thing. Eighteen-wheelers are used to being pulled over for any number of rule checks. I think we would all agree that this is a necessary form of profiling. The Government or the Police could issue a blanket apology about once a month, just to keep everybody happy. We sure wouldn’t want to leave anyone out.

Robert Blagen
Youngstown, AB