US policing problem

I LOVE my country, the United States, but when it comes to policing, the biggest problem is the overreaction to violence.

There is anger that has spilled onto the streets. This violence has been caused by the aftereffects of not changing police tactics. Not teaching police how to talk to people and stop screaming orders while guns are drawn. If the issue is a petty crime, what necessity is there to escalate? The issue is to de-escalate. Trainees at the Academy are still using choke-holds and knee tactics when stopping a suspect, methods often banned in their usage for easily crushing the windpipe. Usually it is done in a confrontational situation when the suspect is resisting, but it happens eight times out of 10 with minorities and those who are African-Americans. The black population in America is rightfully angry. The issue stemming here is when the arrest turns deadly, when a petty arrest over forgery or selling illicit cigarettes turns violent over police not wanting to “lose face.”

Last year, I wrote an article for the Kung Fu Kingdom website in the U.K. about policing in the U.S. I still hold firmly to the belief in my words, that 90 percent of good cops can stop a crime not with weapons, but with their words. Better training, a baton, some kung fu skills and learning how to talk to people can save more lives, and cities across the U.S. can save money on subsequent lawsuits. But when the system still uses and abuses with confrontational tactics and a .12 gauge-pump action, the violence will be ongoing and endless. Now this is what this has led to during the pandemic in the U.S., another killing of a man and protests. When a country can listen to advice, only then can it change.

Daniel Otero via email

Helmet law

I LEARNED about Shenzhen’s new helmet law for e-bike drivers. This is a very good law which was implemented in my home country about 50 years ago and has prevented many head and brain injuries.

What I noticed however is the very short time between announcing the new law (April) and the day it became effective (June). Also the fact that the helmet can just be some kind of basic helmet is a pity. If we make it into law we should ensure that the helmet has certain minimum standards that give sufficient protection during an accident. Also we should have given the industry a timely warning so that they could prepare sufficient production capacity to ensure that all who need a helmet can purchase one. Now if I hear correctly, there appears to be a shortage of 200 million helmets.

On top of the new helmet law I suggest that there also should be better traffic law education as a helmet will be of little use if the wearers go head on with a car or truck due to the fact that the bike driver does not stop for a red light, drives on the wrong side of the road, or watches their mobile and not the road ahead while driving.

Jeffry Kuperus via email