Liberty Minute September 9 2014

 Kelly Roach of Orlando, Florida has been charged with murder in the shooting death of 22-year-old Maria Fernanda Godinez ? but he never fired a shot. While he did have a handgun, it wasn't loaded. The fatal gunshot was fired by Officer Eduardo Sanguino, who sprayed nine shots in Roach's direction, hitting him five times.

 Police responded to a 911 call from a nightclub describing Roach as a ?gun-wielding maniac? who was disruptive and uncooperative when asked to leave. After the officers arrived, they attempted to subdue Roach with a Taser, but his baggy clothing made that device ineffective. The officers claimed that Roach then reached into his waistband.

 According to a police press release, Officer Sanguino opened fire ?[i]n order to prevent an armed individual from causing harm to any members of the public or to any of the surrounding officers....?

 By opening fire, Sanguino protected himself and his fellow officers ? at the price of killing an innocent bystander.

 Roach has now been charged with first-degree murder ? which would mean that he intended for the officer to shoot and kill the victim. Officer Sanguino, by way of contrast, has been placed on paid vacation, protected from accountability by the untenable doctrine of qualified immunity.

Let us take back the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.