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How (and why) might we defund police?

How (and why) might we defund police?

By Jan S. Gephardt It appears that when people say, “Defund the Police!” they often don’t mean completely. They usually appear not to mean “dismantle the police force and don’t replace it,” although some do. I started examining the ideas of abolishing or defunding the police in the previous post on this blog. Defund the Police, like Abolish the Police, is an arresting (sorry), but inadequate slogan. Like most ideas, if you take the logic to its farthest extreme, it’s a terrible idea (hint: for real-life applications, never go to the farthest extreme)….

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Abolish the Police?

Abolish the Police?

By Jan S. Gephardt If we abolish the police in the 21st Century, why should people need XK9s in the future?  Wait! That wasn’t the question at the top of your mind? Actually, it wasn’t my first question, either (although I do have answers). When I originally learned about the movement to abolish the police, my first question was why would we do that?  Then I realized that by asking that question I had already marked myself as a person who owns property and benefits from white privilege.  Clearly, there was a disconnect happening. I needed to…

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