Critics of law enforcement pounced after the Minnesota Department Of Public Safety announced what it mistakenly believed would be a gesture of goodwill toward those who believe that cops engage in the routine killing of black people, a falsehood that has fueled a nationwide movement to defund police departments.
The department likely didn’t anticipate the harsh blowback that erupted after it informed the state’s drivers of its purchase of Not-Reaching Pouches that it suggested would minimize the chance that an ordinary traffic stop would escalate in one of the deadly encounters that have led to the destructive anti-police protests which have become commonplace in the Land Of 10,000 Lakes.
The pouches allow for drivers to conveniently store their credentials including a driver’s license, insurance card, and vehicle registration so that reaching for the glove compartment won’t be misinterpreted by officers as going for a gun or other weapon resulting in the use of deadly force.
MnDPS announced, “We recently purchased some Not-Reaching Pouches to help reduce deadly force encounters between law enforcement and citizens during traffic stops,” and that “troopers and other agencies” will be handing out the pouches at community events and “other contacts with people.”
Our troopers, along with several law enforcement agencies across the state, want to make it easier for drivers to store the information and for law enforcement to see when motorists are reaching for documents. pic.twitter.com/ZiCF4Ifzac
— MnDPS_DPS (@MnDPS_DPS) September 16, 2021
The Not-Reaching Pouches have been promoted by the mother of Philando Castile who was shot and killed by police in 2016 during a traffic stop, setting off a series of protests that were initially peaceful but turned violent when troublemakers attacked police who were pelted with rocks and other debris.
DPS Assistant Commissioner Booker Hodges announced that the department was partnering with Castile to promote the pouches in a news release posted to its website.
“We are continually looking for ways to reduce deadly force encounters as these instances can be catastrophic for police officers, and community members,” Hodges said. “By working together with Ms. Castile, who has tirelessly advocated for these since her son was killed in a deadly force encounter with law enforcement, we are hoping these pouches help in some way reduce these instances, even if it’s just one.”
The department also provided a list of participating agencies, Minneapolis was not included.
The anger over Castile’s death would fester for years until a viral video of the fatal encounter between George Floyd and Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin set off a series of violent riots that spread like wildfire across the nation, leading to the demonization of law enforcement that was sanctioned by the media as well as many Democrats and corporations that vocally supported the Marxist-inspired Black Lives Matter movement.
Social media influencers such as NBA superstar LeBron James and ex-NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick have suggested that police are deliberately hunting black people, further feeding into the hostility against law enforcement.
Despite the good intentions of the MnDPS, the reaction on Twitter was brutal.
Possibly simpler idea: you could stop being trigger-happy psychos https://t.co/JvDmOCjDH4
— Bill Corbett (@BillCorbett) September 16, 2021
What if you told cops to stop killing people instead
— Emily G (@EmilyGorcenski) September 16, 2021
Have you tried simply not shooting innocent people instead?
— Ben the Extra Innings Rule Hater (@bkabak) September 16, 2021
This is like telling women not to wear short skirts so they can avoid being raped.
The problem isn’t motorists reaching for a license, insurance & registration. The problem is cops shooting people. https://t.co/UtWH8y5e4E
— Tara Haelle (@tarahaelle) September 17, 2021
The more I see this the more I’m convinced that people who think this is 1) a reasonable burden to put on civilians 2) a winning PR move, can never be reformed. Did you always want to work for the Stasi or did you just kind of fall into it?
— Hellcat (@Catherineamcc) September 17, 2021
Just stop shooting so many people.
— J E RBNYbill (@JustinSaysThis) September 16, 2021
How is your response to Philando’s murder let’s make a ‘please don’t kill me at a stop’ pouch? This pouch is a survival tactic & you’re promoting it like it’s a solution to racist police killings. Stop killing us. We don’t want to find new ways to survive police encounters.
— ndindi 🇰🇪 🏳️🌈 (@ndindi) September 17, 2021
Learn more about not murdering black people and getting away with it.
— Lorca Damon (@LorcaDamon) September 17, 2021
Some feel that too many are unwilling to follow what is common sense protocol when being pulled over by police such as keeping both hands on the steering wheel and being respectful to officers; if such simple measures were heeded, there might be no need for the Not-Reaching Pouches.
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Chris Donaldson is an ordinary American who is concerned about rampant corruption as well as the ongoing attacks on our way of life by those who have contempt for our hard-earned freedoms. A Navy veteran, he has been a frequent contributor to conservative websites and resides in Florida.
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