This is me…

This is me.  I carry every day.  Mississippi is a constitutional carry state.  I follow all regulations set forth in my state TO carry a gun.  Why am I  posting a pic of me with a gun?  If you are my friend or relative,and you see me out and about.I have a gun.  Now as to the why of the picture.  I know about being a woman, being black, and carrying a gun.  It is legal, but in this day and age it’s still a visual oddity.  I have been told by various law enforcement that because I am black and I open carry I will draw attention.  I hate that that is the prevailing perception among law enforcement, but I demand at all times fair, polite, and lawful interaction.

Philando Castile was shot and killed by Officer Yanez.

FACT – At 9:02 Officer Yanez explained the reason for the stop.
FACT – At 9:06 Philando Castile spoke his last words.

These are facts garnered by the transcript.

(Read the Transcript here: http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/30/us/philando-castile-shooting-officer-trial-timeline/index.html)

Mr. Castile advised the officer he had a gun, as was required.  The officer never asked for a permit. Never asked him to place his hands on the steering wheel.  The officer never yelled to his backup, who was already on scene to cover him.  The officer started yelling don’t pull it. Then fired 7 shots into a car, with a baby strapped into a car seat.

Mr. Castile complied with the officers requests.  Mr. Castile was a law-abiding citizen lawfully carrying his weapon.

It should be noted the officer would not have been able to see the gun.  Why was Mr. Castille shot.  He didn’t look like a non-threatening law-abiding citizen.  Society may frame my last statement however they wish.  It could have been the dread locks.It could have been the color of his skin.  Either way this was wrong.  I invite skeptics to read the transcript of the incident.

The officer was charged and found innocent of all charges.  One of the truths I know at my age, is what the public sees and what the jury sees and hears are often two very different.  I haven’t a clue why he was found innocent.I do know this a teacher,  a father, a law-abiding citizen is dead.

I have been asked by people where was the NRA in all this, and am I a member?

The NRA is a lobbying group, not an advocacy or activist group.  My phone call got me a pledge request and a promise of a duffel bag.  I am not a member because I don’t need a duffel bag for my donation.I need a group that when I  call and say that I  am being harassed by anyone for practicing my rights, the response is support, a phone call, some advice. Not a request for a donation.  Now all that said, if you’re an NRA member and it serves you in an acceptable manner, good for you. But for me they are not a fit.  But this conversation is not about the NRA.  This conversation is two-fold.

If we, as a nation, declare our base to be liberty and justice after all.  That means FOR everyone.  Regardless of hairstyle.  Regardless of the melanin content contained in your skin.  All of rights, must be for everyone. All the time, or the words mean nothing.  I would love to say this was not racial.

Are you familiar with Samuel Washington incident.?  He and four other black police officers were surrounded by a dozen white officers at gunpoint.  Their crime four black men in a car looked suspicious.  There had been a shooting call earlier.  Four Hispanic males were in an altercation that ended in shots fired.  Must be all connected, right?

Desmond Blaize was stopped jogging in a area he looked like he didn’t belong.  He was handcuffed and pushed up against the wall.  He was only released after a search found the ID of the 23 year police officer.  So, if these sworn law enforcement officers are suspects just because…What chance do I, or for that matter what chance did Philando Castile have?

I get that law enforcement officers want to go home at night. But Officer Yanez killed a man in cold blood. Just because the law says the shooting was legal, in no way  makes this incident right. You want to see the broad impact of this incident. Along with the dashcam video of the shooting, the police department released the video of Mr. Castille’s little girl. Crying she “don’t want to be shooted”. That wound will never ever be healed. Not everyone is cut out to be a policeman. Yanez should never have been out in the field if he was this skittish.

My name is RJ Brim.

I am a law-abiding citizen.

I carry a gun.

But any day of the week I could be Mr. Castile.