Random

A friend of mine just texted to say that she was going to be interviewed by the police because she may have driven behind a car yesterday that a dead body was found in today. Eeek! When I texted to ask if she was scared, she said 'yes, I need a gin.' At that point, I called her to say, 'Make sure the cops pixilate your face and synthesize your voice when they interview you for television in case it was a mob hit.' In New Zealand, the 'mob' refers to the Mongrel Mob, a heavily tattooed, not necessarily motorcycle riding, drug dealing gang. The guys are the New Zealand equivalent of Hell's Angels, only harder.

My friend said 'Maybe I'll have to go into the witness protection programme!' She sounded so excited, I volunteered to be her minder. It could work. We both love to cook, we both like wine, we both laugh at the same things at the same times. I suggested that we could pose as middle aged lesbian lovers and have mixed media parties. Our husbands would have to visit us wearing dresses. I'm flying down to see her next weekend, so I'll get all the first hand information on her interrogation.

In New Zealand, cops are gentler than in the USA. They are respectful. They call you sir or ma'am, 'invite' you to help with investigations, allow you to attend funerals of the people you've killed even though they know they are getting ready to arrest you, and they don't carry guns. They have them, they just don't carry them unless they are called out on an Armed Defender incident. They do have pepper spray, and tasers have just been introduced to the nation, those scream inducing, Star Trek looking implements of torture guaranteed to make an atheist pray for mercy.

When I lived in the States many, many, many years ago, I worked for a Sheriff's department. My brother was a Detective in Georgia, and my ex was a cop. Many of my friends were in law enforcement. I supported their right to carry firearms. But after living in New Zealand for so many years now, I wonder if I still support that? I doubt that many Americans have to rush out into the plains and defend themselves against wild animals or marauding Indian renegades, and I wonder if the presence of a gun amps up aggression rather than de-escalates it. I dunno. The cops here seem pretty laid back, overall. It's a hard one. On one hand, I think 'yeah, shoot them in the ass if they invade your home,' on the other I think, 'why would I want a weapon that brings potential danger just by having it in the house?'

Besides which, handguns are illegal in NZ unless you are a gun collector. I don't seem to have an answer for this ramble, it is just that, a ramble.

However, if you read a blog posted by 'peekingthoughthewindows.com' , take pity. It might just be my friend.