TalkBack: Police gear, funerals and national anthem

Police gear

Sandy and Scotty did not die in vain. I have been comparing police and soldier protective gear. Kevlar vests have protected our officer's hearts for some time. Head, crotch or other vital organ protection is the present additional focus by our military. This tells me upgrading the protective gear of our routine police officers is overdue. But, think, an extremely armored officer pulling you over for not wearing your seat belt would be very intimidating. But you may have just committed a heinous crime, and wearing your seat belt was not your first consideration afterward! The transition, from looking like "RoboCop" to a more friendly appearance after the situation is under control, can easily be accomplished by the officer with the latest technology. The equipment and the departmental procedural use must be provided to the officer before implementation.

Not safe

All I have to say is I don't feel safe in Aiken anymore.

Other news

I find it hard to believe that someone has the time to gripe about horse people ruining their property value with all of the other news going on in Aiken - the cop killings, gangs, drugs, unemployment, foreclosures and don't forget S.C. ranking 48th in education. How is all of that working for your property value? I only hope your other neighbors are the ones with five or six cars in the front yard, four portable sheds and mow the grass every three or four years.

Funeral service

This was a beautiful service. Only one problem. The pallbearers (the gentlemen) she worked with, day-in and day-out, should have been standing in front of council, mayor, city manager and their spouses, not the other way around.

National anthem

Did anyone watch Steven Tyler sing the national anthem at the New England Patriots-Baltimore Ravens football game? That was the most disgusting, distasteful, disrespectful rendition of our national anthem that I have ever heard. Those people who hired him for this should be ashamed and embarrassed. I hope that whoever is chosen to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl won't be Steven Tyler. Whoever told that dirtbag he could sing?

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