RE "Bloody B.C. cop raid terrifies birthday kids," (Jan. 5): Most
interesting. To put it another way, a SWAT team conducted a drug raid
on a children's birthday party. The family dog, believing that the
children were being threatened, seized one of the policemen by the
sleeve, whereupon another officer shot the dog. This, if you haven't
made the connection, involved discharging a firearm in a room full of
children, some of whom were close enough to be spattered with blood.

Was this party taking place in a crack house? Well, not exactly.
According to the warrant, they were out to seize a stash of pot. And
what did the police have to say about this? It was "regrettable."
Regrettable? Try "intolerable." Try "outrageous." Try "insane." Try
"out of control."

This is a perfect example of why we need to shut down this whole fad
for SWAT teams and Rambo tactics. As the chattering classes are fond
of saying, Canada is not the United States. And despite our
government's best efforts, it isn't a banana republic police state
yet, either.

J. Gerald Griffith
Perth