Speaking of things that enrage me (admittedly, a very long list), we have this little situation:
Authorities have released of the name of the suspect accused of throwing Molotov cocktails into a federal building, adding that they believe he was “motivated by anti-immigration enforcement sentiment.”
The incident occurred on Monday, with the suspect identified as 54-year-old Jose Francisco Jovel. Authorities have released images showing the moment Jovel allegedly carried out his act.
Here’s the reason for my rage.
The first recorded use of said bombs was during the Spanish Civil War, when Nationalists threw them at the Soviet-supplied tanks of the Communistic Republicans. The actual term “Molotov cocktails” was coined by the Finns as they battled the Soviets during the Winter War of 1939, and was actually used ironically, the target being the then-Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov.
Anyone else see a trend, here?
Let’s not put lace panties on this pork chop: the Molotov cocktail is a weapon of war. More to the point, it is a horribly-dangerous and malevolent weapon. When it works, it is capable of setting fire to everyone and anything around it — an inflammable grenade, if you will.
Throwing a Molotov cocktail at a structure shows an intent to set the place on fire, endangering the lives of everyone inside. Throwing a Molotov cocktail at a person or group of people shows an intent to burn someone to death.
So here’s my question. How is it that when someone fires a gun at a building or a person, the rules of engagement for police (or the military) allows for the immediate shooting of said miscreant; yet when someone lobs a Molotov cocktail, the response is (metaphorically) a shrug of the shoulders?
It’s wrong.
Let me tell you: anytime a “protestor” is seen to be preparing a Molotov cocktail — that would be setting fire to the wick tied to the bottle’s neck — this action should be regarded as an act of war, and constitute grounds for a sniper or designated marksman to shoot the motherfucker dead on the spot, whether said tosser [sic] has thrown the thing or not.
Let’s get back to our terrorist wannabe:
Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, said in a statement that the building he targeted “houses our U.S. Attorney’s Office, ICE, and is where illegal immigrants are processed.”
“Jovel was targeting our immigration enforcement operations and wanted to send a political message,” he said.
“Thankfully, the devices did not ignite and no one was injured. Jovel was immediately arrested. Federal officers seized Jovel’s belongings and discovered five other Molotov cocktails,” Essayli, said, adding that Jovel is charged with “attempted malicious damage of federal property, and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and up to 20 years’ imprisonment. This is an ongoing investigation and we’ll be looking at adding additional charges.”
Wrong, wrong and again, wrong. In the first place, the charges should include attempted murder — fuck that “damage of federal property” jive — and should carry a mandatory sentence of life without parole.
More important, however, is this. Had there been an armed guard on duty at the establishment in question, the rules of engagement should have been such as to allow the guard to shoot this Jovel asshole at the very minute he lit the wick, or drew back his arm to throw the bomb.
And I want law enforcement’s rules of engagement changed to take care of this little reindeer game, immediately.
If you can’t shoot someone who is committing an overt act of war against you, who the hell can you shoot, then?
