Dressed To Kill
by John M. Peters

A man with curly black hair and olive complexion set out on his
early morning run in the downtown section of a major
metropolitan area. Uncertain of the fall weather, he dresses in
layers, the last of which is a billowy parka. In a pack strapped
to his waist is a music-playing device, with wires running from
his pack to earpieces tucked almost invisibly into his ears.

Toward the end of his run he is breathing heavily, his face
dripping with sweat. As the music continues to play loudly in
his ears, he is singing along with it. Remembering that there is
a coffee shop in the nearby transit station, he turns to jog up
the stairs into the station, passing police officers on the way.
Before entering the shop, the man, slows to a cool-down walk,
pacing back and forth to slow his breathing. He continues to
listen to the music and repeat the lyrics to himself.

Minutes later, a crowd gathers, as the man lays dead on the
pavement, the victim of a single gunshot wound to the head,
music still playing into his now blood-filled ears. What
happened?

Welcome to USA 2005. No, this is not a new video game. The
International Association of Chiefs of Police, following a week
of schooling in Israel, decided that they liked what they saw
and heard enough to recommend its adoption on America's streets.

New guidelines issued by the International Association of Chiefs
of Police authorize a police officer to shoot-to-kill any
suspected terrorist by shooting him in the head. "You need to
get him dead as soon as possible." Says Miami Police Chief John
F. Timoney. (Washington Post.com, August 3, 2005).

How will police identify a terrorist before they put a bullet
through his head? The IACP lays down the following terrorist
profile: "wearing a heavy coat or jacket in warm weather" (no
definition of what constitutes a heavy coat or what is
considered warm weather) "carrying a briefcase, dufflebag or
backpack with protrusions or visible wires" (make sure it zips
neatly shut and get Bluetooth) "might display nervousness" (take
a Xanax before leaving your house) "unwillingness to make eye
contact" (shyness is now punishable by death) "excessive
sweating" (no definition of how much you are permitted to sweat
without risking your life) "might mumble prayers" (such as
praying that nobody shoots you in the head) or "pacing back and
forth in front of a venue" (no definition of what constitutes
pacing or what constitutes a venue).

Think this scenario cannot get worse? Think again. While
previous use-of-force guidelines required police officers to be
faced with an imminent threat before deploying deadly force, the
new guidelines eliminate this pesky threshold. "An officer just
needs to have a `reasonable basis' to believe that the suspect
can detonate a bomb" under the new guidelines. (Washington
Post.com, August 3, 2005).

This guideline has not been adopted by every police agency in
the United States. You still have time to clean up your act. Get
in shape to avoid sweating, take a Dale Carnegie course to get
over shyness, learn to pray in silence, invest in wireless
technology, buy a large enough backpack or briefcase, and above
all else, do not overdress for weather conditions.