Pepper Spray

Re “Judge Dismisses Lawsuit by Anti-Logging Protesters,” Oct. 27:

Once again I read with disgust about the protesters who had their eyes swabbed with pepper spray in Eureka last year. Federal Judge Vaughn Walker stated that officers used reasonable force.

I wonder why arresting and locking a person up isn’t sufficient force or punishment? Inflicting pain on another person (especially when handcuffed) is plain old torture and a cowardly act. How duplicitous it is to condemn foreign countries for their disregard of human rights, when shooting prisoners in our own state prisons and inflicting unnecessary pain on people for protesting are acceptable. Maybe in another time Judge Walker would have also condoned the Inquisition as a means of dealing with protesters.

DAVID J. ABBOTT

Santee