“Gangsta Rap” Scare Stories Always Make Us Feel Like It’s Still 1991

A Florida cop recently proved (once again) how silly law enforcement officials can sound when they start talking about popular entertainment, taking us back to the glory days of “Cop Killer” and putting his foot in his mouth after a rash of robberies turned him into an impromptu social critic:

On Monday, August 27, Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott said rap music was to blame. “Lyrics about running from the police, shooting cops — unacceptable and yet, very, very prevalent in today’s society– in fact fashionable in many circles,” Scott said. “[It’s] almost a badge of honor to have been shot and it’s ridiculous.” As a result of Scott’s comments, hip-hop fans in Lee County have protested the insensitive remarks. “I just listen to the music and have fun, go to the club, dancing, like that,” a Lee County resident, Junior Longin, told NBC2. “I don’t think people listen to the music and then go shoot people.”

Also Marilyn Manson is responsible for bad grades, Mary Pickford is why your junior high student dresses like a whore, and Sid and Marty Kroft directly explain the epidemic of childhood obesity. But seriously, right on, Mr. Longin. No word if the robberies have been solved yet or if we’ve really become trapped in Mr. Peabody’s wayback machine.

Florida Sheriff Blames String Of Robberies On Gangsta Rap [XXL]