Like they can— Like they can do whatever they want!

[That slips out without him meaning it to. He's been trying to be level-headed, but he's too taken aback by that statement.]

My family spent our whole lives holding our breath whenever we saw a police officer, because if we so much as looked at one wrong, they'd practically call it a capital offense!

[He would address the other point also, but he's been thrown off, too incredulous to even be angry.]