The current can of worms

[PrairieSpyder]

If I was an armed police officer with the authority to tell someone to stop - like a 6'4" heavy-set guy - and instead he turned and come toward me and wouldn't stop, I'd shoot, too.

 

[cuznjohn]

i totally agree with you, but time will tell what really happened, so far they found pot in his system. so we will see

 

[bmccaffrey]

I don't know all the facts. State troopers were brought in to protect and restore order not join the rally and walk with them and take sides or be there spokesman. He should resign. People looting and nor being arrested not right.
Best thing Governor did bring in the National Guard. No partiality DO YOUR JOB:yes:

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree: As well... If you let somebody that size get their hands on you... :shocked:
And I don't care if they're blackwhiteyellowbluepurplegreenorangemauvepeachvioletbrowntansandbeigeornoneofthedamnedabove...
...it's about obeying a direct order from a Police Officer... :thumbup:

 

[Chupaca]

Agree..!!

but only hope they will be able to find the truth. Letting it get this far out of hand make it harder...it should have never come to this..jmo...

 

[ARtraveler]

We are not getting the whole story. I don't think the young man was as innocent as they are saying. He just came from stealing from a store and was probably "cop wary" to start with. It was also said that he and a friend were walking down the middle of the street blocking traffic when they were stopped.

Then, to use the incident as an excuse to loot stores, make attacks on the police. etc.

The provacatuers, and the rabble rousers are out in force. Even CNN is trying to stir the pot and suggesting that other demonstrations should be taking place in other cities.

 

[bruiser]

I wish I could find the video i watched the other night. The guy hit the nail squarely on the head.

 

[zavalza]

6 shots, 2 to the head. Wonder is such a good shot officer could have shot the knees of his attacker instead of the head to stop him. I think the problem here is they don't have a "license to kill" just because somebody is running towards them and supposedly unarmed.

 

[SpyderAnn01]

6 shots, 2 to the head. Wonder is such a good shot officer could have shot the knees of his attacker instead of the head to stop him. I think the problem here is they don't have a "license to kill" just because somebody is running towards them and supposedly unarmed.

But police officers are trained to shoot to kill not to shoot them in the knees. I did hear tonight that after he was shot several times he finally put his hands in the air and stopped.

 

[Gray Ghost]

... such a good shot officer could have shot the knees of his attacker instead of the head to stop him.

I see this kind of comment a lot whenever there is any kind of shooting that makes the news. While movies have taught us that it is easy to make a disabling shot, in real life that is not the case. As a rough estimate my knee cap is about 2 - 3 inches in diameter. Not a bad target on a range where the target is stationary and the shooter has no stress and plenty of time to sight in. However you put in the stress of having already had a physical altercation, the adrenalin is pumping and the individual is charging at you and you are not going to be able to calmly put a round in that target. That is why you are taught to shoot at center of mass, the largest target. Even then, in a stress situation, there will be a tendency to jerk the trigger, etc.

This comment is not about the actual scenario from Ferguson, but just a comment on why people don't target knees, or guns, or whatever.

 

[granpa in Cincy]

Not to worry, Eric Holder from just us is on his way there Wed.

 

[PrairieSpyder]

Everyone who says we need to get all the facts is absolutely right. But many aren't waiting for the facts and have bought in to a narrative that Brown was shot "execution style" (spin designed to make the police evil). I'm just saying I'd have done something similar if the subject of that size was coming at me.

I have great respect for police. They deserve the benefit of doubt. They risk their lives to protect me and keep the peace (except in Ferguson lately). They're also better armed than me.

6 shots, 2 to the head. Wonder is such a good shot officer could have shot the knees of his attacker instead of the head to stop him. I think the problem here is they don't have a "license to kill" just because somebody is running towards them and supposedly unarmed.

Actually, they do. If the subject's coming toward the cop, told to stop, keeps coming, the cop has a right to defend himself as necessary.

 

[cuznjohn]

so there were more riots last night, it is getting worse

 

[frankc]

anonymous

I don't know what happened that night and it could have been an officer defending himself or it could have been a jack boot
deciding to show who was boss but the police response, by not releasing the officer's name and by going military against the community was improper and wrong headed.

What it says is that the state can kill and remain anonymous.

That isn't something we should ever let happen.

they should remain anonymous, if not the family would have been in danger. they should go more military agaist these ghetto rats. double tap is the way to go.

 

[PrairieSpyder]

What the unrest tells me is that there have been factors that have been simmering for a long, long time.

I was a university student for more years than anyone should be.
I also have always kept what most people consider odd hours.

I liked to walk the streets either late at night or early in the morning.
The only time I was ever bothered was by the police.

I was thrown against the wall on more than one occasion for no reason.
I'm not black but I can imagine the abuse of power that probably occurs.

One time the cop broke my slide rule because he said that it was a weapon.

I too have respect for the police but I also know that a certain personality type wants the job.
Don't flame me, I know not all cops are like that.

I've never had that type of experience, but I agree with the personality type. I think it's really easy for the police to cross the line. Thus, the fact they are better armed by me, if nothing else, will make me behave when I encounter law enforcement. Because of the possibility you describe we citizens should always be vigilant that we don't devolve into a "police state". But I don't think abusive cops are the norm.

 

[frankc]

when the state

I see.

Well, you are entitled to your opinion.
When the state comes after you, will you feel the same way?

I don't believe its the state you have to worry about. that's just my opion and I know there just like ----------------- every body has one

 

[bruiser]

Abusive cops are not the norm. Abusive media is. There is too much instant news today. And way too much instant analysis without the true facts. The media, instead of reporting the news has become the news. Put a camera and lights up and you have your instant wannabes. Last night I saw kids, maybe 8 or 10 years old hanging out of car windows holding their hands up. Do you really think they know what's going on? They should have been home.

The usual suspects are in Ferguson adding fuel to the fire instead of trying to calm the masses. Outsiders with no reason to be there except to loot and incite have shown up.

I'm not a racist. At least I try not to be. But would this have been news had it been the other way around? I remember well the riots in Baltimore after Rev. King was murdered. There was a black family down the street from us. They were scared to death. I remember white men taking turns standing watch in front of their house to protect them.

Here is the video I saw the other night.

 

[cuznjohn]

like i said in a earlier post, we need to wait for the results of the investigation b4 people point fingers. we hear so many sides that it is hard to see just what happened. as far as the riots go, people are there from NY just to start trouble. i saw a video from a bystander that was saying the kid turned and just kept going toward the cop. so i really think all police should have cameras in the cars and or on their person.

 

[Cruzr Joe]

Like the rest of you, I don't know the whole story, but i do know this.

1 - The officer of 6 years has a good unmarred record.

2 - The Deceased (although a minor) was a BIG thug.

3 - If you are walking away from a crime (Strongarm Robbery) down the middle of the street, you are looking for a confrontation.

4 - A Police Officer is responsible to make sure that he gets to go home to his family at the end of his shift.

5 - If the situation ever gets so bad that you have to shoot someone, don't stop until the threat is stopped.

6 - The Police allowing rioters to destroy property, beat up people and steal other peoples goods, without doing anything about it, That's wrong.

7 - Peaceful demonstrations are an expression of the people and should not be restricted.

Just my two cents worth

Cruzr Joe

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree: Peaceful demonstrations are the right of ALL of us... :2thumbs:
When distruction of public and private property starts; things have gone too far! :shocked:

And I double-agree with you ; Joe...
You stop shooting ONLY after the threat has been stopped! :thumbup: