Michael Brown Shooting

[JihadJane]

Why do the cops have to shoot somebody waving a knife instead of hitting him with beanbag rounds or taser or a stun grenade?

Even with a gun, why kill him when they could just as easily incapacitate him?

They should teach these incompetent brutes martial arts. They cannot handle firearms responsibly.

 

[Dr. Keith]

Why do the cops have to shoot somebody waving a knife instead of hitting him with beanbag rounds or taser or a stun grenade?

Its a tactical decision and a lot of factors play into it. But mainly just race.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Another idiotic killing by an incompetent, murderous, trigger-happy cop:

Suspect dead after officer-involved shooting in St. Louis near Ferguson

Russia Today?



(Here's a link to a legitimate news source: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/st-louis-police-fatally-shoot-man-who-brandished-knife/article_85d27316-a17a-5e0a-b1d6-8a6753e2fcb2.html)

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Even with a gun, why kill him when they could just as easily incapacitate him?

Yeah, why can't they just shoot the knife out of his hand like the Lone Ranger used to do on TV?

 

[Skeletor]

Because of the speed of a person:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tueller_Drill

This is excellent information! Could this be why Wilson shot Brown? Head injuries aside?

 

[sir drinks-a-lot]

...incompetent, murderous, trigger-happy cop...

You forgot greedy and racist.

Oh, and, as a nitpick, I'd say if he was murderous then he definitely wasn't incompetent.

 

[Nick Terry]

Even with a gun, why kill him when they could just as easily incapacitate him?

because it's really not 'just as easy' to incapacitate someone as you think.

 

[a_unique_person]

To be fair, I've gotten the impression that a lot of people would have howled regardless of when things were released. There's a strong "criticize the cops no matter what they do" vibe going.

There is definitely a strong criticize the dead man vibe.

I've seen cops beating up a homeless man who was sleeping on a train. They are standing around him in a circle, about six of them, kicking him on the ground. They stopped when one of them saw me.

I know cops who would never do a thing like that.

It depends on the culture of the station and the individuals.

 

[LTC8K6]

Support grows for Darren Wilson, officer who shot Ferguson teen Michael Brown

http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/19/us/ferguson-darren-wilson-support/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

CNN confirming that the caller accurately reflected Wilson's account of events?

 

[Polaris]

Yeah, why can't they just shoot the knife out of his hand like the Lone Ranger used to do on TV?

Sad thing is there are people - in the media and politics at that - who would (and IIRC have) seriously asked that very question.

 

[a_unique_person]

I agree. You're always going to have that in situations like this.

But the police simply haven't handled the release of information in this case very well, and I think it has only exacerbated the situation, and fueled for mistrust of them in a community that didn't seem to have a whole lot of trust for them in the first place.

It does imply that there is a culture in this town that there is no mutual respect between the police and many of its residents based on racial division.

 

[casebro]

Why do the cops have to shoot somebody waving a knife instead of hitting him with beanbag rounds or taser or a stun grenade?

How many weapons do you expect one cop to carry? Hes already got a pistol and a baton, now you want him to carry a taser too? How about a net, and shotgun for bean bag rounds.

Then as he works his way through the non lethal stuff, how long to drop that and draw a pistol as last resort?

The non-lethal stuff seems to be issued when cops are in groups so they have a back up with more powerful stuff at their elbows.

 

[Upchurch]

To be fair, I've gotten the impression that a lot of people would have howled regardless of when things were released. There's a strong "criticize the cops no matter what they do" vibe going.

Given how they've handled the protests, there is plenty of legitimate criticism for the cops because of what they do.

 

[a_unique_person]

This is pretty much all his supporters have left to cling to.



True. If he hadn't assaulted the clerk, then the police would have "executed" a non-felon.

I won't call myself a supporter, but I see a lot of hypothesizing about why the cop was right and Brown wrong, when there is evidence for both sides.

 

[LTC8K6]

So, Wilson's account apparently includes a punch in the face.

We can add that in to the mix.

 

[sir drinks-a-lot]

Yeah, why can't they just shoot the knife out of his hand like the Lone Ranger used to do on TV?

Sad thing is there are people - in the media and politics at that - who would (and IIRC have) seriously asked that very question.

Well....can't they?

 

[jhunter1163]

Another idiotic killing by an incompetent, murderous, trigger-happy cop:

Suspect dead after officer-involved shooting in St. Louis near Ferguson

The guy was clearly mentally unstable, yelling "go ahead, shoot me now", and then rushing cops brandishing a knife. He got within three feet of them before they fired. Pretty classic suicide-by-cop if you ask me.

 

[bynmdsue]

Sad thing is there are people - in the media and politics at that - who would (and IIRC have) seriously asked that very question.

Wolf Blitzer wants to know “Why can’t they[the police] shoot a warning shot in the air to scare someone off if they think they’re in danger?"

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/blitzer-to-toobin-why-cant-police-just-shoot-to-injure-instead-of-shoot-to-kill/

 

[dudalb]

The Mayor Of Ferguson denies there is any racial problem in the city

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/08/ferguson-mayor-james-knowles-race-110147.html

Denial is certainly not just a river in Africa.......

 

[Polaris]

Wolf Blitzer wants to know “Why can’t they[the police] shoot a warning shot in the air to scare someone off if they think they’re in danger?"

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/blitzer-to-toobin-why-cant-police-just-shoot-to-injure-instead-of-shoot-to-kill/

Because gravity, Wolf, you idiot:

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/cup/news/story?id=3680567