Comments

  1. says

    I heard about it this morning and I must say that I am surprised. I am curious whether they make the charges stick and if it results in punishment. But it is small fries, even if he confronted the shooter, even if every security guard everywhere around US has confronted shooters, it would be like pissing against a hurricane.

    And únfortunately, the whole criminal claque that is called US government will remain complicit in the crimes and no steps will be taken to hold anyone who could make a real difference accountable.

  2. PaulBC says

    I don’t get how this works. It’s not like he’s in the military. If he had phoned in a resignation first, would that help? Given that you can’t force anyone to do a job (except in the military) how would he be guilty of anything beyond breach of contract, if that?

  3. lochaber says

    huh…
    I’m sorta surprised at hearing this news, and also feeling somewhat conflicted about it…

    I’m wondering if any of this will stick (assuming he gets a lawyer…). I can’t remember much of the details, but back when I used to read more about weapons and self defense and such, I was under the impression that there was a landmark supreme court case (I want to say Colorado, but, it’s been a while…) in which the ruling was something to the effect of: police aren’t obligated to risk their lives and/or protect citizens from crime.

    As to the mixed feeling bit about this, I don’t think very many people can accurately predict how they will react in an emergency. I’ve heard training helps, but only if the training is relevant.
    Then again, I’m getting really tired of these overpaid bluelivesmatter crowd talking about how dangerous their job is (it’s not), and how because of that “danger” they deserve ridiculous salaries, benefits, and legal immunity.

    I used to have really conflicted feelings about the second amendment and gun control, but I don’t think most Americans are responsible enough to handle firearms, let alone most American firearm owners. For me, the most convincing argument against the second amendment, is the most visible of those arguing about it’s importance.

  4. says

    lochaber@#3:
    I’m wondering if any of this will stick (assuming he gets a lawyer…).

    I doubt it will stick – it’s just legal posturing by the jurisdiction that is feeling stung and stupid and under fire.

    I’m frankly shocked that they arrested the guy, on such obviously manufactured grounds. “Failure to charge into certain death” is not a crime that I am aware of.

    As regards American attitudes toward guns: yours and mine have both changed. Yet our lawmakers continue to act as they have always acted. This issue is going to blow up in their faces (so to speak) badly someday. More civilized societies, like Australia and New Zealand and England simply addressed the problem and shootings there are extremely rare. It’s becoming a demonstration of what happens when lawmakers are owned by a powerful lobby. So much for the theory that money does not influence politics.

  5. says

    PaulBC@#2:
    If he had phoned in a resignation first, would that help?

    Good point! I don’t even see why he couldn’t say, “I was crouched there in the ditch because I was writing my letter of resignation.”

    Why aren’t they arresting the local cops, who also did nothing?

  6. says

    Charly@#1:
    And únfortunately, the whole criminal claque that is called US government will remain complicit in the crimes and no steps will be taken to hold anyone who could make a real difference accountable.

    This whole arrest is a way of deflecting that accountability. Not that it’s fooling anyone here. I wonder if the American United Gun Nuts are all pulling up their belts and huffing, “there ya go, I’d’a gone in and shot that guy, you bet.”

  7. bmiller says

    Did Australia have so DAMN MANY GUNS (and Gun Loons) when they basically banned private firearm ownership?
    Does Australia have a porous border to a verging on failed narco-state likewise full of guns? *

    *I realize most of Mexico’s problems are largely due to our American demand for glorious drugs and weapons, but still.

  10. Sam N says

    @3, if police officers actually behaved in a uniformly (or even mostly) professional manner: reducing conflict, treating others with respect even when none is sent their way, following the law, use of force only as a last resort, committed to the law such that they report abuse within their own ranks–then I would say they would deserve very good salaries and benefits. I have yet to see any evidence of US police that maintain such a standard.

    Legal immunity is absurd to put on the table for anyone.

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