The Shooting Gallery: Police Violence MEGATHREAD

[Malthus]

No Justice! No Peace!

No local stores!

[Oexmelin]

Intimidate law makers with assault weapons: Oh, well, we can't do anything.

Vandalize police car and write graffiti: deploy tear gas and rubber bullets.

[Valmy]

Intimidate law makers with assault weapons: Oh, well, we can't do anything.

Vandalize police car and write graffiti: deploy tear gas and rubber bullets.

Well one is against the law and the other isn't. Also: these are different states and different police departments.

That is not to say tear gas and rubber bullets were a great idea and an appropriate response.

[Oexmelin]

Also: these are different states and different police departments.

I have no doubt it would have been the exact same response in most states.

[Valmy]

Also: these are different states and different police departments.

I have no doubt it would have been the exact same response in most states.

I do. Bringing weapons into a government building is illegal in most states. You cannot even bring toy guns into federal buildings.

If you mean that the response would have been similarly over-reactive in the protest case well I cannot argue that. Probably right.

[Admiral Yi]

Intimidate law makers with assault weapons: Oh, well, we can't do anything.

Vandalize police car and write graffiti: deploy tear gas and rubber bullets.

What is the appropriate response to burning down buildings?  And why did you leave that part out?

And of course we can do something about assault weapons open carried in state assemblies: we can change the laws.

[merithyn]

Apparently, rioting and looting in that city now.

Well shit, that doesn't help anybody.

Honestly, I'm amazed it's taken this long to get there.

[Oexmelin]

What is the appropriate response to burning down buildings?  And why did you leave that part out?

Because tear gas and rubber bullet came after grafitti and vandalizing police car, not after burning down buildings.

[Admiral Yi]

Because tear gas and rubber bullet came after grafitti and vandalizing police car, not after burning down buildings.

OK.  What's the appropriate response to vandalizing police cars?

[Oexmelin]

Because tear gas and rubber bullet came after grafitti and vandalizing police car, not after burning down buildings.

OK.  What's the appropriate response to vandalizing police cars?

Nothing. Send someone out to talk. Deescalate if you can.

[Admiral Yi]

Nothing. Send someone out to talk. Deescalate if you can.

Is that what you would do if someone were vandalizing your car?

BTW, what do you mean by vandalizing?  Keying the doors and letting the air out of the tires?

[Oexmelin]

Is that what you would do if someone were vandalizing your car?

BTW, what do you mean by vandalizing?  Keying the doors and letting the air out of the tires?

I am not a police body given the legitimate use of force. My car is not a police car. What I would do is immaterial to this case. Police cars also do not hold such a special place in my heart that would warrant unleashing forceful repression of a demonstration. 

But I understand American police forces in general suck at deescalating any type of situation. Much more fun to beat up protesters.

[Admiral Yi]

I am not a police body given the legitimate use of force. My car is not a police car. What I would do is immaterial to this case. Police cars also do not hold such a special place in my heart that would warrant unleashing forceful repression of a demonstration. 

But I understand American police forces in general suck at deescalating any type of situation. Much more fun to beat up protesters.

I don't understand how public property should be given less protection than private.  Those police cars were bought with tax payer money and were presumably generating benefits for the residents of South Minneapolis.

What you would do seems very material to me.  The police are acting on our behalf.  If we prefer our property to not be destroyed, and would act to protect it, so should they.  If we're indifferent to the destruction of our property then we can instruct the police to act the same way.

[Eddie Teach]

Racism is over though, and this sort of thing also happens to white people apparently, but the media always misses it.

I don't understand that argument. So long as the police also kill white people then they shouldn't be held accountable? Talk about a bizarre whataboutism. Pretty sure if a citizen ends up killed by the police an investigation needs to be made and disciplinary action taken if necessary. That is just respecting the civil rights of our people. What about the fifth amendment to the Constition?

Who is claiming police shouldn't be accountable?

[Grey Fox]

I am not a police body given the legitimate use of force. My car is not a police car. What I would do is immaterial to this case. Police cars also do not hold such a special place in my heart that would warrant unleashing forceful repression of a demonstration. 

But I understand American police forces in general suck at deescalating any type of situation. Much more fun to beat up protesters.

I don't understand how public property should be given less protection than private.  Those police cars were bought with tax payer money and were presumably generating benefits for the residents of South Minneapolis.

What you would do seems very material to me.  The police are acting on our behalf.  If we prefer our property to not be destroyed, and would act to protect it, so should they.  If we're indifferent to the destruction of our property then we can instruct the police to act the same way.

Because they are the police. The Police are not acting on your behalf. They are protecting eachother. They would not hesitate to let you die too.