Police in the US Kill Citizens at Over 70 Times the Rate of Other First-World Nations

Off the top: (Based on what I've observed and probably not knowing all the facts thanks to a media that sensationalizes for ratings.) For many years I've thought that police were out of control till I heard that the standard for an officer to shoot is something like, if you feel your life is threatened you may kill. That is a bit of a low standard to me. A person with their back turned and hands not visible would make me very nervous as an officer - indeed officers have shot/killed unarmed people in the back for such in our area..

I've read/heard accounts on the news that make one wonder if the officers couldn't have done something other than shoot, but I wasn't in the situation so do not know what I would do. Example: small woman with knife surrounded by officers killed because she wouldn't put the knife down. It wasn't that anyone was in immediate danger - disobeying and order was enough to kill. Seems some other method might have been called for. Other similar situations have occurred as well. Example: Man walking toward officers with knife, ordered to put down knife, refusal, bang. Officers were not backed into a corner, they refused to move, the man refused to put down the knife, bang. Seems backing up might have been an option.

Another part of this is when an officer fires, often it is to empty a clip - that suggest utter panic to me instead of calculated use of a weapon. When officers open fire there is no thought of wounding.

Traffic stop, woman gets nervous, floors it and the officers start shooting instead of getting into their cars and giving chase. Ya, gotta keep the public safe, but shooting at a car knowing there are children inside?

I think raising the minimum standard for lethal force might help.

Posted as one old guys observations and opinion. Not saying anything in particular, just saying. I try to support the local police but wonder about their actions at times.

 

"Freethought" is a euphemism for atheism. No surprise that Troy gets his info from them.

 

How can you tell when a Liberal is lying? He's talking!

The US has ten times the population of Canada. There's also huge culture differences among the people. There aren't any black people in Canada (excuse the slight hyperbole), so there aren't insane policies be followed which cause people to get shot by police. E.g. black police hired through preference programs disproportionately kill citizens, but Canada doesn't have to hire unqualified black police to appease mobs.

Cities controlled by white Republicans have the lowest rate of police shootings. Cities controlled by black Democrats have the highest rate of police shootings.

 

I don't fear the police ... could that be because I am not breaking laws?! And if a cop does decide to ticket me, or talk with me I WILL GIVE THEM THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE. Should I be falsely accused I will argue my case in front of a judge, and jury, if need be. I have watched the television show "Cops" for years, plus I have worked in law enforcement and know career law enforcement personnel, so I know better than to argue my case with them.

 

More statistical lies. It gets kinda old. It's amazing that some people are so dumb they can't see through the numbers.