Would you have supported the Police if they'd shot him?

[Skyrad 0]

So Police very nearly shot a 16 year old with a toy gun, have a look at the video of the incident.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehzq9OdE2w0&feature=share%27%2C%29

Do you think that the Police in the incident would have been justified in opening fire?

Personally I say yes they would have been.

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[lawrocket 3]

I see the video but got no sound. Why did they stop him?

And yes, the police could have had an honest and reasonable fear sufficient to amount to deadly force. Of course, had the police actually shot him then there would be an uproar about the kid posing no real threat, etc.

Carrying around a fake gun is a real dumbass move.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[billvon 3,120]

>Do you think that the Police in the incident would have been justified in
>opening fire?

Justified? No. If they had, would they be guilty of anything? No. It would have been a horrendous mistake.

[Skyrad 0]

A member of the public saw the lad walking down the street with what appeared to be a hand gun sticking out of his waistband and called 999 (911).

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[Skyrad 0]

Quote

>Do you think that the Police in the incident would have been justified in
>opening fire?

Justified? No. If they had, would they be guilty of anything? No. It would have been a horrendous mistake.

Yes Bill it would have been a tragic mistake but pulling out what appears to be a hand gun when confronted by armed Police is plenty justification enough in my books. No way the Police office could have known in that split second what it was or the guys intentions.

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[airdvr 210]

Although its not clear it appears they did not have their guns drawn when he reached for his. Outcome could have been different.

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[christelsabine 1]

Quote

So Police very nearly shot a 16 year old with a toy gun, have a look at the video of the incident.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehzq9OdE2w0&feature=share%27%2C%29

Do you think that the Police in the incident would have been justified in opening fire?

Personally I say yes they would have been.

Personally, I'd say the same.

These officers kept nerves, hats off.

In the US, there surely were already 3 dead on the side walk

dudeist skydiver # 3105

[StreetScooby 5]

I just watched the video. Clearly the kid pulled the gun such that he could not have pulled the trigger, much less aim it at someone.

We are all engines of karma

[billvon 3,120]

>but pulling out what appears to be a hand gun when confronted by armed
>Police is plenty justification enough in my books.

Pulling out a gun with the intent to use it is indeed justification for deadly force. Pulling out a toy gun is not. However the inability to distinguish between the two is, 99.9% of the time, not the fault of the police - which is why such a shooting would be a tragic mistake and not any sort of a crime.

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

>but pulling out what appears to be a hand gun when confronted by armed
>Police is plenty justification enough in my books.

Pulling out a gun with the intent to use it is indeed justification for deadly force. Pulling out a toy gun is not. However the inability to distinguish between the two is, 99.9% of the time, not the fault of the police - which is why such a shooting would be a tragic mistake and not any sort of a crime.

this is a linguistic dance. Justified doesn't mean "correct based on all facts established by monday morning QBs." Like most things, it comes down to what would a reasonable person do. If a perp pulls out what appears to be a gun, it's justified for the other party to shoot.

You want to make it interesting, let's say the person just reached for their pocket. That scenario is a much murkier one.

[normiss 898]

UK doesn't require the day-glo orange safety tips like are required in the US??
Or are theirs as easily removed there too?

[jumpsalot-2 3]

Anyone who carries a real or fake pistol in plain sight better be ready to be shot by Police or in the USA.....shot by any gang member who feels like letting a round off. You might not die, but then again you might. Is it worth it ? Just to show off in front of your friends ( which this guy was doing in my opinion ). I voted yes to shoot by the Police.....it's you or them.....

Life is short ... jump often.

[Skyrad 0]

Quote

UK doesn't require the day-glo orange safety tips like are required in the US??
Or are theirs as easily removed there too?

No, toy guns, BB guns and air guns are not required to have orange tips or anything that identifies them as not the real deal. In fact they tend to make them as realistic looking as possible. (Of course some toy guns are clearly that).

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[davjohns 1]

Great job by the police. The kid could have easily been shot and nobody would have taken action against the police. From the two angles presented, it could have easily been a kid going for a real gun. Only once he dangled it from his fingers to toss it aside did it appear otherwise. The officer who drove the vehicle was quick enough on the draw that the kid could have been dead before it got to that point. The officer gave it a split second before shooting and that made all the difference. If that had been a rookie cop, it might have very well been different.

I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet..

But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

[Channman 2]

Quote

So Police very nearly shot a 16 year old with a toy gun, have a look at the video of the incident.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehzq9OdE2w0&feature=share%27%2C%29

Do you think that the Police in the incident would have been justified in opening fire?

Personally I say yes they would have been.

Here in Texas, I think there would have been a very good chance this kid would have been killed for pulling a stunt like that. The police office in the video does however have the Texas quick draw down, lucky he had restraint on his trigger finger.

[rehmwa 2]

that was quite a quickdraw on the officer's part

one can argue that the cop hesitated......
or that he had very quick reflexes and was able to judge the situation correctly and stop in time

I'm voting for the 2nd - especially since the kid kinda pulled the gun out in a non-threatening, I-give-up, way. But really hard to tell in the moment. Hopefully the kid said something verbal "it's just a toy" that gave the cop another clue other than just taking the chance.

Not only did the cop avoid a shooting, but I think he took a chance to get shot himself to try to confirm the situation - if it was a real gun, he'd have been shot and his partner would still have taken the kid down.

best possible result - good on him

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[rehmwa 2]

Quote

In the US, there surely were already 3 dead on the side walk

seriously, what's the point of that comment?

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[christelsabine 1]

Quote

Quote

In the US, there surely were already 3 dead on the side walk

seriously, what's the point of that comment?

You really want me to explain??

Go and read the posts until this one, then you will know.

dudeist skydiver # 3105

[Channman 2]

Quote

that was quite a quickdraw on the officer's part

one can argue that the cop hesitated......
or that he had very quick reflexes and was able to judge the situation correctly and stop in time

I'm voting for the 2nd - especially since the kid kinda pulled the gun out in a non-threatening, I-give-up, way. But really hard to tell in the moment. Hopefully the kid said something verbal "it's just a toy" that gave the cop another clue other than just taking the chance.

Not only did the cop avoid a shooting, but I think he took a chance to get shot himself to try to confirm the situation - if it was a real gun, he'd have been shot and his partner would still have taken the kid down.

best possible result - good on him

The interesting thing about the video to me was the officer surrendering to the kids with both hands raised before, BAM!!!, he throws down his quick draw. I wonder if it was some type of distraction or misdirection he try to pull off, and or did pull off.

[rehmwa 2]

Quote

Go and read the posts until this one, then you will know.

I really don't.

the original post - only 6 posts before your comment

most people saying they could understand if the cop had shot based on the video

Billvon playing semantics junk

everybody commenting on how amazing it was that the cop actually didn't shoot and how fortunately it was

that's about it

Nothing upstream at all about british vs US, etc until you played that card.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants