# Another unarmed black guy shot by cops -- this time the cop is being prosecuted. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 25, 2014, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-unarmed-black-guy-shot-by-cops-this-time-the-cop-is-being-prosecuted/699511 "2014-09-25T11:17:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 23
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2014, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-unarmed-black-guy-shot-by-cops-this-time-the-cop-is-being-prosecuted/699511/441 "2014-09-29T21:20:56Z")
> [@Kinthalis](#): > > Best response on the thread so far. It was excellent, and i agree with most of what **Bouncer** says, although i’m perhaps a bit more optimistic than he is about the possibility of former combat troops making the transition to civilian law enforcement. I believe that if the appropriate training is given, and if the institutional and organizational culture of the police department itself is a good one, there’s no reason that many of those folks can’t become good peace officers. If there are military people who are unsuited to being police officers, it might be due to their training, but we also need to consider that some (by no means all) people who join the military in the first place might not be best suited to a job requiring restraint and thoughtfulness. Both the military and law enforcement attract their share of bullies and thugs, and the real challenge, as **Bouncer** noted, is weeding them out before they strap on a gun. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-unarmed-black-guy-shot-by-cops-this-time-the-cop-is-being-prosecuted/699511/442 "2014-09-30T01:54:19Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > And not just cops, but any yahoo with a gun who can claim his gun use was defensive, hmm? :dubious: > > Isn’t it though? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-unarmed-black-guy-shot-by-cops-this-time-the-cop-is-being-prosecuted/699511/443 "2014-10-01T19:11:30Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > I don’t like the idea of a world where we only learn lessons about policing AFTER a cop has gunned down an unarmed civilian who was following the cop’s exact instructions. And given that so many police forces emphasize the possible dangers of contact, i don;t understand why some departments apparently haven’t formulated any precautions except “Go for your gun early and often.” In the entirety of human history has there ever, even one time, been a case where we didn’t do things wrong 400 times before beginning to sort of figure out that maybe there is a better way to do things? Humans are morons, and our biggest blind spot is our insistence that we are not. Its weird that we have the ability to figure things like this out in advance but never do. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-unarmed-black-guy-shot-by-cops-this-time-the-cop-is-being-prosecuted/699511/444 "2014-10-01T19:48:38Z")
> [@Critical1](#): > > In the entirety of human history has there ever, even one time, been a case where we didn’t do things wrong 400 times before beginning to sort of figure out that maybe there is a better way to do things? I wish I could believe this kind of thing has only happened 400 times. And that these kinds of situations are the result of a mistake rather than a deliberate misunderstanding. ---
**Author:** ![Stealth\_Potato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Stealth\_Potato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stealth_Potato)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-unarmed-black-guy-shot-by-cops-this-time-the-cop-is-being-prosecuted/699511/445 "2014-10-01T20:23:36Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > He shot at the guy four times for following his orders. That’s understandable? Remind me to never knock on your door to borrow a cup of sugar. You would never get your sugar. It wouldn’t benefit society for **Smapti** to give you some of his sugar, and he has no legal obligation to. And at any rate it doesn’t make sense for **Smapti** to risk his own life on your account; he might stub his toe on the way to the kitchen. Besides, you might be a Jew. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-unarmed-black-guy-shot-by-cops-this-time-the-cop-is-being-prosecuted/699511.md?page=22)