# Controversial encounters between law-enforcement and civilians - the omnibus thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 10, 2014, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942 "2014-10-10T07:35:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 151
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/3001 "2015-05-28T18:20:36Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > We are _way_ past “civil”, you lying sack of shit I’m not the one throwing around curse words and insults here. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/3002 "2015-05-28T18:23:46Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > By not taking a hold of it, which is what he _did_ do. > > Please, do continue to elaborate on how “grab at the toy gun in your waistband” is a completely logical thing to do when confronted by the cops and how it’s exactly what you would teach your children to do. You drop something that is in your possession by not taking ahold of it. Are you insane? Are there meds you’re supposed to be taking that you’ve stopped taking? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/3003 "2015-05-28T18:25:02Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Can you not at least agree that he should _not_ have responded to the police’s arrival by reaching for his piece? Piece? Oh, you mean his toy? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/3004 "2015-05-28T18:25:31Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I’m not the one throwing around curse words and insults here. I’m not the degenerative, lying sack of shit with no ethics. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/3005 "2015-05-28T18:26:33Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > You drop something that is in your possession by not taking ahold of it. > Are you insane? > Are there meds you’re supposed to be taking that you’ve stopped taking? Your child has a toy gun tucked into his waistband. A police car speeds up to him while the officer is announcing “DROP THE WEAPON!” over the bullhorn. You, through the grace of Mighty Thor, have been imparted the ability to speak a single sentence into your child’s mind. What is your advice to your child? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/3006 "2015-05-28T18:26:54Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > By not taking a hold of it, which is what he _did_ do. > > Please, do continue to elaborate on how “grab at the toy gun in your waistband” is a completely logical thing to do when confronted by the cops and how it’s exactly what you would teach your children to do. Can you explain how you would have handled it if you were the boy? You’re sitting in a park with a toy gun in your pants. A squad car comes up with lights ablaze and a cop gets out and demands that you drop your gun. What exactly do you do that doesn’t result in getting killed? ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/3007 "2015-05-28T18:28:41Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > You drop something that is in your possession by not taking ahold of it. > Are you insane? > Are there meds you’re supposed to be taking that you’ve stopped taking? Well, he does seem to live in some Bizzaro World. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/3008 "2015-05-28T18:34:00Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > By not taking a hold of it, which is what he _did_ do. > > Please, do continue to elaborate on how “grab at the toy gun in your waistband” is a completely logical thing to do when confronted by the cops and how it’s exactly what you would teach your children to do. You said they told him to drop his weapon – and you said he should have obeyed the cops. Obeying the cops requires him to grab the toy gun. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/3009 "2015-05-28T18:34:08Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Your child has a toy gun tucked into his waistband. > > A police car speeds up to him while the officer is announcing “DROP THE WEAPON!” over the bullhorn. You, through the grace of Mighty Thor, have been imparted the ability to speak a single sentence into your child’s mind. > > What is your advice to your child? "get ready to die, kid-If you follow that officer’s advice he will shoot you. In fact, any panicky move you, a 12 year old child, is likely to make in such a situation is going to cause this inept officer to kill you. Pray that there is a god, and that there is an afterlife. This life is over for you. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/3010 "2015-05-28T18:34:32Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Can you explain how you would have handled it if you were the boy? You’re sitting in a park with a toy gun in your pants. A squad car comes up with lights ablaze and a cop gets out and demands that you drop your gun. What exactly do you do that doesn’t result in getting killed? Hit the ground, hands behind your head. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/3011 "2015-05-28T18:35:33Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > "get ready to die… And I thought _I_ was ill-suited to be a parent. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/3012 "2015-05-28T18:35:40Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > What is your advice to your child? “Do whatever you can to look white, son!” ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/3013 "2015-05-28T18:37:34Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Hit the ground, hands behind your head. That’s not what they told him to do. He was told to drop the gun. So after weeks of thought that’s the best you can do, but you blame the kid for getting shot because he couldn’t figure it out in under 2 seconds? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/3014 "2015-05-28T18:38:59Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I’m sorry you can’t be bothered to keep this civil. There’s no point in being civil to monsters. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/3015 "2015-05-28T18:40:11Z")
[Woman calls suicide hotline because she’s afraid her boyfriend was self harming and wanted help hospitalizing him. Instead, they sent the police who shot him](http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/05/28/man-calls-suicide-line-police-kill-him.html). The police claim he tried to attack them with a knife but bullet holes and blood were confined entirely to a mattress. At this point, it’s depressingly plausible that the police made up whatever shit was necessary to get themselves off. We’ll never have camera footage of the incident so we’ll never know what really happened but it seems like if you send police into a situation like that with assault rifles, then they’re going to be primed to use them. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/3016 "2015-05-28T18:40:24Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > And I thought _I_ was ill-suited to be a parent. Look: Something we can all agree on! You didn’t ask me what I would do if I was the child’s parent. Besides, What makes you think a sudden movement in the 2 seconds that was given wouldn’t have been taken as a hostile movement by Officer Itchy Triggerfinger? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/3017 "2015-05-28T18:41:24Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Hit the ground, hands behind your head. So now you’re saying he shouldn’t have obeyed the cops, and obeying the cops lead to his death? Was it right for the cops to shoot the child for trying to obey their order? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/3018 "2015-05-28T18:55:32Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Provide an example of a case in which cops unjustifiably killed a child, and we’ll talk. [Aiyana Stanley-Jones, age 7](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/detroit-shot-7-year-old-won-face-trial-article-1.2095563) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/3019 "2015-05-28T18:58:03Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > [Aiyana Stanley-Jones, age 7](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/detroit-shot-7-year-old-won-face-trial-article-1.2095563) “Accidental discharge of a weapon during a struggle” != “murderous cop”. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/3020 "2015-05-28T18:59:54Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > You didn’t ask me what I would do if I was the child’s parent. What would you do if you were the child’s parent? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=150) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=152)