# 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:** 327
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6521 "2015-10-13T00:07:24Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Were it possible to shoot lightning, I would have no objection to anyone doing so. I think Sith Lords can do that from their fingers. But be careful **Smapti** : “Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” ---
**Author:** ![Alkash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Alkash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alkash)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6522 "2015-10-13T00:54:10Z")
[The mayor of Chicago](http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/chicago-mayor-blames-citys-crime-uptick-on-officers-second-guessing-themselves/ar-AAfn7R0?ocid=spartandhp) urges the police to shoot more criminals, as the number of homicides in Chicago spikes to 13-years high. If only Chicago had reasonable gun laws…Alas, until it adapts them, more innocent lives will be lost… ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6523 "2015-10-13T01:52:49Z")
Maybe we’re making progress. At least they didn’t shoot him: [Black councilman tased by police in city where Sandra Bland was arrested](http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-texas-city-council-police-taser-20151012-story.html) > [@](#): > > A second officer, Michael Kelly, who is white, then told Miller to step away. > > "Go over there before you go to jail for interfering,” Kelly said. > > Miller stepped back, but apparently not far enough. > > “Go back there to the end, man. You always starting problems, so go back over there,” Kelly said. > > “I live here,” Miller muttered. > > “I’m gonna tell you one more time to go back over there and get out of this scene before you go to jail for interfering,” Kelly said, then stepped toward Miller, reaching out. > > Miller retreated. > > “I’m not saying nothing, get your hands off me! I’m not saying nothing!” he said. > > Goodie then told Miller to “quit resisting,” but added, “Don’t tase him,” as the officer grappled with Miller. > > Then she appeared to change her mind. > > “He’s going to have to tase you, you’re not doing like you’re supposed to do,” she concluded, and the taser can be heard zapping Miller. > > The second body camera captured what happened next, as Miller yelped in pain. > > “What’s the issue? What did I do?” Miller can be heard shouting. > > “You were not following the instructions the officer gave you,” Goodie said, noting, “Even your frat brothers told you not to get involved.” > > But Miller’s friend Brandon Wilson, who shot a separate video posted on KTRK, said his friend was not resisting police. Not following instructions and didn’t “quit restin’”–when will they ever learn, **Smapti**? ---
**Author:** ![Alkash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Alkash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alkash)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6524 "2015-10-13T01:59:29Z")
[Police assault a black man on his way to school](https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=3&v=wYvIqkDz7cI) ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6525 "2015-10-13T02:23:01Z")
> [@Alkash](#): > > [Police assault a black man on his way to school](https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=3&v=wYvIqkDz7cI) Shortly before \*\*Alkash \*\*joined this board, didn’t we ban a poster who used to do exactly what \*\*Alkash \*\*is doing now? Weird timing: We ban that guy and then immediately afterward this guy joins and does the exact same thing? ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6526 "2015-10-13T02:24:28Z")
> [@Alkash](#): > > [Police assault a black man on his way to school](https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=3&v=wYvIqkDz7cI) Ahh! Bawlmer, my old hometown. I don’t know if he was on his way to school, but after Freddie Gray he may have been spared a “rough ride”, especially after dropping the one cop with a punch. The video doesn’t show why the cops were there, but, yeah, he’s getting arresting after the escalation. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6527 "2015-10-13T02:27:49Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > Shortly before \*\*Alkash \*\*joined this board, didn’t we ban a poster who used to do exactly what \*\*Alkash \*\*is doing now? Weird timing: We ban that guy and then immediately afterward this guy joins and does the exact same thing? I’m commenting on the video. What am I missing about the poster? It’s not like “black man going to school” was evident in the video, which I noted. ---
**Author:** ![Alkash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Alkash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alkash)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6528 "2015-10-13T02:39:04Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > It’s not like “black man going to school” was evident in the video, which I noted. Well, admittedly, I assumed the young man in question was going to school (what else could he be doing at that time of the day?), but since you appear familiar with Baltimore, do you think the reason it’s one of the top 10 most dangerous city in the US with regards to crime, is that it’s been run for almost 50 years now by Democrats? And I’m not talking just mayor position: the current Baltimore city council does not have a single Republican on it. Do people of Baltimore, especially poor and minorities, even stand a chance here? It’s clear as day that their lives cannot and will not improve until the party, that’s intent on discriminating against them and keeping them impoverished, stays in power, yet, how can it be removed? Should there be a law passed in Baltimore, prohibiting Democrats from holding an office (for at least a year or two), so that people have a chance to have their lives improved? ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6529 "2015-10-13T03:26:46Z")
> [@Alkash](#): > > Should there be a law passed in Baltimore, prohibiting Democrats from holding an office (for at least a year or two), so that people have a chance to have their lives improved? OMG!–Democrats not in power in Baltimore! And suggesting a law against it? Thanks for the laugh. Who in Baltimore, or Maryland in general, would vote for this? Having lived in MD most my life, I’m amazed there’s been some Republican Governors. The fact that there has been, shows how much people are dissatisfied with the Democratic Party state machine. This thread isn’t about a one state’s partisan issue; it’s about a cop culture issue. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6530 "2015-10-13T03:34:45Z")
> [@Alkash](#): > > Well, admittedly, I assumed the young man in question was going to school (what else could he be doing at that time of the day?), I forgot to address this. There’s a show called _The Wire_ you may want to watch for the answer to that naive question. And I’m done with “ **Alkash** ”. ---
**Author:** ![Alkash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Alkash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alkash)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6531 "2015-10-13T03:41:38Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > Who in Baltimore, or Maryland in general, would vote for this? Exactly–people of Baltimore (or such diverse cities as St. Louis, or New Orleans, or Detroit) have been voting for Democrats for decades, and the rates of poverty and crime are sky-rocketing. Since people are clearly incapable in this case to vote for what’s good for them (not having Democrats in charge), maybe there can be some sort of Federal law or Constitutional amendment, prohibiting Democrats from holding any elected office in these cities for the next 5-10 years, to see if things can improve (they probably can’t get any worse). ---
**Author:** ![Alkash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Alkash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alkash)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6532 "2015-10-13T03:42:42Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > I forgot to address this. There’s a show called _The Wire_ you may want to watch for the answer to that naive question. Thanks, I’ll pass. ---
**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:** [October 13, 2015, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6533 "2015-10-13T11:32:02Z")
> [@Alkash](#): > > Exactly–people of Baltimore (or such diverse cities as St. Louis, or New Orleans, or Detroit) have been voting for Democrats for decades, and the rates of poverty and crime are sky-rocketing. > Since people are clearly incapable in this case to vote for what’s good for them (not having Democrats in charge), maybe there can be some sort of Federal law or Constitutional amendment, prohibiting Democrats from holding any elected office in these cities for the next 5-10 years, to see if things can improve (they probably can’t get any worse). Let me draw a parallel that is quite simple but perhaps not so simple as to be understood by someone with your limited intellect. Suppose the prisoners in Auschwitz were allowed to elect someone to talk to the Nazis and present suggestions for improving life in the camp. They would of course elect a Jew. And as time went on, conditions in the camp deteriorated and they were murdered by the tens of thousands. A modern day Republican would look at that and say “Haw, haw! Voting for Jews is not in their self interest!” Urban America votes primarily Democratic. Even having Democrats in charge is not enough to overcome the systemic bias in the system against the working class in favor of the investment class. As money flows from the needy to the greedy, poverty and crime are the result. Blaming Democrats for this is moronic and things cannot improve until genuine progressive Democrats are in charge of all three branches of government. ---
**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:** [October 13, 2015, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6534 "2015-10-13T11:41:51Z")
> [@Alkash](#): > > Exactly–people of Baltimore (or such diverse cities as St. Louis, or New Orleans, or Detroit) have been voting for Democrats for decades, and the rates of poverty and crime are sky-rocketing. > Since people are clearly incapable in this case to vote for what’s good for them (not having Democrats in charge), maybe there can be some sort of Federal law or Constitutional amendment, prohibiting Democrats from holding any elected office in these cities for the next 5-10 years, to see if things can improve (they probably can’t get any worse). Statistically for crime, things are way better in these cities than in the 80s and 90s. The right-wing wants to pretend that crime is getting worse, but the murder rate right now is lower than it has been in the US at any time since about 1960. Crime is not nearly the problem it was in the 80s and 90s. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6535 "2015-10-13T14:58:58Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > …Urban America votes primarily Democratic. Even having Democrats in charge is not enough to overcome the systemic bias in the system against the working class in favor of the investment class. As money flows from the needy to the greedy, poverty and crime are the result. Blaming Democrats for this is moronic and things cannot improve until genuine progressive Democrats are in charge of all three branches of government. (post shortened) The voters have spoken. In 2008, the voters voted for Obama, a political outsider. The Democrat machine lost control of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. In 2015, the polls show Sanders, Trump, and Carson as leading contenders for the job of President, and they are political outsiders. (For years, Sanders ideas had been mostly ignored by the established political machine and media outlets. Sanders is an outsider to most voters.) ol’ Hillary is the only old-style, establishment candidate in contention. The voters are the deciders. The voters expect a better government and will have to keep voting until they elect a government that realizes that SSDD isn’t a proper mode of government. Out with the old - In with the new. Bernie! Bernie! Bernie! 😃 ---
**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:** [October 13, 2015, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6536 "2015-10-13T15:02:47Z")
I’ll be happy to discuss this elsewhere but I don’t want to derail the thread any more than I have already. This is supposed to be about how cops are murdering/tasing people for less than good reasons. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6537 "2015-10-13T15:34:28Z")
And dogs. Don’t forget the millions of dogs shot every year ---
**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:** [October 13, 2015, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6538 "2015-10-13T15:50:39Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > And dogs. Don’t forget the millions of dogs shot every year But they only shoot the black dogs. White dogs get a warning. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6539 "2015-10-13T15:54:18Z")
Actually, they will shoot any dog if it’s a threat. And if a dog is approaching them , that’s a threat. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6540 "2015-10-13T15:55:23Z")
Or if a dog is running away from them, [that’s also a threat](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/30/AR2008073003299.html). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=326) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=328)