# 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:** 45
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/881 "2015-03-04T17:59:46Z")
> [@get\_lives](#): > > If you can afford a gun, you’re probably not homeless. And yet he robbed a bank with a gun. His stated reason for robbing the bank was to get money for classes he wanted. And yet he didn’t pawn the gun he used it to rob a bank and pistol whip someone. Bad assumption. I’m not sure how expensive you think guns are. Well made guns are expensive. Cheap guns are cheap. Having a gun doesn’t put you about the poverty line. ---
**Author:** ![get\_lives](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@get\_lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/get_lives)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/882 "2015-03-04T18:00:49Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > He was a wanted man. He broke parole. He had a warrant from the U.S. Marshals. He was in this country under a stolen identity. He was a violent felon. Even if he was all these things, it doesn’t change the larger issue that we have a terrible situation re: the mentally ill. The drug war isn’t helping, either. It needs to change to a treatment model. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2015, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/883 "2015-03-04T18:04:54Z")
> [@get\_lives](#): > > If you can afford a gun, you’re probably not homeless. Making assumptions like “He’s homeless, so he must be unarmed” gets you dead cops. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/884 "2015-03-04T18:19:10Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Apparently they didn’t know this at the time they shot him, so apparently it doesn’t fucking matter, does it? Yes, of course it matters. They were investigating him for a violent crime. Funnily enough, it turns out he was a violent criminal. Violent criminals are more dangerous than the average Joe. Finding evidence after the fact that a judgment is correct is not evidence that the judgment was incorrect. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/885 "2015-03-04T18:22:29Z")
> [@get\_lives](#): > > Even if he was all these things, it doesn’t change the larger issue that we have a terrible situation re: the mentally ill. Yes - sometimes they are violent criminals who rob banks and try to grab a rookie’s gun. That’s a bad problem. Fortunately it was dealt with efficiently in this case. It’s too bad he was shot, but better him than a police officer or a bystander. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/886 "2015-03-04T18:25:33Z")
If the video does not show him reaching for officers gun, will you still think the same thing? ---
**Author:** ![get\_lives](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@get\_lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/get_lives)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/887 "2015-03-04T18:27:51Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Yes - sometimes they are violent criminals who rob banks and try to grab a rookie’s gun. That’s a bad problem. Fortunately it was dealt with efficiently in this case. > > It’s too bad he was shot, but better him than a police officer or a bystander. > > Regards, > Shodan Post some irrelevant stuff, please. Oh wait…you were one step ahead. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/888 "2015-03-04T18:43:10Z")
> [@get\_lives](#): > > Post some irrelevant stuff, please. Oh wait…you were one step ahead. If you think it is irrelevant whether or not he was trying to grab the officer’s gun, or whether or not he was a violent felon, then you are not basing your argument on anything rational. [QUOTE=Snowboarder Bo] If the video does not show him reaching for officers gun, will you still think the same thing? [/QUOTE] No. If it does, will you? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![get\_lives](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@get\_lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/get_lives)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/889 "2015-03-04T18:49:35Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > If you think it is irrelevant whether or not he was trying to grab the officer’s gun, or whether or not he was a violent felon, then you are not basing your argument on anything rational. > > Shodan Irrelevant to the larger issue of cops shooting many times more unarmed people than they need to. But I think you know that, and just are just being a dick because you hate me for being right. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/890 "2015-03-04T19:02:31Z")
> [@get\_lives](#): > > But I think you know that, and just are just being a dick because you hate me for being right. I don’t hate anyone, but if I did hate you, that couldn’t be the reason. Regards, Shodan ---
**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:** [March 5, 2015, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/891 "2015-03-05T01:37:21Z")
[Here](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/fivepoints/ferguson-doj-report-shocking-moments) are some of the most egregious findings from the DOJ’s investigation into Ferguson. ---
**Author:** ![get\_lives](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@get\_lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/get_lives)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/892 "2015-03-05T02:40:53Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I don’t hate anyone, but if I did hate you, that couldn’t be the reason. > > Regards, > Shodan Anyway ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/893 "2015-03-05T05:32:01Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > If you think it is irrelevant whether or not he was trying to grab the officer’s gun, or whether or not he was a violent felon, then you are not basing your argument on anything rational. > > No. If it does, will you? > > Regards, > Shodan I would change my opinion, but then, that should be obvious since I have a history on this board of retracting my opinion and changing it when confronted by new evidence. I don’t recall you ever doing that, hence my question. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/894 "2015-03-05T06:37:15Z")
> [@get\_lives](#): > > Ask some Western Europeans. They’re getting it done. Ok so we can sum up your knowledge and experience in the subject as “I have no clue” but I read somewhere that all cops are vicious killers waiting to strike. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/895 "2015-03-05T06:41:38Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Here’s a [couple](http://www.stripes.com/news/special-reports/casualties-of-the-after-war/program-trains-police-to-defuse-confrontations-with-troubled-veterans-1.312280) of [articles](http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-lasvegas-doj-20141108-story.html#page=2) about Las Vegas’ program, there are plenty more if you search for them. So the deescalation solution is having 6 cops drawn down on the guy… I endorse this method. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/896 "2015-03-05T14:41:39Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > [Here](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/fivepoints/ferguson-doj-report-shocking-moments) are some of the most egregious findings from the DOJ’s investigation into Ferguson. That’s the worst they could find? Regards, Shodan ---
**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:** [March 5, 2015, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/897 "2015-03-05T15:13:46Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > That’s the worst they could find? > > Regards, > Shodan I don’t know. Not bad enough for you? ---
**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:** [March 5, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/898 "2015-03-05T15:45:38Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > That’s the worst they could find? > > Regards, > Shodan You can set a Google Alert to let you know when they begin trampling the rights of whites. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/899 "2015-03-05T15:58:19Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I don’t know. Not bad enough for you? Most of them, no. The racist e-mails were were tasteless, but referring to Obama as a chimp isn’t racist. The rest seemed to be using Tasers on non-compliant suspects - if the po-pos want to pat you down, you don’t get to say No. As I have said in other threads, people who get arrested often don’t like it, and complain about it. I don’t think this calls for a federal investigation. YMMV, but I doubt it would for anyone who wasn’t spring-loaded to see racism every time the cops don’t say “pretty please with cream and sugar” to a black guy refusing a pat-down. I would also like to see if this > [@](#): > > The DOJ also noted the man lost his job as a federal government contractor because of the arrest. is accurate. I don’t know that the federal government can fire you simply on the basis that you have been arrested. Possibly there may have been more to it than that. [QUOTE=kayaker] You can set a Google Alert to let you know when they begin trampling the rights of whites. [/QUOTE] Is there a way to filter out the exaggerations and whining? That would be better. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/900 "2015-03-05T16:31:33Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Most of them, no. The racist e-mails were were tasteless, but referring to Obama as a chimp isn’t racist. So in light of all the other emails that even you must admit were blatantly racist, you conclude that the reference to Obama as a chimpanzee was not racist? Just good, innocent fun that’s being taken the wrong way? That’s what you’re going with on this one? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=44) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=46)