# Controversial encounters between law-enforcement and civilians - the omnibus thread

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942>\
**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:** 1\
**Showing post:** 4201

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**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/4201 "2015-06-26T14:51:17Z")

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> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#):
>
> How about other cases where people were shot by the police, and you seem to have no problems because the officer FELT threatened, or WAS IN FEAR for his life?
> 
> Cases where the perpetrator was reaching for his wallet. Or running away. Or had his hand in his pocket. Or was holding a stapler.
> 
> How do these cases fit into your worldview, eh? Is it more reasonable to shoot a person in one of these situations? Or someone walking around a crowded store with a loaded shotgun?

It’s not reasonable to shoot someone who is walking round a store with a loaded gun, in an open carry state, simply for doing those things, so it can’t be _less_ reasonable to shoot anyone else.

As to whether it’s equally unreasonable, or more reasonable, depends on the specific circumstances. Someone who’s been told to freeze by the police, but then gets his wallet out, that’s reasonable. Someone running away, as discussed before, depends if they were an imminent threat before they started running away. Running doesn’t automatically negate the threat, again it depends on the circumstances. If it’s the case I think you’re talking about, the claim is that he was never a threat in the first place, not that he stopped being a threat by running.

Dunno about the case with the stapler, I’ve never heard of it.

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