# DC Police bring a gun to a snowball fight **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 20, 2009, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965 "2009-12-20T17:12:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/41 "2009-12-21T22:51:23Z")
> [@SanibelMan](#): > > So in the middle of this historic blizzard in Washington, DC, a bunch of hipsters got together to have a snowball fight in the middle of the city. They’re happily pitching snowballs back and forth at each other for a while, occasionally taking aim at passing cars. At one point, a cop drives by and gets stuck, and dozens of people help push the cop car on its way. > > But then comes along a Hummer, and when it gets pelted, the driver gets out, starts yelling… and [waving a fucking gun around!](http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/12/19/did-d-c-cops-overreact-to-snowball-fight-14th-and-u/) It turns out he’s an undercover detective, and he feels threatened enough by getting hit with snowballs to get out of his Hummer and start waving around his piece. > > Look, I know hipsters are fucking annoying. And it’s really dickish to throw snowballs at cars. But look, I know it’s tempting, but you really can’t shoot them for throwing snowballs. Snowballs are made of snow, you see, whereas bullets are NOT made of snow and can kill people. Unlike snow. Just so we’re clear. > > [Police are investigating.](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/20/AR2009122000881.html?hpid=todays-paper) Sure they are. I like the fact that the _uniformed cops_ didn’t give a shit, but some bigass ego of an undercover dick did. Also owning a Hummer should be a shootable offense, unless you’re in the military and you’ve been assigned to drive it, or you’re Arnold Schwarzenegger. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/42 "2009-12-21T23:43:06Z")
We all know that the reason he pulled the gun wasn’t because of multiple felony assualts nor to improve public safety. The reason he pulled a gun was because somebody threw snowballs _at his Hummer_. He loves his Hummer. His Hummer is a very nice, expensive status symbol, and it’s disrespectful of his status not to gape in awe as it rolls majestically down the street. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/43 "2009-12-21T23:46:39Z")
Is anyone else troubled that a police officer drives what many of us think of as an oinkmobile? What, a Jaguar was too ostentatious? ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/44 "2009-12-21T23:48:39Z")
It’s worth noting from one of the links that apparently the Assistant Chief has no trouble lying to the public. > [@](#): > > Assistant Chief Peter Newsham tells LL: “There was no police pulling guns on snowball people.” Actual Chief Lanier: > [@](#): > > It is very obvious to me that the officer pulled his service weapon in response to the snowballs hitting his vehicle. I have no doubt about this, nor has the officer denied the accusations. ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/45 "2009-12-22T00:09:32Z")
And for anyone who’s in doubt about the gun pulling: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/uAgQKJuriIo/maxresdefault.jpg "DC Cop Waves Gun at Snowball Fight!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAgQKJuriIo) Hurrah for public video equipment. Anyway, this guy was completely and dangerously overreacting - you should not pull a gun in this kind of almost completely harmless situation especially not with dozens of people in the way; do not get your gun out unless you’re prepared to use it - but I have to say watching that video that at least the uniformed cops in this case seemed to have a good idea of how to handle the situation. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/46 "2009-12-22T00:31:02Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > It’s worth noting from one of the links that apparently the Assistant Chief has no trouble lying to the public. > > Actual Chief Lanier: "There was no police pulling guns \*\*on \*\*snowball… " “…pulled his service weapon…” Note the word " **ON"**. Pulling a gun **OUT** is different than pulling a gun **ON.** ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/47 "2009-12-22T00:33:15Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > And what if it wasn’t in a snowball but in an envelope? And what if it wasn’t a detective driving the Hummer, but Jesus Christ? “In the event of the Rapture, this vehicle will be unmanned (but heavily armed)” ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/48 "2009-12-22T00:41:26Z")
> [@Belowjob2.0](#): > > Each snowball thrown at a car is a separate felony assault. Absurd, but true. > > The cop is faced, in his version of the story, with multiple felony assaults committed by a group of ten or more people. He can’t determine, a priori, that the assaults were harmless. > > He’s within his rights to draw his gun. No question. It’s not brandishing a weapon because he is a police officer responding to a safety hazard and numerous felony assaults. > > Was it a smart thing to do? Hell no. Is he allowed to do it? You betcha. If this city has a policy that allows or directs plainclothes police officer to attempt to quell riots by themselves with the assistance of a single firearm and wihout identifying himself as a police, I’ve got to move the fuck out of here. God only knows what crazy ass Bruce Willis/Die Hard policies the MPD may have. Any cop who has a shred of common sense wouldn’t seriously confront scores of people who he believes are seriously threatening him with harm without calling for backup. Seriously? One man and a gun stopping a riot of something like 100 people launching snowballs that might have bolts or anthrax in them? That’s fucking stupid. I agree with others: he was pissed his car might be damaged. I would feel the same. But that doesn’t entitle me to pull a gun if I were armed. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/49 "2009-12-22T00:43:48Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > "There was no police pulling guns \*\*on \*\*snowball… " > > “…pulled his service weapon…” > > Note the word " **ON"**. > > Pulling a gun **OUT** is different than pulling a gun **ON.** This is a wondrous semantic distinction, I stand in awe. Shades of meaning in subtle interplays of grey. If I read you right, you are suggesting that pulling the gun out does not imply intent to use, as would be clearly suggested by pulling a gun on. Are we then to believe that his gesture was merely informative, a public announcement of being armed? “I interrupt this pelting to advise the public that I possess a nine-millimeter pistol. This announcement is for informative purposes only, and should not be taken as a suggestion that I might blow one of you snotty little shits into the next world!” Good we got that cleared up. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/50 "2009-12-22T01:18:11Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Is anyone else troubled that a police officer drives what many of us think of as an oinkmobile? What, a Jaguar was too ostentatious? Maybe he was undercover as a pompous jerkwad ? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/51 "2009-12-22T01:24:17Z")
Why is it that no one shot the enraged nut who jump out of the hummer waving a gun and making threats? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/52 "2009-12-22T02:29:22Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Is anyone else troubled that a police officer drives what many of us think of as an oinkmobile? What, a Jaguar was too ostentatious? Got a friend, semiretired asst chief of police, town next door. He’s begun growing a beard. Told him that as long as it wasn’t one of those regulation cop mustaches it was okay, but I’ve seen guys pretending to be undercover but whose mustaches branded them as cops from a block away. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/53 "2009-12-22T05:13:32Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > This is a wondrous semantic distinction, I stand in awe. Shades of meaning in subtle interplays of grey. He was called on his stones and bolts straw man so now he’s trying a different approach and hoping no once notices. You’ll have to excuse him. Or not. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/54 "2009-12-22T06:22:38Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > This is a wondrous semantic distinction, I stand in awe. Shades of meaning in subtle interplays of grey. > > If I read you right, you are suggesting that pulling the gun out does not imply intent to use, as would be clearly suggested by pulling a gun on. . Pulling a gun out means it’s there in his hand. Pulling a gun ON means that it is aimed at _your personal ass._ Having had a gun pulled ON me, I can tell you that the difference is not semantic at all. When it happens to you, you’ll also be aware of the clear and non subtle difference. Until it does, \*you \*are simply talking out of the ass I just mentioned. Projammer- no strawman at all. It happens. Did it happen here? Is the investigation closed yet? In any case, I checked out the video, and it’s clear the cop was absolutely in the wrong. :dubious:As the hipsters assaulting his car were _not wearing tinfoil hats_, **OBVIOUSLY** he should have been able to read their minds and know it was all in fun, they did not intend him any harm, they didn’t know he was a policemen. Thus, just because he was assaulted by a mob outnumbering him by many times, he should have _known_ it was all a harmless joke. :rolleyes:: ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/55 "2009-12-22T06:30:19Z")
But its not hipster season! Its rabbit season! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/56 "2009-12-22T06:48:42Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > …When it happens to you, you’ll also be aware of the clear and non subtle difference. Until it does, \*you \*are simply talking out of the ass I just mentioned. .. I have. And I can’t think of a less edifying or instructive experience. Fear teaches nothing, it only rots the mind and is a venom to the spirit. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/57 "2009-12-22T10:24:00Z")
Is it not a public offence to block up traffic for such a trivial reason? The crowd should have buried him in snowballs just for being such a prick! ps. The first rule of Snowball Fight Club: We don’t use guns. ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/58 "2009-12-22T10:55:01Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > In any case, I checked out the video, and it’s clear the cop was absolutely in the wrong. :dubious:As the hipsters assaulting his car were _not wearing tinfoil hats_, **OBVIOUSLY** he should have been able to read their minds and know it was all in fun, they did not intend him any harm, they didn’t know he was a policemen. Thus, just because he was assaulted by a mob outnumbering him by many times, he should have _known_ it was all a harmless joke. :rolleyes:: The poor traumatized police man. There he was with only his giant Hummer to protect him from soft snowballs. Maybe he’ll trade the Hummer in for some kind of amphibious assault vehicle with gun turrets, so he can feel _really_ safe from snowballs. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/59 "2009-12-22T12:40:27Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > …ps. The first rule of Snowball Fight Club: We don’t use guns. The first rule is that we don’t talk about the Snowball Fight Club. ---
**Author:** ![Vambo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/6de8d8/32.png) [@Vambo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vambo)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/60 "2009-12-22T12:47:04Z")
Well I come from the old school where we do use guns in snowball fights. Problem here is too much talking and no body count. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965.md?page=4)