# Four cops dead, at least 7 more wounded by snipers at Dallas protest **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 8, 2016, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-cops-dead-at-least-7-more-wounded-by-snipers-at-dallas-protest/759355 "2016-07-08T04:10:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-cops-dead-at-least-7-more-wounded-by-snipers-at-dallas-protest/759355/41 "2016-07-08T08:57:05Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > I _would_. BLM’s favourite martyrs have always been a pair of violent criminals who died attacking innocent people. What did they think Michael Brown was going to do with that cop’s gun after he stole it, exactly? Well, I don’t know of any large segment of the movement advocating killing random cops as a solution to the problem. As I’ve already mentioned, I find their actions misguided sometimes. If you do know of them advocating such actions, I’d be interested in reading a cite. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-cops-dead-at-least-7-more-wounded-by-snipers-at-dallas-protest/759355/42 "2016-07-08T08:57:38Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > I _would_. BLM’s favourite martyrs have always been a pair of violent criminals who died attacking innocent people. What did they think Michael Brown was going to do with that cop’s gun after he stole it, exactly? They probably didn’t think about that, because they’d most likely dispute your characterization of the incident and the dead. And that’s not even getting into all the related issues and other incidents. Anyway, as I said in the MPSIMS thread, the use of sniper fire and possibly bombs makes this, to me, less likely to have been BLM protestors. From what I understand, this march was relatively spontaneous, triggered by recent events, and sniping and bombs feel much more premeditated. I wouldn’t be surprised if we find out that the shooters had their equipment ready, just waiting for the next public event that would require a police presence. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-cops-dead-at-least-7-more-wounded-by-snipers-at-dallas-protest/759355/43 "2016-07-08T09:17:16Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > BTW, the clock is ticking: who will be the first right-wing jerk to blame this on Obama? Prize for the first link! Too bad you didn’t specify “…on the SDMB”. > [@aldiboronti](#): > > Police lives matter too. And if some of the rabble rousers who try to stir things up every time there’s an officer-involved shooting would keep their damn mouths shut until incidents had at least been investigated we might save a world of grief. And it might help if Obama didn’t keep jumping in before he knows all the facts. Look, sometimes it takes a lot of “rabble-rousing” to get some incidents investigated. Transparency is good. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-cops-dead-at-least-7-more-wounded-by-snipers-at-dallas-protest/759355/44 "2016-07-08T11:06:58Z")
What a tradgedy. More families without their loved ones. Absolutely uncalled for. I’m off to work now, where I won’t be killed. I will be invited into conversations there by people who are understandably outraged over this. I will think to myself, but not ask (at work) why their outrage was missing yesterday and the day before. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-cops-dead-at-least-7-more-wounded-by-snipers-at-dallas-protest/759355/45 "2016-07-08T11:13:06Z")
This wouldn’t have happened if ordinary people had been allowed to carry concealed weapons or their AR-15s — oh, wait. :rolleyes: Sorry, but creating a gun culture isn’t the best line of defense in a “libertarian democracy.” The problem in this country is that we have lost the ability to have a civil discussion about anything. We’re constantly engaged in hyper-aggressive rhetoric, bullying, threats of violence, and ultimately, violence. And yes I blame the media, which never provides any meaningful platform for discussion and instead seems only interested in profiting off of conflict in any form. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-cops-dead-at-least-7-more-wounded-by-snipers-at-dallas-protest/759355/46 "2016-07-08T11:19:48Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > I _would_. BLM’s favourite martyrs have always been a pair of violent criminals who died attacking innocent people. What did they think Michael Brown was going to do with that cop’s gun after he stole it, exactly? The actions of armed radicals don’t discredit legitimate grievances against law enforcement agencies across the country. There is clearly a need in this country to address police conduct in black communities, and even in communities that aren’t black. More and more videos confirm that. What happened in Dallas is a disgusting act of localized terrorism, but that doesn’t mute critics of police conduct and police culture. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-cops-dead-at-least-7-more-wounded-by-snipers-at-dallas-protest/759355/47 "2016-07-08T11:21:53Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > IMO, they’re sacrificing the safety of black people all over the country. Scared and wary cops are the prime reason for many of the shootings that have been getting publicity lately, and this is only going to make them even more scared and wary. Because these terrorist criminals DO want that: to actually provoke a “race war” situation. They don’t care about reform or even about twisted “justice”. If it plays into the hand of the “enemy” all the better, they WANT the confrontation. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-cops-dead-at-least-7-more-wounded-by-snipers-at-dallas-protest/759355/48 "2016-07-08T11:29:29Z")
Gun store owners will probably do a booming business today with people arming themselves for the upcoming race war. (I personally don’t think a race war will happen but plenty of wingnuts do.) ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-cops-dead-at-least-7-more-wounded-by-snipers-at-dallas-protest/759355/49 "2016-07-08T11:37:42Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > The actions of armed radicals don’t discredit legitimate grievances against law enforcement agencies across the country. There is clearly a need in this country to address police conduct in black communities, and even in communities that aren’t black. More and more videos confirm that. What happened in Dallas is a disgusting act of localized terrorism, but that doesn’t mute critics of police conduct and police culture. Yes, there is a need for that. But BLM are a terrible group to choose for that job. BLM discredits themselves by being the boy who cried wolf, who will accuse the police of wrongdoing for shooting a violent criminal reaching into a police car for the officer’s gun just as readily as they will for shooting an innocent man reaching for his licence during a police stop. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-cops-dead-at-least-7-more-wounded-by-snipers-at-dallas-protest/759355/50 "2016-07-08T11:38:19Z")
I’d like for folks to not assume that the snipers were BLM protestors. Just like people caution for conclusions to be drawn until after all the facts come in for shootings inflicted by the police, the same rule needs to be applied here. ---
**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:** [July 8, 2016, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-cops-dead-at-least-7-more-wounded-by-snipers-at-dallas-protest/759355/51 "2016-07-08T11:40:09Z")
As we’re taught at an early age, two wrongs don’t make a right. I don’t know if the cops were good, bad, or indifferent, but each of them was the most important person in the world to somebody who is now mourning a terrible loss. Regrettable but predictable. When you have two outrageous acts of police killings in the middle of a hot summer, things are going to get out of hand. The nation has to do better- for both sides. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-cops-dead-at-least-7-more-wounded-by-snipers-at-dallas-protest/759355/52 "2016-07-08T11:55:49Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > Yes, there is a need for that. But BLM are a terrible group to choose for that job. BLM discredits themselves by being the boy who cried wolf, who will accuse the police of wrongdoing for shooting a violent criminal reaching into a police car for the officer’s gun just as readily as they will for shooting an innocent man reaching for his licence during a police stop. I don’t necessarily agree with all of the tactics used by BLM or affiliate groups such as the college campus protesters we’ve seen over the past year. However, any movement is going to attract extremists on the fringes. The existence of fringe elements doesn’t discredit a movement. Black Lives Matter makes others feel uncomfortable, which is the point. Think of how many videos of excessive force have made it to the Internet in the past year alone. Now think of how many examples we haven’t seen because someone didn’t have their smart phones on them. Think of how many examples we never saw before the advent of smart phones and hand-held video recorders. The rest of the country is just now beginning to see what they’ve been seeing for decades. BLM were not saying that Mike Brown was an angel or that he didn’t deserve to be taken into custody. What they questioned was whether it was necessary for him to end up being shot to death. Nobody has actual video of the final altercation between Brown and the officer, so it’s hard to say. But some witnesses have said it wasn’t necessary – presumably because the situation either was under control or could have been handled better. Again, we don’t know. But I’d be careful about saying that they’re protesting in vain or to cry wolf. They’ve been on the receiving end of abuse for a long, long time – long before you and I were even aware of it. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-cops-dead-at-least-7-more-wounded-by-snipers-at-dallas-protest/759355/53 "2016-07-08T12:03:12Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Look, sometimes it takes a lot of “rabble-rousing” to get some incidents investigated. Transparency is good. At the right time, certainly. But before the incident has even been investigated (and all such incidents are thoroughly investigated)? They could be raising emotions to a fever-pitch over a justified shooting. What’s wrong with waiting a while for the result and if you don’t like it _then_ raise hell? And of course the actions of these murderous fucking half-wits will have the effect of removing the spotlight from police shootings of blacks and place it on black violence. Well done, you stupid bastards! ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-cops-dead-at-least-7-more-wounded-by-snipers-at-dallas-protest/759355/54 "2016-07-08T12:15:37Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > At the right time, certainly. But before the incident has even been investigated (and all such incidents are thoroughly investigated)? They could be raising emotions to a fever-pitch over a justified shooting. What’s wrong with waiting a while for the result and if you don’t like it _then_ raise hell? > > And of course the actions of these murderous fucking half-wits will have the effect of removing the spotlight from police shootings of blacks and place it on black violence. Well done, you stupid bastards! It’s not natural to wait to express outrage. You’re not waiting to express your outrage over these shootings, and I wouldn’t argue that you should, either. Outrage is a normal human reaction to unacceptable conduct. I am in agreement that we have to temper outrage so that it doesn’t boil over into anarchy. But that’s why we have careful and credible investigations, to give us a focus for that outrage over time, and due process exists to reassure everyone that we will have a pursuit in earnest of a just result. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-cops-dead-at-least-7-more-wounded-by-snipers-at-dallas-protest/759355/55 "2016-07-08T12:27:13Z")
I think it’s a fine line to walk because when you are instinctively outraged at every example, you keep the issue in the public’s consciousness but at the same time pick some marginal or even crappy examples. Before the past few years, since only the most egregious examples of police misconduct became news, the issue was not as prominent in my mind but at the same time, I assumed that every case I heard about was the fault of the police, because up until that time it was. Now, the issue is more prominent in my mind, but I am less inclined to assume each individual case is an example of sheer police brutality against innocent people because a huge number of them are not. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-cops-dead-at-least-7-more-wounded-by-snipers-at-dallas-protest/759355/56 "2016-07-08T12:53:49Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Outrage is a normal human reaction to unacceptable conduct. Indeed it is. But how do you know that the conduct is unacceptable until all the evidence is assessed? You don’t. But don’t let that stop you from being outraged. ---
**Author:** ![Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/aca169/32.png) [@Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inbred_Mm_domesticus)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-cops-dead-at-least-7-more-wounded-by-snipers-at-dallas-protest/759355/57 "2016-07-08T13:30:22Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > Indeed it is. But how do you know that the conduct is unacceptable until all the evidence is assessed? You don’t. But don’t let that stop you from being outraged. How do you know the conduct of the killers of those 5 police officers in Dallas was unacceptable until all the evidence has been assessed? I really want to wait until we have all sides of the story before we assume those cops didn’t deserve to die. To pretend you need more evidence than what has been presented to you in the case of Alton Sterling or Philandro Castile pretty much means your head is completely up your ass. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-cops-dead-at-least-7-more-wounded-by-snipers-at-dallas-protest/759355/58 "2016-07-08T13:35:58Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > Indeed it is. But how do you know that the conduct is unacceptable until all the evidence is assessed? You don’t. But don’t let that stop you from being outraged. Way to focus in on a snippet and completely miss the broader message.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-cops-dead-at-least-7-more-wounded-by-snipers-at-dallas-protest/759355/59 "2016-07-08T13:39:32Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Horrible, horrible all around. Let’s thank Og that folks such as these are few in number, and not lose sight of the fact that we still have a real problem with cops shooting people, especially black people, in this country. Yes, I agree with the OP that this type of action is going to make things worse, not better. MLK is turning over in his grave. Not trying to push an agenda during all this, but the mentally ill also make us a huge proportion of those killed and abused by police and they need help and protection too because supporting them. Isn’t something the media or the public really care about. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-cops-dead-at-least-7-more-wounded-by-snipers-at-dallas-protest/759355/60 "2016-07-08T13:40:48Z")
> **[Chief: Dallas Shooting Suspect Killed When Police Robot Detonated Bomb](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/suspect-killed-bomb-robot)** > > In an extraordinary move, police in Dallas used a bomb and a robot to kill a suspect in the deadly Dallas shooting early Friday morning. Faced with a suspect holed up at El Centro College in Dallas… > [@](#): > > In an extraordinary move, police in Dallas used a bomb and a robot to kill a suspect in the deadly Dallas shooting early Friday morning. > > Faced with a suspect holed up at El Centro College in Dallas and several officers already dead, law enforcement turned to the unusual method of detonating a bomb. > > Dallas Police Chief David Brown told reporters Friday morning that after hours-long negotiations broke down and officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect, police weren’t left with many options to disarm the shooter. > > "We saw no other option but to use our bomb robot and place a device on its extension for it to detonate where the suspect was. [Robocop] (after maiming the perpetrator) Thank you for your cooperation, good night! [/Robocop] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-cops-dead-at-least-7-more-wounded-by-snipers-at-dallas-protest/759355.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-cops-dead-at-least-7-more-wounded-by-snipers-at-dallas-protest/759355.md?page=4)