# the solution to 90% of police shootings **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 7, 2016, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-solution-to-90-of-police-shootings/759324 "2016-07-07T18:54:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-solution-to-90-of-police-shootings/759324/21 "2016-07-07T21:40:07Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > I meant everyone not just black people, nor did i even imply it, but thank you for projecting šŸ˜ƒ No, but thatā€™s who youā€™re talking about when one group is so very disproportionately killed by police. ---
**Author:** ![heartsplayer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d9b06d/32.png) [@heartsplayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heartsplayer)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-solution-to-90-of-police-shootings/759324/22 "2016-07-07T21:43:54Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > The gentleman killed in Minnesota was sitting his his goddamn car with his goddamn girlfriend and her kid, reaching for his wallet, when the fucking cop killed him. Nobody was fighting but the cop. If this is the story that Iā€™ve just heard about, then yes this was totally unacceptable. Why do police in the states ave guns and why are they so gun-happy? > [@drachillix](#): > > I am normally one of the cop apologists around here, i am pretty sure barring some very dramatic contradictory evidence,\*\* that this cop fucked up bad, and will be doing time. > \*\* I totally agree, this cop that unnecessarily killed an innocent person, did fuck up. However, ā€œtimeā€ is not enough. It should be made as such, that if a cop kills someone unlawfully, like in this example, they should be killed too! :mad: After all, the saying goes ā€œa life for a lifeā€. > [@Chimera](#): > > Or we could train and require our police to DE-escalate situations instead of waving their dicks around, threatening and beating people over the smallest provocation. We could prosecute more incidents of unjustified shootings. We could prosecute physical use of force that crosses the line into criminality. We could change police contracts to make it easier to fire people with a history of excessive force and anger management issues. > > In short, we could expect our police to serve their communities and be rational assistants of the common good rather than angry assholes who get to kill or injure anyone who looks at them funny. YES! Youā€™ve summed it up properly there - police should be de-escalating issues and sorting them out in a responsible manner - not being total animals with guns and trying to beat/kill the fuck out of people! The ā€œpoliceā€ that act in this manner are behaving worse than the criminals that they are catching! Thank fuck I live in the UK, where none of this nonsense happens. The UK police use Tasers. They donā€™t kill people. ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-solution-to-90-of-police-shootings/759324/23 "2016-07-07T21:49:52Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > I am normally one of the cop apologists around here, i am pretty sure barring some very dramatic contradictory evidence, that this cop fucked up bad, and will be doing time. Doubtful. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-solution-to-90-of-police-shootings/759324/24 "2016-07-07T21:55:33Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Take away their guns and you stop 100% of them. Cops have had no problem beating people to death. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-solution-to-90-of-police-shootings/759324/25 "2016-07-07T21:55:41Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > No, but thatā€™s who youā€™re talking about when one group is so very disproportionately killed by police. I dont think its a great thing that anyone gets shot, tased, or beaten by police. We can trot out Tamir Rice, or a half a dozen situations that are totally inexcusable. It would be a hell of an improvement if those 10 or 20 out of 320 million of us were the only ones. Regardless of what your percieved or self identified ethnic origin fighting the police is stupid, it will never improve the outcome. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-solution-to-90-of-police-shootings/759324/26 "2016-07-07T21:56:29Z")
This will only ā€œsolveā€\* a tiny percentage of shootings. And then those are the ones people generally donā€™t get upset with. - As in, people who are drunk, high, have mental problems, etc. and are belligerent will automatically take this advice. Solved, right?:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-solution-to-90-of-police-shootings/759324/27 "2016-07-07T23:09:44Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > This will only ā€œsolveā€\* a tiny percentage of shootings. And then those are the ones people generally donā€™t get upset with. > > - As in, people who are drunk, high, have mental problems, etc. and are belligerent will automatically take this advice. Solved, right?:dubious: If you are drunk and ram into a pole, and die its your own fault If you are drunk and go apeshit on a cop and get shot, then its the cops fault? ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-solution-to-90-of-police-shootings/759324/28 "2016-07-07T23:39:56Z")
> [@treis](#): > > Cops have had no problem beating people to death. Well it does say ā€œpolice shootingsā€. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-solution-to-90-of-police-shootings/759324/29 "2016-07-07T23:43:25Z")
The solution is not hiring bullies, racists and cowards as police officers. ---
**Author:** ![Satellite\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Satellite\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satellite_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-solution-to-90-of-police-shootings/759324/30 "2016-07-08T00:37:03Z")
I think one good example of the difference between the US and Canada is the [Justin Bourque](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Moncton_shootings) case in Moncton, NB, in June, 2014. 24-year-old Bourque kills three RCMP officers, and severely injures two others. Manhunt goes on for two days, and heā€™s apprehended. Not killed. I still commend the professionalism the RCMP showed, in not just blowing his head off when he stepped out of the bushes at the end of the ordeal. How do you suppose this would have ended in the US? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-solution-to-90-of-police-shootings/759324/31 "2016-07-08T01:01:42Z")
Philando Castile, shot in Minnesota, was legally carrying a concealed weapon when he was shot. Wonder if the NRA is going to have something to say about this. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-solution-to-90-of-police-shootings/759324/32 "2016-07-08T01:04:16Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > If you are drunk and ram into a pole, and die its your own fault > > If you are drunk and go apeshit on a cop and get shot, then its the cops fault? You definitely got that 100% exactly and perfectly ā€¦ wrong!!! You couldnā€™t be more wrong is actually true in this case. ---
**Author:** ![urban1a](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47c2d/32.png) [@urban1a](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urban1a)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-solution-to-90-of-police-shootings/759324/33 "2016-07-08T01:28:08Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > The gentleman killed in Minnesota was sitting his his goddamn car with his goddamn girlfriend and her kid, reaching for his wallet, when the fucking cop killed him. Nobody was fighting but the cop. s And 12 yo Tamir Rice, playing with a toy gun, in a park, in Cleveland, who was shot 2 seconds after the police arrived and before any questions were asked. Bob ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-solution-to-90-of-police-shootings/759324/34 "2016-07-08T01:34:08Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > Philando Castile, shot in Minnesota, was legally carrying a concealed weapon when he was shot. Wonder if the NRA is going to have something to say about this. Itā€™s such a sad story. You can hear in the copā€™s voice that he is overwhelmed by what he did. I think he knew he fucked up big-time; he is anguished and wishes he hadnā€™t shot the guy. The victim is not to blame but, that being said, you have to be so, so, so very careful when you have just told the cop that you have a handgun on your person. Hindsight is 20/20 of course, but I donā€™t think I would try to go for my wallet to show the cop my papers until he told me exactly how he wanted me to go about it. ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-solution-to-90-of-police-shootings/759324/35 "2016-07-08T02:16:07Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > No, but thatā€™s who youā€™re talking about when one group is so very disproportionately killed by police. I am by no means adding that every shooting is justified. But the fact is that white people are shot by police more than black people. About 2 to 1 over the past decade If memory serves. Iā€™m on my phone at the moment so Iā€™m not searching for a cite, but do a Google for the figures. If you are going to state something as fact, please be sure it is a fact. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-solution-to-90-of-police-shootings/759324/36 "2016-07-08T02:19:41Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > Dont fight the police! > > I am not saying resisting arrest justifies summary execution, but why force the situation? What happens when youā€™re not fighting and have no plans on fighting, but the police office thinks youā€™re doing something threatening? Or about to do something threatening? Or you look like the kind of person that the police officer thinks is likely to be threatening? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-solution-to-90-of-police-shootings/759324/37 "2016-07-08T02:24:45Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > No, but thatā€™s who youā€™re talking about when one group is so very disproportionately killed by police. > [@obbn](#): > > I am by no means adding that every shooting is justified. But the fact is that white people are shot by police more than black people. About 2 to 1 over the past decade If memory serves. Iā€™m on my phone at the moment so Iā€™m not searching for a cite, but do a Google for the figures. > > If you are going to state something as fact, please be sure it is a fact. What he stated is a fact (I did the actual googling). Six percent of the people in the United States are black men. Forty percent of the people who get killed by the police in the United States are black men. Thatā€™s disproportionate. ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-solution-to-90-of-police-shootings/759324/38 "2016-07-08T02:36:43Z")
> [@](#): > > I am not saying resisting arrest justifies summary execution, but why force the situation? Most of the cop shootings you hear about donā€™t seem to have anything to do with resisting arrest. Some of them are about people trying to run away from police and getting shot in the back, which is sort of resisting arrest, but if you figure you have a good chance of being beaten badly after they catch you, youā€™d probably try to run too. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-solution-to-90-of-police-shootings/759324/39 "2016-07-08T02:42:29Z")
Hereā€™s a possible scenario based on some of what Iā€™ve read about the incident. As Philander Castile was reaching for his wallet he simultaneously told the officer he had a CCW. Immediately after but basically at the same time his wife/girlfriend yells to the cop he has a license to carry. The cop thinks heā€™s being set up so as not to be alarmed if he sees a weapon. So he yells donā€™t move. Castile keeps reaching for his wallet, the cop freaks and thinks that since Castile is disobeying heā€™s probably going for his weapon, and he starts firing. It was a bad deal all the way around, and pretty much a perfect storm of unfortunate circumstances that ultimately lead to Castileā€™s death. But sometimes things are just going to go bad in a way that is no particular personā€™s fault. What happened to Castile was a tragedy but I donā€™t necessarily see evil intent on the part of the cop. In the case of the guy in Baton Rouge, I believe that his being a convicted felon in possession of a gun meant an automatic trip back to prison if he was arrested. Plenty of incentive to resist there (and an example of how sometimes ā€˜obeyā€™ just isnā€™t gonna happen). But I agree with the OP that in the vast majority of these cases the shootings wouldnā€™t happen if only people would calmly cooperate with the officerā€™s instructions. I imagine the number of cops truly desirous of shooting somebody is vanishingly small. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-solution-to-90-of-police-shootings/759324/40 "2016-07-08T02:47:07Z")
> [@Satellite\_Guy](#): > > I think one good example of the difference between the US and Canada is the [Justin Bourque](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Moncton_shootings) case in Moncton, NB, in June, 2014. 24-year-old Bourque kills three RCMP officers, and severely injures two others. Manhunt goes on for two days, and heā€™s apprehended. Not killed. I still commend the professionalism the RCMP showed, in not just blowing his head off when he stepped out of the bushes at the end of the ordeal. How do you suppose this would have ended in the US? Three officers would still be alive? Just a guessā€¦ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-solution-to-90-of-police-shootings/759324.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-solution-to-90-of-police-shootings/759324.md?page=3)