# TX Deputy shot and killed while pumping gas **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 29, 2015, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tx-deputy-shot-and-killed-while-pumping-gas/729292 "2015-08-29T15:48:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tx-deputy-shot-and-killed-while-pumping-gas/729292/101 "2015-09-03T10:28:10Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > . . . How is anyone liberated by killing a police officer? It doesn’t have to be actual, but I bet a black male who fears persecution by a white police officer (not so unreasonable given current events) might feel liberated after killing even just one perceived persecutor. Maybe not wholly rational, but I also don’t think it’s necessarily mentally deranged as a previous poster stated. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tx-deputy-shot-and-killed-while-pumping-gas/729292/102 "2015-09-03T10:42:46Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Why does the death penalty have to be truly painless? > [@BigT](#): > > Because pain is not a part of the sentence and is usually seen as cruel and unusual punishment. We don’t even allow corporal punishment in the U.S. for the same reasons. If we can’t even spank someone, why would you think they should have to go through the pain of their entire body dying? Also, because it keeps us from becoming monsters. We don’t refrain from crucifying people in the Mohave Desert because we want to be nice to murderers; we do it because a society that is fine with torturing people to death is already on a slippery slope to all sorts of other not-good-things. We do it for ourselves. Where you draw the line between acceptable and unacceptable means of execution is and has been a matter for long debate. Back on topic: it doesn’t surprise me that there are angry young men out there who wish to kill police, but I wish it did. ---
**Author:** ![Habeed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a587f6/32.png) [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tx-deputy-shot-and-killed-while-pumping-gas/729292/103 "2015-09-03T10:44:14Z")
I think it goes to show that the police “shoot at the slightest twitch” policies are not helpful. If a suspect makes a slight twitch, they probably do not have a gun. Maybe they have a jumpy leg, maybe they are just feeling disobedient today. On the other hand, if the suspect _does_ plan to kill you…you’re probably already dead. If the bad guy is really out to kill you, he’s gonna fire when your back is turned, or use a rifle from a distance, or wait until the cop is out in the open and shoot him dead while he’s approaching the suspect’s vehicle. Once you have the suspect at gunpoint and are behind cover, it is unbelievably unlikely that the bad guy is going to successfully pull out a gun, aim, and hit you before you can fire. Cops should therefore wait until they can actually see the gun itself and not just guess. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tx-deputy-shot-and-killed-while-pumping-gas/729292/104 "2015-09-03T16:04:26Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > … He’ll get convicted and hopefully spend the rest of his life in prison. … This was in Texas. Once the guy gets into a courtroom, he’s as good as dead. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tx-deputy-shot-and-killed-while-pumping-gas/729292/105 "2015-09-03T16:26:53Z")
Remember this? > **[Judges Reject Appeal in 'Sleeping Attorney' Case](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-oct-28-mn-43390-story.html)** > > Ruling: A defendant in a Texas murder trial has no absolute right to a lawyer who stays awake, panel says. > [@](#): > > A defendant in a capital murder trial does not have an absolute constitutional right to have an attorney who stays awake for the entire trial, a sharply divided federal appeals panel in New Orleans ruled Friday. > > The ruling came in the case of Calvin J. Burdine, whose death sentence for a 1983 murder in Texas drew considerable–and unfavorable–attention to that state’s death penalty system. > > During Burdine’s trial, his court-appointed lawyer, Joe Frank Cannon, frequently fell asleep, according to jurors and the court clerk. Last year, a federal district judge in Houston ordered a new trial for Burdine, saying that “a sleeping counsel is equivalent to no counsel at all.” > > But by a 2-1 majority, a panel of the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed. The judges were not “condoning sleeping by defense counsel during a capital murder trial,” Judges Rhesa H. Barksdale and Edith H. Jones wrote in their ruling. But from the trial record, “it is impossible to determine–instead, only to speculate–that counsel’s sleeping” actually hurt Burdine’s case, the majority said… ---
**Author:** ![Habeed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a587f6/32.png) [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tx-deputy-shot-and-killed-while-pumping-gas/729292/106 "2015-09-04T02:15:30Z")
For what’s it’s worth, I don’t think the late Johnny Cochran could save a guy who killed a cop on videotape in an ambush in a death penalty state. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tx-deputy-shot-and-killed-while-pumping-gas/729292/107 "2015-09-04T13:42:45Z")
I don’t think Johnny Cochran could save anyone but a quadriplegic charged with murdering a cop in Texas. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tx-deputy-shot-and-killed-while-pumping-gas/729292/108 "2015-09-04T13:55:25Z")
Deputy Goforth’s [memorial service](http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Thousands-expected-for-deputy-s-funeral-6483938.php) will take place today. > [@](#): > > The ceremony at the cavernous Second Baptist Church will include an honor guard and will be followed by a fly-over of five law-enforcement helicopters… > > Fellow officers from around the country, including representatives from the New York Police Department, are traveling here to attend the funeral. > > “We are expecting an overwhelming amount of support from the community,” sheriff’s spokesman Ryan Sullivan said. “We are expecting honor guards from across the country to be in attendance.” > > An especially large crowd is expected at Second Baptist, 6400 Woodway. Over the years the church has hosted two dozen services for police officers, firefighters and politicians due to its ability to accommodate large audiences. (Private graveside services will follow.) In attendance, Governor Abbott, Lt Gov Dan Patrick & My Jr Senator Ted Cruz. As far as I can tell, none of these worthies are expected to speak at the service. (Cruz attended Second Baptist School but is a member of Houston’s First Baptist; he has, of course, [made the murder part of his presidential campaign.](http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2015/08/new-gop-mantra-proud-to-stand-with-police.html/)) Second Baptist is led by Pastor Ed Young Sr, who has[used the pulpit to preach politics](http://www.ethicsdaily.com/megachurch-pastor-decries-tax-system-cms-15617) in the past. I certainly hope these gentlemen will refrain from using this solemn occasion to further their political causes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tx-deputy-shot-and-killed-while-pumping-gas/729292.md?page=5)