04-09-2018, 06:34 PM
stanc Wrote:Um, yeah. My comment was not worded as well as it could've been. I don't consider 100% certainty of a suspect's intent to be necessary, which -- as you note -- would require waiting until he/she has actually started shooting at the police.
But, I do think that a higher degree of certainty that a suspect actually has a weapon, should be required. Ending a person's life on the basis of fear-induced imagination serves no one well.
And would you please put into wording what that "higher degree of certainty" standard should be and how it should be implemented?
Police are in the unenviable position of having to react to the stimulus presented. If they fail to react quickly, they could die, bystanders could die.
I have a suggestion (and I am not being a wise ass): take a "Shoot/Don't Shoot" course that is run with Simunitions ammo. You will soon (painfully) realize how little time you have to react before you or others get shot by the "bad guy". I can pretty much guarantee you that your eyes will be opened to the truth of the matter.
Each police involved shooting is (and should be) investigated and is judged by the reasonableness of the actions taken to the stimulus encountered.