TKO Wrote:And would you please put into wording what that "higher degree of certainty" standard should be and how it should be implemented?How about requiring a positive ID that what the suspect has in hand is a real weapon, instead of a fear-induced, imaginary gun?
How about LEOs hiring people who are not so frakking terrified of being shot that they needlessly open fire on unarmed suspects?
TKO Wrote: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.Could die; it's a possibility. OTOH, when they react too quickly, the reality is that they actually do shoot unarmed people (and sometimes bystanders) who didn't need to be shot.
TKO Wrote: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.I'm not physically able to take a Shoot/Don't Shoot course, so I'll have to decline. However, I am aware of the "truth of the matter."
In this case, it's clear that the cop was so fearful that his imagination caused him to see a gun where there was none.