Interesting responses. A couple thoughts back,
And for those just joining us, this is after 35 years working in the streets alongside my brothers in blue and having them as friends and in family. And as one who has looked down the barrel of a gun and ducked flying bullets in the street.
While the discussion has focused on this event, I was hoping to turn it into a more general issue.
I don't care if it's a bb gun or not, if you point something at a police officer he has the right to shoot you, if for no other reason than you're obviously too stupid to live. You can't give a guy a millisecond to respond to a death threat and then armchair quarterback his response. In this particular case, the articles do not say if he pointed it at them or not.
In a case where there is time,
Let me say that again,
In a case where there is time, such as this 50 minute standoff, there is no reason the supervisor in charge couldn't poll his officers and determine which 3 out of the nine have the cleanest shots and designate them as the shooters. Them and whoever he's pointing his gun at. In a caveat to Willie, I also offered that if he doesn't go down after 30 to 40 hits (4 officers with 10 round magazines), everyone else gets to unload.
This particular guy was obviously a scumbag that the cops were familiar with. His history alone means they have to up their game. But, he was a scumbag that God loved. Suppose this was a guy who was only trying to pay his rent and feed his family. Would he deserve to be annihilated? God tells us to love all of humanity, there but for Him go we all right? Those who want to annihilate him instead of subduing him aren't getting that point.