I'm re-reading the thread tonight. One thing that has stood out to me is that cops/ex-cops seem to be defending their cop training, which stresses shooting the instant you believe there is deadly force. That is why they are straining at a gnat to try to characterize the popcorn as a deadly weapon, which doesn't say much for their powers of perception.
But having served as a consultant to a metropolitan policing organization, I have concluded that retiring cops need re-training on how to be a private citizen. Don't laugh; I know of corporations in other fields that give their retirees training to help them adjust to life outside of work. It strikes me that police and military could benefit by some conflict resolution and other types of civilian-life instruction as they separate from active duty.
Probably re-training is a good idea. So is marriage counseling. Some officers really expect instant obedience when they speak, at least when they give a “command”. That just doesn’t work in the give and take that is ordinary life.
If you are going to interact with the public, and you are carrying, it is wiser to go with the flow until in the very very rare case that you cannot. If you use your weapon it better be in defense of family, or a friend with whom you have a very strong relationship, or your own life. An employer, employee relationship is also strong legally. But a concealed carrier better think twice before intervening between strangers in a situation he or she may not understand.
A story told to me at my concealed carry class is this: A man was beside the road changing his tire. A woman, who was a known crack addict came up behind him while he was kneeling in front of the tire. She stabbed him twice in the back. The man turned around and started defending himself with the tire iron, beating the woman who stabbed him. A concealed carry permit holder driving by saw a man beating a woman with a tire iron. He jumped out of his car and shot the man dead. Then went to prison for manslaughter.
So don’t jump into things you don’t understand. Don’t get involved unless you have a relationship with a victim. Don’t start unnecessary conflict with anyone. De-escalate any situation and/or walk away. Don’t get into fist fights, don’t yell. Walk away. Until you cannot.
This cop was itching for a fight. He escalated a situation involving a stranger until it got physical. Then he shot the man. Only an idiot could defend this. Idiots and ex cops. If the man doing the shooting had been a young black man with a gold grill, everyone of these guys would be demanding they string up the “feral human”. Sad.
“I’m re-reading the thread tonight. One thing that has stood out to me is that cops/ex-cops seem to be defending their cop training, whichever stresses shooting the instant you believe there is deadly force. That is why they are straining at a gnat to try to characterize the popcorn as a deadly weapon, which doesn’t say much for their powers of perception.”
I think what we’re witnessing, AW, is Sociopathy. These people don’t need “retraining”. They need a *conscience*. That’s something Sociopaths don’t have, and something a retraining program can’t give them. I suspect Reeves, is a closet Sociopath. And so are many of his supporters. They are not troubled by killing people over the most trifling of offenses, (such as annoying texting) and see no reason for remorse or empathy for the injured widow either. Mrs. Oulson was just collateral damage. You can’t teach empathy to Sociopaths.