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Commentary: Is there a magic bullet to reduce police misconduct?
Chicago Tribune ^ | 26 nov 2015 | Arthur Acevedo

Posted on 11/26/2015 5:38:21 AM PST by rellimpank

Imagine if the first bullet in a cop's chamber were a blank bullet. Would this approach save lives?

What if a police department adopted this approach as standard procedure. Or, better yet, if legislation mandated this requirement for state and local police departments. Would it help save lives?

Police in Britain, Ireland, Norway, Iceland and New Zealand typically do not carry weapons at all when they are patrolling the streets. Surely, crimes in those countries are no less threatening than what we experience in the U.S.

The idea is not to ban guns from the police departments here. Rather, it is to require that the first bullet in the chamber not be a live bullet.

Nonbelievers will say the hazards of entering a violent situation require an immediate and forceful response. True. They will say police officers often must make split-second decisions. True again. And they will say that "the bad guys" carry guns. True once more. However, we must allow police the opportunity to assess a situation and decide if a nonlethal approach is preferable. The knowledge that the first bullet in the chamber is a blank could provide that opportunity. If a police officer needs a live round, the second bullet stands ready.

(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: banglist; chicago; rkba
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To: rellimpank
We don't need no badges.
41 posted on 11/26/2015 7:20:52 AM PST by fella ("As it was before Noah so shall it be again,")
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To: Bobalu

Your idea sounds very reasonable.


42 posted on 11/26/2015 7:22:08 AM PST by redfreedom (Voting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil.)
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To: rellimpank

Yes, obey the law and give up the thug life.


43 posted on 11/26/2015 7:28:17 AM PST by Mathews (Ecclesiastes 10:2 (NIV), Luke 22:36 (NIV))
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To: rellimpank
Instead of a blank round, provide each officer with red chalk and have them draw an Obama line in the street. Then when the bad guy does something, draw another Obama line. And repeat as needed.

How sad that the "World's Greatest Newspaper" has come to this.

44 posted on 11/26/2015 7:29:25 AM PST by Bernard (The Road To Hell Is Not Paved With Good Results)
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To: rellimpank

Yes - idiots like this should stop cuddling thugs and criminals like saint Treyvon and Michael Brown, and etc, etc..


45 posted on 11/26/2015 7:46:04 AM PST by aquila48
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To: rellimpank

The problem ain’t the cops.

Britain has had an explosion in crime since they allowed a flood of turd worlders in.


46 posted on 11/26/2015 7:51:25 AM PST by aquila48
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To: rellimpank

Is there a magic bullet to reduce journolist misconduct?


47 posted on 11/26/2015 7:55:53 AM PST by aquila48
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To: rellimpank

Imagine if the first bullet in a cop’s chamber were a blank bullet. Would this approach save lives?

**********************************************************************

Imagine, if a liberal had a brain.

Nope, can’t do it.


48 posted on 11/26/2015 8:11:13 AM PST by Graybeard58 (Bill and Hillary Clinton are the penicillin-resistant syphilis of our political system.)
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To: rellimpank

49 posted on 11/26/2015 8:16:35 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: Zuben Elgenubi

Gross police conduct often leaves the officer to defend themselves. Most police carry liability insurance.


50 posted on 11/26/2015 8:20:58 AM PST by USNBandit (Sarcasm engaged at all times)
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To: Dutch Boy

It would be a lot easier if we started pairing up cops more. Most police can tell you somebody they don’t want to go on calls with.


51 posted on 11/26/2015 8:22:17 AM PST by USNBandit (Sarcasm engaged at all times)
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To: rellimpank

Or maybe put up a sign saying no guns allowed because that always works.

Sheesh... where do these mental midgets come from? Rhetorical question. Of course they are a product of our indoctrination systems aka... college.


52 posted on 11/26/2015 8:26:19 AM PST by Boomer
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To: RKBA Democrat

Not only stupid, but ignorant. blank cartridges will not cycle a normal semi-auto.


53 posted on 11/26/2015 8:35:20 AM PST by marktwain
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To: rellimpank

Prosecutions.

Cops can kill and use excessive force without any fear of prosecution.


54 posted on 11/26/2015 8:41:41 AM PST by CodeToad (Stupid kills, but not nearly enough!)
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To: USNBandit

Then why are the cities paying for this gross misconduct rather than the insurance?


55 posted on 11/26/2015 8:53:57 AM PST by Zuben Elgenubi (NOPe to GOPe)
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To: rellimpank

Eliminate police unions.


56 posted on 11/26/2015 9:13:45 AM PST by aimhigh (1 John 3:21)
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To: cdcdawg

There are certain demographic realities in those countries which simply do not exist in the USA, therefore comparisons are invalid. However, that is changing, especially in Britain and Norway. Police (and private citizens) will need to be armed to protect themselves against terrorism!


57 posted on 11/26/2015 11:04:08 AM PST by Frank_2001
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