Posted on 07/25/2005 5:07:52 AM PDT by MadIvan
EXPIRED visa! (Spellcheck doesn't always help. Need more coffee!)
The armed police here are all fully trained in the use of firearms, and the situations in which to use them. Shooting at people running away would not have been done if suicide bombers hadn't started rearing their ugly heads.
The difference to the US is that it's the public that aren't generally expecting to encounter armed police.
They HE screwed up, as even they now admit.
I'm with the police.
Exactly so. It's not as if the police were out to get just anyone. And I am going to withhold judgment on the victim as there may be facts of which we are unaware.
Who is to say that terrorists won't align with non-Muslims to get what they want?
I do think it's curious that there's a big surprise among the ROP that British authorities have a shoot to kill policy.
I still think so too.
I heard that on the news, too. Five cops tackled him, had him on the ground, and then they blow his head off. Admittedly we don't have all the facts, but that seems to be the most disturbing part in all this.
hmmmmm....I am thinking Texas border patrol.....
I heard on the (DC) news this morning that it wouldn't - the policy stands. Anyone refusing a direct order from police to halt will be shot dead.
I believe he just happened to be passing the house. It's all just a stack of unfortunate coincidences (e.g. I'm sure he didn't consider that wearing a big coat would make him a suspected suicide bomber).
No, in the US we would have a big scandal for arresting him as it would come out that he would have had to listen to Barney and Sesame Street while incarcerated. The ACLU would thunder that this is a violation of the cruel and unusual punishment clause (Unusual, yes; cruel? definitely not).
These were just regular cops. They WERE experienced with guns. But they thought they were probably dealing with a suicide bomber. What would you have done? Asked to see his ID before he blew himself and everyone else up, assuming he had been a terrorist instead of someone in the country illegally?
How does this scenario sound? Terrorists who are in the building become aware that they are being watched by the police. They somehow send this guy out, wearing a heavy coat as a diversion to get the police following HIM while they get away themselves. Perhaps he was a decoy?
All concerned screwed up.
You,re not looking at things in perspective...American police (of which I was one) have not had to deal with terrorist bombers. I've had people point guns at me and there is always a second or two to make a decision...not so with a terrorist who is concealing the detonator in his hand. Under the circumstances, I feel for those bobbies. They will live with this for the rest of their lives. But they face dangers we only read about. I think they did a superb job on this one and I hope someone in authority tells them they did.
If someone had blown up a NY subway the week before, damn straight we'd shoot to kill under the same circumstances.
were=weren't - sorry
It's not as simple as that.
To start with, cops in disguise were the ones saying stop- not uniformed police. Second, in the UK, a cop is not normally thought of as a 'Man with a Gun'. Ordinary cops don't carry firearms here. Third, it's not immediately clear that the cops' shouts to stop were heard by the man. Some eyewitnesses report that they didn't hear any warnings.
I think, given all the factors, the police took the necessary action. But it isn't as simple as it would be for someone in the States. In the US it is known by all that the police are going to be blasting away at you. Here, you've got it in your head that you might get a good thumping with a stick if you don't stop. If guys in plain clothes are chasing you with guns here, it is somewhat understandable that your first reaction is not 'Police'.
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