Cops furious at 'don't-kill' bill

NY Post ^ | May 25, 2010 | MURRAY WEISS

[Scanian]

City cops are livid over a legislative proposal that could handcuff the brave officers involved in life-and-death confrontations every day -- requiring them to shoot gun-wielding suspects in the arm or leg rather than shoot to kill, The Post has learned.

The "minimum force" bill, which surfaced in the Assembly last week, seeks to amend the state penal codes' "justification" clause that allows an officer the right to kill a thug if he feels his life or someone else's is in imminent danger.

The bill -- drafted in the wake of Sean Bell's controversial police shooting death -- would force officers to use their weapons "with the intent to stop, rather than kill" a suspect. They would be mandated to "shoot a suspect in the arm or the leg."

Under present NYPD training, cops are taught to shoot at the center of their target and fire their weapon until the threat has been stopped.

[Haiku Guy]

I would like to say
This bill has no chance at all...
But I’m not so sure.

Stupider laws
Have been passed in the last year.
And this is New York...

[sphinx]

This is not enough. Police officers should be required to shoot the weapon out of an assailant’s hand without leaving so much as a scratch. I’m sure the authors of this legislation have seen this many times in the movies, so they know it can be done.

[GOPJ]

Maybe some of the law MAKERS could ride in uniform with the cops for a few nights - might open their eyes.

[Hardraade]

This is not enough. Police officers should be required to shoot the weapon out of an assailant’s hand without leaving so much as a scratch.

Actually, they should be required to shoot the only part of the criminal that they know is non-functioning. His head.

[thecabal]

I wanted to make a sarcastic remark like yours about the retards that run our country, but all I can do is shake my head and silently weep for our once-great country.

[Lockbar]

Too much of this when they were little kids:

Idiots

[Repeat Offender]

Under present NYPD training, cops are taught to shoot at the center of their target and fire their weapon until the threat has been stopped.

I completely agree that this should be the case when you HAVE to draw your weapon. However, executing the "perp" should not be your first choice.

Also, you kind of bring the legislation on yourself when your idea of a "perp" deserving a kill shot is:

A: An arthritic 75 year old woman

B: A sleeping 7 year old girl

C: A weiner dog

D: A diabetic going into shock that called 911 for an ambulance

E: All of the above except "D" in the same house because you failed to vet your twice convicted violent felon you endearingly refer to as a "confidential informant." You failed to conduct any type of surveillance on the residence; failed to corroborate any informationprovided by your informant. And, pimped a warrant for the wrong address to the first freedom hating liberal judicial activist "judge" that would sign it; just so you could justify your "SWAT" program's existence and boost your testosterone by kicking in some doors and exerting your authoritay......

....again for the xx time this year.

[TSgt]

The silhouette has more sense.

[Sarajevo]

Scathing, but true.

[thecabal]

Great point

[Pollster1]

Will they issue silver bullets to NY cops?

[Reeses]

They would be mandated to "shoot a suspect in the arm or the leg."

This bill by lawyers is intended for lawyers. They need more plaintiffs they can roll out in front of sympathetic juries in a wheelchair.

[bitterohiogunclinger]

That’s racist.

[rlmorel]

Shoot in the arms or legs???? Good God. Liberals should never, ever, ever be allowed to participate in legislation or even anywhere near the levers of power.

On the other hand, a shot to the center of the torso can be easily explained: "I was shooting for his arm, but the guy moved..."

What idiocy.

[Oceander]

Only one response to give:

[Brouhaha]

This legislation is a bit regressive. Really police officers shouldn’t be using guns at all. Instead, they should use aikido to bring violent drug lords into harmony with vegitarianism and their inner environmentalist. That way we can all think nice thoughts and start growing daisies out of our asses.

This will eliminate racism and corporate elitism, too.

[LibLieSlayer]

STRIKE BABY STRIKE... turn the communist tactics back on the communists.

LLS

[Revel]

There are many, but certainly not all cases where this is a good idea. The police are taught now to always shoot to kill even if the person they are shooting at is unarmed, but “They feel a threat”. They are also taught to “Double Tap”. I have a friend who lost a suicidal brother this way. Not every one they are after are hardened or violent criminals.

[TXnMA]

The most commonly-taught defense technique is the "Mozambique drill": double-tap to center of mass AND one to the head -- with the purpose of "neutralizing the threat".

After years of practice, the response to this dumb@$$ bill (when the smoke clears and ears stop ringing) is: "That punk with the gun had arms and legs?"