No kidding. I've had multiple contacts with police forces and found them to be helpful. Problem arise when they arrive 1. given false information over the phone about the nature of the person to be confronted (like in this case, and a recent controversial case in my town) 2. to find an armed person who, through bad communication under a stressful situation, appears not to be cooperating (like another case this month in my town).
Being stopped while "carrying" generally leads to nothing happening. But in a tiny, tiny percentage of instances, things go south. It's part of the risk that goes along with the activity, just like it does with driving, mountain climbing, or any other legal activity. To paint it as the arrival of a police state is pure lunacy.
There seems to be a small number of FReepers who have a rabid hatred of police. Perhaps they’ve had some unfortunate personal experiences. I know that can color how you see things. However, while I know people who have been treated horribly by the police and the system and I know our justice system is imperfect, I also know that in an emergency I will rely on cops, who daily put their lives on the line, even for the same people who call them jack booted thugs.
Having said that, I don’t know what happened in this case. I hope the truth comes out and I feel very badly for the family of the deceased. This sounds like a true tragedy.