I'm really upset that the vast majority of posts to this thread seem to blame the police. Totally unfounded. I find it impossible to believe that a SWAT team ( unless they had a no-knock warrant, or for other reasons which would have been clearly spelled out in advance during the briefing did not loudly announce themselves. And any person who then answers his door holding a weapon is an idiot.
There is a natural sympathy here for the deceased because of his military history. He was a Marine, and appears to have served his country honorably. If he were a multiple offender, career criminal, 99.9% of the posts would be cheering the police.
A year of so ago, in Pinellas County, a fugitive was corneredd by police. He open fire, and was struck with about 100 bullets. When the Sheriff was asked later, why he was hit that many times, he replied,,"Because that's ALL the ammo they had with them." That quote was applauded all over FR.
You just called a whole bunch of your fellow FReepers idiots. If it's after dark and I'm not expecting anyone, I am absolutely answering the door with a firearm in my hand.
Not a good way for you to sway opinion.
Totally unfounded.
Just like this guys shooting apparently was. Especially if it turns out the SWAT team was looking for the previous owner of this house...
‘I’m really upset that the vast majority of posts to this thread seem to blame the police.”
Who else is to blame, perhaps the mailman?
“I find it impossible to believe that a SWAT team ( unless they had a no-knock warrant, or for other reasons which would have been clearly spelled out in advance during the briefing did not loudly announce themselves.”
BS, we have all see how these go down. The cops rush up to the house and mumble “thisisthepolicewehaveawarrant” as they are breaking down the door. I defy ANYONE to recognize and understand that as a proper announcement. The fact the wife saw them probably caused them to hurry even more.
“And any person who then answers his door holding a weapon is an idiot.”
What you are you a boot licker? Someone breaks into my house and I’m an idiot for arming myself? Perhaps you’d prefer flowers.
The cops murdered this man. The Pinellas County man was a KNOWN criminal with a KNOWN VIOLENT history of crimes. They cops KNEW he had threatened to kill any cops who tried to arrest him. His wife TOLD them he was armed.
The incident you are referring to occured in Polk County and they shot him AFTER he murdered two cops. get your facts straight
According the account in the article, he didn't answer the door. They broke it down.
But I hate the militarization of the local police. And I hate the politicalization of the local police departments like the one in Tucson (they have an idiot for Chief).
I am not making a judgment against the police here. But from what was presented thus far, it looks like a terrible mistake that cost a citizen his life. If it as presented thus far, the police department is in deep trouble.
I think that you'll see more of this, especially traffic stops. People are getting really PO’d about being targeted for “revenue enhancement” by being hit with a $500-$1000 ticket. That plus ordinary people are seeing the cops as not your friend but your enemy.
We are living in a police state whether people want to admit it or not. Just look at what is happening, SWAT teams can break into your home, shoot you and let you bleed out for a few hours (don't even have to have a gun, out here some granny was filled full of holes in bed for making a “sudden move”, no cop went to jail), they can seize your property without any justification and then you have to PROVE that it wasn't from illegal activity in order to get it back (oh and the cops get to keep the money that they seize, nice incentive for taking stuff from people), they can take your kids away from you based on an anonymous tip and again you have to prove that you weren't doing anything bad. The list goes on and on. Our freedoms have vanished thanks to the nanny state mentality that the voters think will keep them safe. Pathetic.