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Really what that is, is suicide by cop. The guy doesn't need to shoot first.

OF COURSE only an idiot would go around waving a gun and yelling at the officers. But EVEN THEN -- who fired the first shot? I call bullshit. If you're gonna be a cop, then be willing to err on the side of avoiding execution, even if it puts your life in danger. If not, get another job.

Compassionate, understanding lawmen are one thing. Scared-bully cops who demand "top dog" status to the point of execution ... need to find another line of work.

Doughty One, your way makes it impossible for people to defend themselves against imposters, EVER. It makes my blood run cold to think that "attitude" and "top dog" are remotely related to justification for cops shooting a guy dead in his own home.

As I said to another poster, if you want to prove you’re top dog at your home, just waltz on out there with a gun and yell at the officers. While you’re at it, wave the gun around as you yell at them.

Really what that is, is suicide by cop. The guy doesn't need to shoot first.

I agree. And I'm not even attributing evil purpose to the private individual. This can as easily happen by forgetting to think before acting. Do I like the idea? Heck no. It's still reality. Folks need to think.

OF COURSE only an idiot would go around waving a gun and yelling at the officers.

I agree. I'm not sure at all that's what happened here. We will have to wait and see. The officers may wind up being at fault. I just want the informaton to come out before I take the officers to task.

But EVEN THEN -- who fired the first shot? I call bullshit. If you're gonna be a cop, then be willing to err on the side of avoiding execution, even if it puts your life in danger. If not, get another job.

Okay, then it's your take that an officer should sacrifice his life to an assailant. Your opinion is that the assailant should always get one shot, before an officer opens fire. To you that sounds reasonable. To the spouse, children, and other family members of the officer, that's preposterous. If it were your son serving, you wouldn't agree with him having to take one to the face before opening fire.

Compassionate, understanding lawmen are one thing. Scared-bully cops who demand "top dog" status to the point of execution ... need to find another line of work.

I like the idea of a compassionate understanding law-man too, but these and men who act to the best of their abilty to respond to people who are armed to save lives is not muturally exclusive. If you think a compassionate understanding law-man isn't going to open fire on a brandishing citizen, you're wrong.

Some guy is standing ten feet from your family, you, you're wife, your three children, he's waving a gun around pointing it at your family? Are you going to let him fire off a round before you take him out? Hell no you're not!

Doughty One, your way makes it impossible for people to defend themselves against imposters, EVER.

Nobody ever said every circumstance in life was going to present easy decisions. Your wife is out for the evening and is involved in a hit and run. She's had a bit too much to drink, and she is followed by officers to your home. You hear her outside resisting arrest, and assume she is being treatned unfairly. You come zipping out the front door expecting to defend her, and all of a sudden you've got a handful of cops with guns on you. Are they at fault? Are you at fault? How quicly you put that gun down will determine if you live or die. That's just reality.

If your wife is coming to the door with some people, allow it to play out a bit before tipping your hand. If they try to follow her in you should be postioned to get the drop on them. By that time you've gained a few seconds to obtain understanding. You should hear part of a conversation between them, and realize it's not what you feared. If it turns out to be what you feared, there's not going to be an easy answer no matter what you do.

It makes my blood run cold to think that "attitude" and "top dog" are remotely related to justification for cops shooting a guy dead in his own home.

Please explain to me how an officer is supposed to serve an arrest warrant at a citizen's home. Does a man's home suddenly nullify any criminal charges against him?

Think clearly about this. You know it doesn't. His rights are not being violated. He will get due process. The peaceful arrest is not the end of the line. You have the right to address your accusers and deny at length charges brought against you.

Do it peacefully.