atxgunguy wrote:Police use Taser on blind man whose stick was mistaken for samurai sword.

It's good to see that the UK police are in good company with their fellow brothers/sisters of the NYPD and other knee-jerk American LEOs.

I wish cops could grow a brain and realize the reason why so many people despise them is because of shit like this and all their knee-jerk reactions. Wouldn't it be better for everyone, but especially cops, if they could be better trained, stop doing shit like this, and actually get more people to like them again?

If cops could manage to stop doing such stupid, hurtful, and malicious things like this, maybe, just maybe, I could respect them.

Collector1337 wrote:

atxgunguy wrote:Police use Taser on blind man whose stick was mistaken for samurai sword.

It's good to see that the UK police are in good company with their fellow brothers/sisters of the NYPD and other knee-jerk American LEOs.

I wish cops could grow a brain and realize the reason why so many people despise them is because of shit like this and all their knee-jerk reactions. Wouldn't it be better for everyone, but especially cops, if they could be better trained, stop doing shit like this, and actually get more people to like them again?

If cops could manage to stop doing such stupid, hurtful, and malicious things like this, maybe, just maybe, I could respect them.

You might respect them if they WALKED a beat. The police officers who are respected are the ones who earn it by earning the trust of those they have sworn to serve and protect. That means walking a neighborhood and talking to the people in it not because you suspect them of committing crimes, but because it is important for a police officer to get to know those he is supposed to be protecting.

Wurble wrote:

Collector1337 wrote:

atxgunguy wrote:Police use Taser on blind man whose stick was mistaken for samurai sword.

It's good to see that the UK police are in good company with their fellow brothers/sisters of the NYPD and other knee-jerk American LEOs.

I wish cops could grow a brain and realize the reason why so many people despise them is because of shit like this and all their knee-jerk reactions. Wouldn't it be better for everyone, but especially cops, if they could be better trained, stop doing shit like this, and actually get more people to like them again?

If cops could manage to stop doing such stupid, hurtful, and malicious things like this, maybe, just maybe, I could respect them.

You might respect them if they WALKED a beat. The police officers who are respected are the ones who earn it by earning the trust of those they have sworn to serve and protect. That means walking a neighborhood and talking to the people in it not because you suspect them of committing crimes, but because it is important for a police officer to get to know those he is supposed to be protecting.

Also a very good, and true point.

+1

One of the major issues I see when it comes to LEOs is the militarization of police any and everywhere in the US. The military mindset is not one I'd like to see in police, especially with regards to the US vs THEM categories. In the military, I can see that. When dealing with police, the US seems like it's fellow brothers and sisters in blue but not the rest of us law abiding citizens. Again, for some, not all.

Agreed.

The militarization of police should not be allowed.

It's happening right under our noses, but no one seems to care or does anything about it.

Look at what they are protecting and you will learn who their real masters are:

KVoimakas wrote:One of the major issues I see when it comes to LEOs is the militarization of police any and everywhere in the US. The military mindset is not one I'd like to see in police, especially with regards to the US vs THEM categories. In the military, I can see that. When dealing with police, the US seems like it's fellow brothers and sisters in blue but not the rest of us law abiding citizens. Again, for some, not all.

Collector1337 wrote:Agreed.

The militarization of police should not be allowed.

It's happening right under our noses, but no one seems to care or does anything about it.

Look at what they are protecting and you will learn who their real masters are:

With you both on that.

Xela

FYI: I actually took that picture myself.

KVoimakas wrote:One of the major issues I see when it comes to LEOs is the militarization of police any and everywhere in the US. The military mindset is not one I'd like to see in police, especially with regards to the US vs THEM categories. In the military, I can see that. When dealing with police, the US seems like it's fellow brothers and sisters in blue but not the rest of us law abiding citizens. Again, for some, not all.

It couldn't be any other way. The police here, as well as in every major city, are deploying machine guns in cruisers now. M4's for the police here, MP5's for the sheriffs. LEO's are routinely coming up against suspects armed with assault rifles and even machine guns. To expect them to make due with old Model 10's and 870 pumps isn't very realistic.

Maybe the problem isn't just the police, maybe it's us.

OldScratch wrote:

KVoimakas wrote:One of the major issues I see when it comes to LEOs is the militarization of police any and everywhere in the US. The military mindset is not one I'd like to see in police, especially with regards to the US vs THEM categories. In the military, I can see that. When dealing with police, the US seems like it's fellow brothers and sisters in blue but not the rest of us law abiding citizens. Again, for some, not all.

It couldn't be any other way. The police here, as well as in every major city, are deploying machine guns in cruisers now. M4's for the police here, MP5's for the sheriffs. LEO's are routinely coming up against suspects armed with assault rifles and even machine guns. To expect them to make due with old Model 10's and 870 pumps isn't very realistic.

Maybe the problem isn't just the police, maybe it's us.

I am not talking weaponry. I am talking mindset.

sent from my Rezound

Xela wrote:Am I bad for smiling and rejoicing at the idea of Brits having an aneurysm everytime their gun control calls don't work in the US of A?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19925409

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01nhb1d

Xela

Absolutely not. In fact anyone that rejoices in their servile position of being a willing victim deserves heaps of scorn and contempt.

OldScratch wrote: It couldn't be any other way. The police here, as well as in every major city, are deploying machine guns in cruisers now. M4's for the police here, MP5's for the sheriffs. LEO's are routinely coming up against suspects armed with assault rifles and even machine guns. To expect them to make due with old Model 10's and 870 pumps isn't very realistic.

Maybe the problem isn't just the police, maybe it's us.

Like others have said:

It's a mindset.


I've spoken to reservists(who happen to be cops) who have been called up to go to Iraq and Afghanistan, and they have more restrictive ROEs in terms of grabbing people of interest in the desert then they do in the land of No-knock Warrants.

Yep, the "everyone's a perp, shoot first and maybe ask questions later" mentality, that's how things are increasingly going. That story about the jackboots Tasering the elderly blind gentlemen...that should be grounds for termination from the force as well as criminal prosecution for overuse of force.

Sooo...since it seems we all pretty much agree that the militarization of our police instead of walking a beat is a bad thing....

What are we going to DO about it?

CowboyT wrote:What are we going to DO about it?

Nothing.

Instead I'll be doing what I usually do:

OldScratch wrote:

KVoimakas wrote:One of the major issues I see when it comes to LEOs is the militarization of police any and everywhere in the US. The military mindset is not one I'd like to see in police, especially with regards to the US vs THEM categories. In the military, I can see that. When dealing with police, the US seems like it's fellow brothers and sisters in blue but not the rest of us law abiding citizens. Again, for some, not all.

It couldn't be any other way. The police here, as well as in every major city, are deploying machine guns in cruisers now. M4's for the police here, MP5's for the sheriffs. LEO's are routinely coming up against suspects armed with assault rifles and even machine guns. To expect them to make due with old Model 10's and 870 pumps isn't very realistic.

Maybe the problem isn't just the police, maybe it's us.

You nailed it.

Wurble wrote:

CowboyT wrote:What are we going to DO about it?

Nothing.

Instead I'll be doing what I usually do:

HA! I like you.

Simple solution, get rid of the cops and take responsibility for your own self defense. Reserve the Sheriffs and Marshals for bringing people to court and settling disputes. Policing the community is a matter of the community, the stronger it is the less policing of it you have to do. I'm not so young that I don't remember a time when I could ride my bike or be outside all day without adult supervision and not get snatched up. That crap's easier now because of how anti-social we as a society have become.

Collector1337 wrote:Agreed.

The militarization of police should not be allowed.

It's happening right under our noses, but no one seems to care or does anything about it.

The disturbing part is that the right thinks the police state is controlled by the left, while the left thinks it's controlled by the right.

What if it really is rouge?

mrb7 wrote:

Collector1337 wrote:Agreed.

The militarization of police should not be allowed.

It's happening right under our noses, but no one seems to care or does anything about it.

The disturbing part is that the right thinks the police state is controlled by the left, while the left thinks it's controlled by the right.

What if it really is rouge?

Got a bigger version of that picture?

I wanna post it everywhere. Talk about dead right!

Collector1337 wrote:Got a bigger version of that picture?

I wanna post it everywhere. Talk about dead right!

I got from someone on Facebook. Can't remember who now.

Here you go. If this doesn't upload I'll put it up when I get back in from work tonight.

double post

Remember, John Ashcroft is watching what you read.

(No tin foil on my head, no sir!)

EDIT: http://www.democracynow.org/2011/12/27/ ... ized_local

They really should have a limit on funding. That is absolutely ridiculous. A carbine or shotgun in a squad car I can see, but this?