General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAbout cops shooting unarmed Black Men.
If a cop mistakes a cell phone or a wallet for a gun. That cop should never touch another gun. That is a fatal mistake and not an excuse.
HopeAgain
(4,407 posts)How many shots does it take to stop somebody from aiming so you can take cover. I think they are looking for the chance to kill a black person.
Bernardo de La Paz
(49,089 posts)Police frequently advance with their guns drawn and then when they see "something" they over-react and fire instead of calling out, negotiating, talking down the situation.
With drawn guns pointed at the person, they aren't really in terrible danger.
When cops are killed by criminals it is when they are surprised without their guns drawn. Like routine traffic stops that explode. Not like the Philandro Castille murder.
Locrian
(4,522 posts)I'm sure that they're also told that by shooting 'multiple times' it helps *prove* that they were "really afraid".
It's all "put em down! put em down!" mentality
Not to mention "dead men tell no tales" - makes it easy to make up anything they want. (not that they wouldn't even if the victim survives)
https://www.policeone.com/police-training/articles/125455-Competition-and-training-How-to-train-how-not-to-train/
"But, it is still a game and must be understood that it is only a shooting game. IPSC has evolved to a very exciting and competitive shooting sport. It has also become almost totally worthless as a means of testing your survival skills, and if you practice it on a routine basis, you are conditioning reflexive shooting techniques that couldwell be fatal to you if you try them on the street."
safeinOhio
(32,763 posts)they train for white people holding a wallet or phone.
Bernardo de La Paz
(49,089 posts)But training to avoid over-reacting will help reduce over-reacting to non-whites.
Especially if over-reacting is no long accepted by society for use of force.
mythology
(9,527 posts)Fixing the issue isn't as easy as saying "hey shoot less". We need to recondition ourselves at a young age that black men and boys aren't inherently scary because they are black. When we perceive threats, we tend to respond instinctively, if our subconscious bias is that this black man (or even boy like Tamir Rice) is likely to harm, the natural embedded response is to strike first. It's hard to condition that response out of somebody. It's easier to avoid conditioning it in the first place.