4 ms·

This repurposing of a defensive, life saving robot into a lethal weapon also offends me deeply. If corporations had an ounce of human conscience the manufacture

This repurposing of a defensive, life saving robot into a lethal weapon also offends me deeply. If corporations had an ounce of human conscience the manufacturer would terminate their contacts with this department immediately.

mc32 10y ago
What's the difference between sending in a robot or a SWAT team? Also, they could just repurpose an RC vehicle with similar results. And why not ask gun mfgs to stop selling guns to criminals as well as police? What separates a robot from a firearm in this case?
- jonlucc 10y ago
  Intent. Police officers with firearms are only supposed to fire them to end immediate danger to themselves or others. Sending in a robot with a bomb is much more of an execution.
  - mc32 10y ago
    Right, but, if we take the police assessment of the situation (which does not change whether robot or swat) it was one which merited neutralization as the suspect, according to police, threatened to take out more (officers). So SWAt or robot would be either right or wrong, but right or wrong does not change because of the different agent.
    - jonlucc 10y ago
      But SWAT doesn't go in with the intent to kill (supposedly). They go in with intent to arrest or neutralize which may require killing, but could be shooting until the threat is neutralized and then calling medical help. A bomb has only one mode.
      - mc32 10y ago
        In this case, the way it was framed, the intent and result have been the same.
whamlastxmas 10y ago
North Dakota recently passed a law allowing police officers to weaponize UAVs with stun guns and less-lethal rounds. Maybe in the future we'll see them strap some C4 to the drone to take out suspects.
- hammock 10y ago
  >Maybe in the future we'll see them strap some C4 to the drone to take out suspects. That's exactly what happened here.
  - whamlastxmas 10y ago
    Edited to say UAV specifically, since I hate the term "drone" since they're nearly never autonomous, and to clarify I meant the flying type. Obviously a slow ground robot with C4 is a little disturbing, but having UAVs with C4 is a whole new level of concerning. Are we going to start seeing targeted bombings when the driver of a traffic stop is being uncooperative? "The driver reached for his glove box and wasn't responding to police commands, so we launched a hellfire missile to help ensure officer safety" (turns out driver was deaf and getting his insurance papers)
- lovich 10y ago
  This has already occurred with a police helicopter dropping a bomb. Wouldn't be much of a leap to do it with a drone. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOVE#1985_bombing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOVE#1985_bombing
  - whamlastxmas 10y ago
    Wow that entire situation is unbelievably fucked up. How have I not heard of this before? Police dropped dynamite on a house which results in 65 other houses catching fire, killing 11 innocents, while firefighters were ordered not to do anything. And of course no criminal charges for anyone involved.

mc32 10y ago

What's the difference between sending in a robot or a SWAT team? Also, they could just repurpose an RC vehicle with similar results. And why not ask gun mfgs to stop selling guns to criminals as well as police? What separates a robot from a firearm in this case?

jonlucc 10y ago
Intent. Police officers with firearms are only supposed to fire them to end immediate danger to themselves or others. Sending in a robot with a bomb is much more of an execution.
- mc32 10y ago
  Right, but, if we take the police assessment of the situation (which does not change whether robot or swat) it was one which merited neutralization as the suspect, according to police, threatened to take out more (officers). So SWAt or robot would be either right or wrong, but right or wrong does not change because of the different agent.
  - jonlucc 10y ago
    But SWAT doesn't go in with the intent to kill (supposedly). They go in with intent to arrest or neutralize which may require killing, but could be shooting until the threat is neutralized and then calling medical help. A bomb has only one mode.
    - mc32 10y ago
      In this case, the way it was framed, the intent and result have been the same.

whamlastxmas 10y ago

North Dakota recently passed a law allowing police officers to weaponize UAVs with stun guns and less-lethal rounds. Maybe in the future we'll see them strap some C4 to the drone to take out suspects.

hammock 10y ago
>Maybe in the future we'll see them strap some C4 to the drone to take out suspects. That's exactly what happened here.
- whamlastxmas 10y ago
  Edited to say UAV specifically, since I hate the term "drone" since they're nearly never autonomous, and to clarify I meant the flying type. Obviously a slow ground robot with C4 is a little disturbing, but having UAVs with C4 is a whole new level of concerning. Are we going to start seeing targeted bombings when the driver of a traffic stop is being uncooperative? "The driver reached for his glove box and wasn't responding to police commands, so we launched a hellfire missile to help ensure officer safety" (turns out driver was deaf and getting his insurance papers)
lovich 10y ago
This has already occurred with a police helicopter dropping a bomb. Wouldn't be much of a leap to do it with a drone. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOVE#1985_bombing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOVE#1985_bombing
- whamlastxmas 10y ago
  Wow that entire situation is unbelievably fucked up. How have I not heard of this before? Police dropped dynamite on a house which results in 65 other houses catching fire, killing 11 innocents, while firefighters were ordered not to do anything. And of course no criminal charges for anyone involved.