3 ms·

I really wanted to believe that cops shooting black people basically for sport was a media invention. The cases up until then were all like Michael Brown, with

I really wanted to believe that cops shooting black people basically for sport was a media invention. The cases up until then were all like Michael Brown, with an ambiguous situation and useless video. But there is quite simply no explanation that could possibly justify this. Same for the Baton Rouge "he lifted his head!" case from last week, where people try to argue that lifting one's head meets the statutory requirements for resisting arrest, as if merely checking an item off a list makes it okay to kill him, even if he is not physically able to pose a real threat of death or injury.

mrgoldenbrown 10y ago
I'm glad you finally came around, but if you think this is the first non ambiguous situation, you've been ignoring what black folks have been saying for decades.
mikestew 10y ago
I really wanted to believe that cops shooting black people basically for sport was a media invention. A lot of us were open to the idea that it was a media invention. Then cell phones began to have cameras in them. As a side effect, we found that UFOs aren't real, and there's no Big Foot. (No, this is not original with me.) I think what we've really found out is that for a lot of people, if they have a gun and they get just a little bit nervous, the slightest thing will have them pulling the trigger. For example, there was a video a few years back of some arrest in Nevada. Cop standing over the cuffed and restrained accused with gun drawn, and the gun suddenly goes off (not hitting the accused, fortunately). I watched the video several times trying to figure out what set her off. I have no idea. All I could conclude was that she had her finger on the trigger and...I don't know, tripped? Accused ripped a fart? She looked as surprised as anyone, so "it just went off"? (For the uninitiated, handguns don't just "go off"; either you intentionally pulled the trigger, or you fucked up.) When questioned in this case by the victim as to why the cop shot him, cop allegedly said, "I don't know". That might be true. So maybe we need to teach cops to keep that finger out of the trigger guard until ready to shoot, like the rest of us were taught.
- torkable 10y ago
  He was shot three times. If it was once, maybe an accidental discharge, which is still unacceptable, but mistakes happen and we're all human. But three times? You can't shoot someone three fucking times and not know wtf happened or tell me it was a triple accidental fucking discharge. What a load of shit. TRIPLE ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE!??!?!
- talmand 10y ago
  What you just described is not a problem of cops shooting people for "sport". It's a serious training problem. The shootings as "sport" IS a media invention for clickbait stories.
yardie 10y ago
ambiguous situation and useless video. And this is why there are organisations popping up whose sole purpose is to record cops. Alton Stirling would not be in the headlines save for the witnesses recording it. BRPD tried to hide their actions by illegally confiscating the shop owner's video recording. Someone was on the police scanner tracking their activity.
talmand 10y ago
Although I agree that there are a large number of unnecessary police shootings, I would not define it as "sport" by cops. That's the easiest way to get someone to dismiss you than to get them to listen to your point. No such thing is happening.

mrgoldenbrown 10y ago

I'm glad you finally came around, but if you think this is the first non ambiguous situation, you've been ignoring what black folks have been saying for decades.

mikestew 10y ago

I really wanted to believe that cops shooting black people basically for sport was a media invention. A lot of us were open to the idea that it was a media invention. Then cell phones began to have cameras in them. As a side effect, we found that UFOs aren't real, and there's no Big Foot. (No, this is not original with me.) I think what we've really found out is that for a lot of people, if they have a gun and they get just a little bit nervous, the slightest thing will have them pulling the trigger. For example, there was a video a few years back of some arrest in Nevada. Cop standing over the cuffed and restrained accused with gun drawn, and the gun suddenly goes off (not hitting the accused, fortunately). I watched the video several times trying to figure out what set her off. I have no idea. All I could conclude was that she had her finger on the trigger and...I don't know, tripped? Accused ripped a fart? She looked as surprised as anyone, so "it just went off"? (For the uninitiated, handguns don't just "go off"; either you intentionally pulled the trigger, or you fucked up.) When questioned in this case by the victim as to why the cop shot him, cop allegedly said, "I don't know". That might be true. So maybe we need to teach cops to keep that finger out of the trigger guard until ready to shoot, like the rest of us were taught.

torkable 10y ago
He was shot three times. If it was once, maybe an accidental discharge, which is still unacceptable, but mistakes happen and we're all human. But three times? You can't shoot someone three fucking times and not know wtf happened or tell me it was a triple accidental fucking discharge. What a load of shit. TRIPLE ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE!??!?!
talmand 10y ago
What you just described is not a problem of cops shooting people for "sport". It's a serious training problem. The shootings as "sport" IS a media invention for clickbait stories.

yardie 10y ago

ambiguous situation and useless video. And this is why there are organisations popping up whose sole purpose is to record cops. Alton Stirling would not be in the headlines save for the witnesses recording it. BRPD tried to hide their actions by illegally confiscating the shop owner's video recording. Someone was on the police scanner tracking their activity.

talmand 10y ago

Although I agree that there are a large number of unnecessary police shootings, I would not define it as "sport" by cops. That's the easiest way to get someone to dismiss you than to get them to listen to your point. No such thing is happening.