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I've been reading (and watching) content on both sides of this to gain a better perspective. Firemen definitely do also have a mentality of no unecessary risks

I've been reading (and watching) content on both sides of this to gain a better perspective. Firemen definitely do also have a mentality of no unecessary risks -- which, yes, is a little different. But there is a mentality of 'I want to go home tonight.' Cops risk assesment is a different situation than rescue -- it's a matter of intent. In a rescue situation, there's uncertaintiy in the physical environment. In law enforcement, the risk is that the subject actively wants to hurt you. Also, society in general has become more risk averse. One thing I have a better appreciation for now is how fast a situation can turn bad for a cop. There's an ex-cop who has a youtube channel under the name Donut Operator who breaks down cop videos. It has opened my eyes to why cops react certain ways in certain situations. It has helped me understand better when a shooting is justified -- or unjustified. Still, I think as a society we've swung too far into moving the risk onto the citizens -- and the most vulnerable take the brunt of it.

Tsubasachan 8y ago
Well if that society supports the Second Amendment it has made a choice. Acceptable collateral damage.
- arcbyte 8y ago
  That's certainly true in a limited sense. We are accepting collateral damage from the second amendment. No doubt about it. People are dying from the availability of guns. The great bet of the second amendment, though, is that those deaths are far fewer than the deaths that would occur if our government were not regulated away from tyrant and towards liberty by the threat of an armed populace. I firmly support that bet.
- krapp 8y ago
  You've been downvoted, but you're not wrong... I've heard that precise argument made by gun control opponents more than once, usually after the latest school shooting.
YeGoblynQueenne 8y ago
>> Firemen definitely do also have a mentality of no unecessary risks -- which, yes, is a little different. Yes- unnecessary risks. Some risk is inevitable when you're doing that kind of work- putting out fires, rescuing swimmers in distress and so on. And those people put their lives at risk as a matter of course. A while ago I got my ass pulled out of a very, very hairy situation by a lifeguard. He basically put himself in the same mess I was in to pull me and a friend out. I remember looking at his face and it was obvious he didn't know if he would make it out alive. If that guy was a police officer trained to put himself first, he'd have kicked us back in and saved his ass. Instead, he waded in some really bad waters and pulled us both out. Obviously, I'd never ask the guy to risk his life for me and my friend- but he totally did. That, for me, puts all that "I have to go back to my family" stuff in a very negative perspective. Yeah, as a police officer you need to make sure you go back to your family- you need to make sure everyone goes back to their family.

Tsubasachan 8y ago

Well if that society supports the Second Amendment it has made a choice. Acceptable collateral damage.

arcbyte 8y ago
That's certainly true in a limited sense. We are accepting collateral damage from the second amendment. No doubt about it. People are dying from the availability of guns. The great bet of the second amendment, though, is that those deaths are far fewer than the deaths that would occur if our government were not regulated away from tyrant and towards liberty by the threat of an armed populace. I firmly support that bet.
krapp 8y ago
You've been downvoted, but you're not wrong... I've heard that precise argument made by gun control opponents more than once, usually after the latest school shooting.

YeGoblynQueenne 8y ago

>> Firemen definitely do also have a mentality of no unecessary risks -- which, yes, is a little different. Yes- unnecessary risks. Some risk is inevitable when you're doing that kind of work- putting out fires, rescuing swimmers in distress and so on. And those people put their lives at risk as a matter of course. A while ago I got my ass pulled out of a very, very hairy situation by a lifeguard. He basically put himself in the same mess I was in to pull me and a friend out. I remember looking at his face and it was obvious he didn't know if he would make it out alive. If that guy was a police officer trained to put himself first, he'd have kicked us back in and saved his ass. Instead, he waded in some really bad waters and pulled us both out. Obviously, I'd never ask the guy to risk his life for me and my friend- but he totally did. That, for me, puts all that "I have to go back to my family" stuff in a very negative perspective. Yeah, as a police officer you need to make sure you go back to your family- you need to make sure everyone goes back to their family.