Police Power and Racial Tensions in Ferguson, Missouri

[Hotdog]

The second option, minus the hyperbole.

So a cop with no complaints record has less credibility than a man who just robbed a store? I don't want to hear that we don't know that it's him in that video. We know. Even his buddy has admitted that it was them.

The cops side of the story is leaking and he says he was bum rushed by Michael Brown twice. Once where he punched the cop and tried to take his gun. The next time was when he was shot and killed.

If this is true, does the cop not have every right to protect himself by eliminating the threat?

I don't care if Michael Brown was high on weed. That has nothing to do with it. I'd like to know if he was on something else, but even that still doesn't matter. Michael Brown's credibility went right out the window as soon as the robbery video posted.

Also, I don't think any sympathy should be given to the man who feels like he needs to steal if what he is stealing is drug paraphernalia. It's not like he was stealing something to eat. So apparently he had enough money to buy a bunch of weed, which isn't cheap.

The cop may have been able to deescalate the situation without killing him, but I'm not going to judge him on that because in situations like that you have little time to think. Especially if the huge man showed no fear of you or your gun the first time he attacked. Which I'm sure will come out as proof when photos of Darren Wilson's face after being struck come out.

It may also end up being decided that Wilson carries some blame. But even then I don't care. I don't care for thugs at all. I'm not going to miss this guy. We know he was a threat to society. We have video proof. We don't need people like him.

 

[Hantlers]

Harry Bosch probably wouldn't have done it this way.

 

[Hotdog]

I also think that the authorities need to apprehend Michael Brown's accomplice on the charge of robbery, and put the squeeze on him and make him tell the truth. He's out stating they were just minding their own business. No, you just got done robbing a store. This guy is what helped start all the riots with his little sob story about how innocent they are. I guarantee that it wouldn't have been so easy to feel sorry for them if he let everyone know what they were just doing before the shooting. Instead he quickly painted a picture of how innocent they were. What a crock of ****! He has zero credibility as well.


The crazy thing about something like this is, those people in Ferguson are fighting for a guy who is threat to them. I'm so tired of people like this crying about how hard it is to live where they live, and how rough it is. But then celebrate and protect the the same people who are hurting them. It's bizarre how messed up that type of thinking is.

 

[JAZZGASM]

My point is that the presence of marijuana has no relevance on Brown's behavior during the shooting.

How do you know that? Your statements show a lot of bias. If he was really high at the time of the incident, it could have had an effect on his behavior. Depressants like pot and alcohol affect people differently. I know some people that get totally relaxed and are fun to be around. I know others that get paranoid and violent. I have a good friend that is a former golden gloves champion boxer. When he gets drunk he literally gets punchy and violent to the point people do not want to be around him.So if he had smoked pot recently, it definitely could have made an impact on Brown's behavior.

Explanation =/= excuse. I think the violent protesters should be arrested and tried. I also understand why so many think that the neighborhood they live in is not something they have ownership of

I agree they should be tried and arrested, but how do you do that when it will only incite more violence? There is a reason the police have largely held back. And honestly, the neighborhood issue has nothing to do whether they take "ownership" of it. It has to do where the protest will have the most exposure to make a change. Why protest at all if you are advocating change? If you think your neighborhood, comprised mostly of blacks, is being oppressed and violated by the white police force, what neighborhood should be you be looting and vandalizing?

What makes you think peaceful protests would have been allowed in Officer Wilson's neighborhood to begin with?

Who said anything about a peaceful protest? Actual peaceful protests are actually more difficult for the police to stop. When the violence occurs it gives the police carte blance to shut it down to protect the safety of everyone. If they had gone to the affluent neighborhoods, and more shooting occurred by the police, it is only going to magnify the cause for the protesters. This is more or less the status quo of these protests. Poor people destroying their neighborhoods. And the outside world doesn't care too much.

 

[Stoked]

What's the argument with the weed thing? He might have been stoned when this happened? Does that actually carry weight?

I think that's the argument. And unfortunately I think it will catty weight.

 

[candrew]

The cops side of the story is leaking and he says he was bum rushed by Michael Brown twice. Once where he punched the cop and tried to take his gun. The next time was when he was shot and killed.

If this is true, does the cop not have every right to protect himself by eliminating the threat?

Ultimately no one knows except Wilson; but I don't believe for a second that Brown "went for" the cops gun. I think Wilson drew the gun first and then Brown grabbed for it. That would explain why the gun went off in the car while Wilson maintained possession of it.

 

[Stoked]

Ultimately no one knows except Wilson; but I don't believe for a second that Brown "went for" the cops gun. I think Wilson drew the gun first and then Brown grabbed for it. That would explain why the gun went off in the car while Wilson maintained possession of it.

Perhaps but this leads us into Zimmerman/Martin territory in that it's all speculation. Sure your scenario is plausible Candrew. But so is Brown going for his gun. Neither are known to be facts.

 

[Hotdog]

Ultimately no one knows except Wilson; but I don't believe for a second that Brown "went for" the cops gun. I think Wilson drew the gun first and then Brown grabbed for it. That would explain why the gun went off in the car while Wilson maintained possession of it.

That's kind of a weird thing to say. Why is it hard to believe he went for the gun? He shouldn't have his hands anywhere near the cops gun in the first place. It doesn't matter if he's trying to stop the cop from pulling the gun or going for it. It's the same thing. Why is he even in a situation where he is that close to the cop and fighting with him in the first place?

Why is it so hard to believe that Michael Brown, who just committed strong arm robbery, would be trying to avoid arrest? Even if the cop doesn't know what just happened, Michael Brown DID know what just happened. He is probably assuming he is being shook down because of the robbery. Which would explain why he would do anything to escape. In his mind, he is going to jail for a long time.

And by the way. The cops story is leaking and it's saying that at first he was unaware of the robbery, but gets the call about what happened and at the time of the altercation he knew of the robbery then. If that's the case, then he has to assume the man is dangerous. And if you get punched in the face and he attempts to take your gun then you know he is.

 

[candrew]

It doesn't matter if he's trying to stop the cop from pulling the gun or going for it. It's the same thing.

Are you kidding me - there is a huge difference.

 

[JAZZGASM]

Are you kidding me - there is a huge difference.

So you are a cop, and trying to subdue a perp. He lunges for your gun. Do you need to let him grab it before you shoot him?

 

[Hotdog]

Are you kidding me - there is a huge difference.

So in your opinion. It's ok to try and stop a cop from pulling his gun? I don't get what you are saying. Elaborate please. I can't see any situation where it's a good idea, or you should be denying a cop from pulling his gun. Imo, that's a very bad idea, and is asking for trouble. And I'm quite sure that the law states you are not allowed to do that. Also, how does the cop know what his intentions are?

 

[Stoked]

Are you kidding me - there is a huge difference.

In the heat of the moment does the cop know that? If a cop draws his gun you don't fight with him for control of it.

If I was a cop that would make me think he was after the gun and my life was in danger.