Shots fired; demonstrators scatter in Ferguson

This article on Vox, from yesterday seems horribly prophetic and far more relevant now.

originally posted by: Hefficide
a reply to: iDope

If the police were involved or suspected the kid of a crime, he would be cuffed - even if mortally wounded. The fact that he is cuffed seems to imply that the police were, in some way, involved with whatever transpired that led to him being shot - on some level.

It could turn out that it was a gun fight between two civilians and the police showed up. Or it could play out differently.

I agree, I am just stating that police do handcuff people after they have been shot. The police likely shot him, it's hard to tell the full story, so I don't want to project anything. I really, I mena really don't see the Ferguson police shooting an unarmed man without provocation after all that has happened over the last year. I mean, in my last post, and from the article at the very bottom, it states that the all white city's judge, chief of police, and city manager resigned a year ago and were replaced with blacks. So this wasnot a race thing, it just so happened that a black man was shot. There are dozens of white shot by police every day and noone cares, same with every other color. My point is is that we don't know the full story. The #BlackLivesMatter will be all over this yet within the last week over 50 white people were murdered or shot by the police. It should be #AllPeopleMatter

I'm becoming oppressed by these protests protesting oppression. I don't want to have to watch or here about people protesting anymore. Who's with me!?! Let's all get together and ...damnit.

a reply to: Hefficide

Why be worried about facts. Facts don't matter in Ferguson.

So these people are pretty much free to leave, but are staying there why?

a reply to: Hefficide

What would ensue if cops were not allowed to carry guns? Guns are illegal in the UK yet violence still rages on, hammers, bats, mob fists, etc, yet police still carry guns. Seems unfair to a person who feels violated and wants to protect their right to live, no matter their race.

a reply to: Domo1

They want more entertainment.

a reply to: c0gN1t1v3D1ss0nanC3

It looks like if anything more people are walking INTO the area.

a reply to: Domo1

because they actually get off on all this shizzzzywiizzzzwassswhat?

seriously though, it's just the adrenaline rush and feeling apart of some kind of social action.

a reply to: Domo1

People who contribute to the world are too busy worrying about things that matter to get caught up in # like that. If you are trying to better your life, and your community, you sure as well aren't out in the streets trying to start #, or hoping to instigate/film some #.

a reply to: iDope

I've never said anything about cops not having guns. However I do think that they need a LOT more training in conflict resolution than they get. I haven't looked at the stats in a few weeks, but working from memory it's something like 57 hours training in firearms, 40-something hours in defensive techniques, and 8 or 9 hours in deescalation techniques.

That last number needs to be much higher.

We also need our mental health system back to functional and funded. That would help a lot. So would education about mental health and the mentally ill, rather than just general demonization.

Cops need to be trained at more than just shooting for the kill as well. In order for that to happen we've got to change mentalities on both sides of the issue and fix Civil Statutes that leave officers stuck knowing that if they do injure, they are going to get sued blind... leaving the kill shot the more financially safe alternative.

The whole subject is a mess and it has to be fixed.

Well it seems like things have settled down a bit, I guess the main question now will be how will all of this develop over the course of not only a few days but especially when we come full circle and come back to this next year?

a reply to: Hefficide

yeah, the tolerance training needs to be amped up a good bit. Not to mention there's little to no training in communication with the public anymore that's not stringently aggressive and condescending.

On the flip side of this, the whole militarization of the police which really got goin in the mid-late 90's was due to the amount of "polite" officers being taken advantage of, or in worse cases killed. However the police as a whole messed up when treating everyone as a threat became the trend.

Those idiots are still protesting? Really?

Newsflash: Nobody is paying attention anymore. You no longer have an excuse to loot businesses and act foolish.

originally posted by: Hefficide
a reply to: iDope

I've never said anything about cops not having guns. However I do think that they need a LOT more training in conflict resolution than they get. I haven't looked at the stats in a few weeks, but working from memory it's something like 57 hours training in firearms, 40-something hours in defensive techniques, and 8 or 9 hours in deescalation techniques.

That last number needs to be much higher.

We also need our mental health system back to functional and funded. That would help a lot. So would education about mental health and the mentally ill, rather than just general demonization.

Cops need to be trained at more than just shooting for the kill as well. In order for that to happen we've got to change mentalities on both sides of the issue and fix Civil Statutes that leave officers stuck knowing that if they do injure, they are going to get sued blind... leaving the kill shot the more financially safe alternative.

The whole subject is a mess and it has to be fixed.

I haven't looked at the same stats as you, but I do agree for most of what you have said. The main problem I have, and my father agrees 100% who is a captain on the firedepartment after 20 years of service and works with police closely, and my uncle has been an officer for nearly 15 years; most officers, over 50% have had military training of some degree. That is unsettling to me. Maybe if they were SWAT or something would I agree with it but in no way should ex-military brainwashed trained killers should be allowed to roam the streets wih guns and the right to fire on innocent citizens when they are supposed to protect and serve the law, not enforce the law, not take the law in their hands, not anything violent unless there is violence put onto them.

I am a huge proponent of talking things out. Sure it doesn't always work, but never have I "had"to result to violence. The only time I have resulted to violence is when a person has a weapon and I feel threatened. I have had a gun to my head, two in fact one directly on my skull and another 10 feet behind, and couldn't do jack about it, I let them take what they wanted. So that is the power of the police. Unless a citizen has a gun and shows harm toward the police they have no right to shoot them...If the suspect runs...why shoot them? Helicopters and backup never have problems tracking them down, so why kill them? That is my problem. The police are trained to kill rather trained to solve problems.

There was a post earlier from an ATS member that I will try to find about the police not responding when called to his drunk stepfather being beligerant and asking to be punched and yelling at everyone and then he ended up having to punch his stepdad a few times and was choked out for it then taken to jail on criminal charges. That doesn't sit right with me at all.

Link w/ video of shooting scroll to bottom of article.

So basically these cops are trying to secure a crime scene, people are free to leave, just not in the direction of the crime scene...

originally posted by: Answer
Those idiots are still protesting? Really?

Newsflash: Nobody is paying attention anymore. You no longer have an excuse to loot businesses and act foolish.

First I agree.
Second. Without school or ( twirling thumbs )... so you are saying no one is paying attention. Oh darn. Seems a certain city is jealous. As well as nostalgic and bored. A severe case of "remember that one time at":

Band Camp
Bottom of the ninth
Vice news
CNN
Fox
NBC
Yo! We were so stupid that we burned down innocent businesses. Stole from them? Bussed in professional protesters? Man that was a summer!
Let's re live the BS! Good times... good times.




Breath in. And exhale... get it together Ferguson!

I wonder how everyone is going to function at work tomorrow on so few hours of sleep.

Even if a black guy started the shooting tonight it's still white people's fault. When you've been repressed for so long and given no opportunities you don't have the ability to believe you can become a success. If you don't believe that anything will change then you can't plan for the future. If you can't plan for the future then you have no reason not to shoot someone. It's white people's fault.

#it'snotourfault