UK Guardian: US cops armed & dangerous?
Submitted by SteveMT on Mon, 08/16/2010 - 19:52[See video at link. It is shocking.]
US cops: armed and dangerous?
Police can use force in everyday situations with impunity, even when no crime is being committed. That cannot be right
Monday 16 August 2010 - 17.00 BST
Jennifer Abel
When Americans read British newspapers referencing "her Majesty", "his Highness" or "Lord So-and-So", we bask in the smug patriotic pride of knowing ours is no nation of aristocrats, but a country based on principles like equality before the law and authority granted by merit.
So we're told. Yet we do have de facto aristocrats, whose authority over ordinary citizens rivals what English royals gave up with the Magna Carta: power to inflict pain on anyone who treats them disrespectfully, power even to kill with relatively little fuss.
If mine were truly a free country, US police wouldn't wield such immense power or employ such aggressive tactics against their own citizenry – a militarisation of our police forces that started with the war on drugs and intensified after 9/11.
Consider: can you invent a realistic scenario wherein you shoot a man dead; justify it with a story witnesses contradict; confiscate any surveillance video; claim a "glitch" makes it impossible to show the video to anyone else – all while enjoying the support of state legal apparatus?
Police in Las Vegas did that last month, after they shot Erik Scott seven times as he exited a Costco. Cops say Scott pointed a gun at them; witnesses say Scott's licensed weapon was in a concealed holster, and five of those seven shots hit him in the back. The confiscated surveillance video might settle the question; too bad about that glitch.
At least Costco's not in trouble for recording police actions. That's illegal in 12 states, even (or especially) when you record police misbehaviour. Even in states where it's allowed, officers are wont to ignore the law and go after photographers anyway, and they can always record you with their own dashboard cams.
These aren't the only powers police wield with relative impunity; whenever Tasers are issued, they're used with shocking (sorry) frequency. With guns, police at least have to argue "Oops, I thought he was dangerous", after shooting you; Tasers don't even require that.
More:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/aug/...
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UK's shooting bullets from a glass house.
Since when did the Empire of Britain do anything worthwhile, as they shoot and taser citizens for a living who refuse to pay respects to the queen!???
Where did the Police get their training? Militarized by a British Colony corporation the Rand Corporation, which is packed to the brim with Israeli dual nationals & participates daily with neocon training regimends!!
Britain is the last place I would expect to hear such a chorus of acclamation about our armed forces. I carry my own weapon. I protect myself. I threw out my own charges in court by making sure the lawyer did what I said.
It's this simple: Train yourself & be responsible for your own livelihood and safety, don't allow them to be responsible for it. You are who own your rights, use them or lose them.
Agree SimpleSam, It's the pot calling the kettle black.
The lesser of two evils is still evil. In this case, there is no lesser counterpart.
Thanks for the bump.