It’s no longer enough that a suspect has a gun before a cop can use lethal force. Now, apparently, armed criminals pose no lethal threat to cops until they actually point their guns at police officers.
In fact, Charlotte-Mecklenburg NAACP President Minister Corine Mack said, “In my mind, and in most of the community’s mind, it really doesn’t matter if he had a gun.” Really, reverend? What chance do police officers stand in this surreal environment of yours?
Okay, now that my head has stopped spinning from the gross negligence of such thinking, let me put on my teacher’s cap. I’m always railing about how the cop leaders are guilty of their own gross negligence in their failure to educate the public about what cops do. So, here goes…
When cops are dealing with a suspect and an officer sees that a suspect has access to a gun, no matter where the gun is, you’ll hear the officer shout, “GUN!” at the top of his or her lungs. No, the cop won’t wait until the suspect pulls the gun out and points it at one of them before yelling to warn other officers of the imminent—yes, imminent—danger.
Try this experiment: Tuck an object into your pocket or waistband as if it were a gun. Have another person hold an object in his hand—maybe a book—as if it were a gun.
Okay, you are the “police officer.” Your “gun” is in its “holster.” The other person is the “suspect.” He or she is holding a “gun” but is not pointing it at you at the moment.
Now, stand about ten feet apart, facing each other. Okay, here’s how it works: The officer, you, may not draw your gun until the suspect points his or her gun at you.
How long did it take the suspect to point the gun at you? One second? Less? Did you even touch your gun before he pointed his at you? Bang! You’re dead.
Even if you already had your gun out of your holster, how quickly could the suspect turn his gun on you? Would you get your shot off before the suspect could shoot you? Maybe? Is maybe good enough for your spouse and kids?
If the standard for using deadly force changes so cops have to wait until suspects point their guns at officers before officers can shoot, we’re gonna have a bunch of dead cops.
Oh, wait. That’s the point for some people, right? What was that Black Lives Matter chant during a march in New York City last year?
“What do we want?”
“Dead cops.”
“When do we want them?”
“Now!”
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