I just read this in the Boston Globe. An Army reservist shot and killed eighteen people at a bowling alley and bar. Police in Maine knew he was unstable, but they didn't want to confront him. A fellow reservist contacted the police and told them that he had threatened to do a mass shooting. The police didn't want to "throw dynamite into a pool of gasoline," so they did nothing. "Reamer also voiced concern about the safety of law enforcement officers if they made further attempts to ensure Card did not pose a threat."
After all those people were killed, the official report found that "the deputies acted appropriately 'under the totality of the circumstances.'"
"A crazy man says he's going to do a mass shooting. We don't want to confront him and make the situation worse. Let's wait and see what happens."
America today, my friend.
jerryc41 wrote:
I just read this in the Boston Globe. An Army reservist shot and killed eighteen people at a bowling alley and bar. Police in Maine knew he was unstable, but they didn't want to confront him. A fellow reservist contacted the police and told them that he had threatened to do a mass shooting. The police didn't want to "throw dynamite into a pool of gasoline," so they did nothing. "Reamer also voiced concern about the safety of law enforcement officers if they made further attempts to ensure Card did not pose a threat."
After all those people were killed, the official report found that "the deputies acted appropriately 'under the totality of the circumstances.'"
"A crazy man says he's going to do a mass shooting. We don't want to confront him and make the situation worse. Let's wait and see what happens."
I just read this in the Boston Globe. An Army res... (
show quote)
Understandable that the police are afraid for their life but then that what caused a lot of unnecessary deaths. Police shot unarmed people too because they are scared. It's a big problem.
tomad
Loc: North Carolina
That's the way it almost always is. After something like this happens it comes out that authorities were warned. If you haven't watched it yet I suggest watching a mini-series called "The Looming Tower", a dramatized account of the events leading up to the 9/11. There were many signs and warnings that something like this was going to happen but they were either ignored or not shared between law enforcement agencies due to rivalries, agents who didn't like each other, or desire for receiving all the credit if they did stop something from happening... I watched it on Hulu.
There has always been the mantra among law enforcement authorities, that the least intrusive option is always best, even if there are signs that large amounts of force might be necessary. No law enforcement agency wants to spend inordinate amounts of time or money, in reaction to a charge of excessive or preemptive force.
Law enforcement is always caught in a conundrum over being civilian-oriented, but militarily organized. Police have sergeants, corporals, lieutenants, etc. - Quasi-military. Pure civilian organizations have supervisors, leaders, managers, etc. How many police officers have you seen lately with GI haircuts, military-trim uniforms, etc.?
When the murderer was observed with mental issues while on active duty in the reserves, his CO may have been able to shortcut the problems by having him treated, and extending his active duty for the duration. However, the buck was passed, and the perp didn't face any consequences for his military misbehavior.
pendennis wrote:
There has always been the mantra among law enforcement authorities, that the least intrusive option is always best, even if there are signs that large amounts of force might be necessary. No law enforcement agency wants to spend inordinate amounts of time or money, in reaction to a charge of excessive or preemptive force.
Law enforcement is always caught in a conundrum over being civilian-oriented, but militarily organized. Police have sergeants, corporals, lieutenants, etc. - Quasi-military. Pure civilian organizations have supervisors, leaders, managers, etc. How many police officers have you seen lately with GI haircuts, military-trim uniforms, etc.?
When the murderer was observed with mental issues while on active duty in the reserves, his CO may have been able to shortcut the problems by having him treated, and extending his active duty for the duration. However, the buck was passed, and the perp didn't face any consequences for his military misbehavior.
There has always been the mantra among law enforce... (
show quote)
True. Sadly, this happens too often. A mass shooting incident happens that could be averted had someone had done what they should and reported what they had seen or heard to the authorities. By this I mean people in authority not reporting, as required by law, certain situations that could have possibly averted a situation.
jerryc41 wrote:
I just read this in the Boston Globe. An Army reservist shot and killed eighteen people at a bowling alley and bar. Police in Maine knew he was unstable, but they didn't want to confront him. A fellow reservist contacted the police and told them that he had threatened to do a mass shooting. The police didn't want to "throw dynamite into a pool of gasoline," so they did nothing. "Reamer also voiced concern about the safety of law enforcement officers if they made further attempts to ensure Card did not pose a threat."
After all those people were killed, the official report found that "the deputies acted appropriately 'under the totality of the circumstances.'"
"A crazy man says he's going to do a mass shooting. We don't want to confront him and make the situation worse. Let's wait and see what happens."
I just read this in the Boston Globe. An Army res... (
show quote)
Be extremely careful here. This thread could end up in The Attic!
I shall PM you for further thoughts dear friend.
jerryc41 wrote:
I just read this in the Boston Globe. An Army reservist shot and killed eighteen people at a bowling alley and bar. Police in Maine knew he was unstable, but they didn't want to confront him. A fellow reservist contacted the police and told them that he had threatened to do a mass shooting. The police didn't want to "throw dynamite into a pool of gasoline," so they did nothing. "Reamer also voiced concern about the safety of law enforcement officers if they made further attempts to ensure Card did not pose a threat."
After all those people were killed, the official report found that "the deputies acted appropriately 'under the totality of the circumstances.'"
"A crazy man says he's going to do a mass shooting. We don't want to confront him and make the situation worse. Let's wait and see what happens."
I just read this in the Boston Globe. An Army res... (
show quote)
One thing that never seems to be mentioned is the number of "warnings" authorities receive where nothing came of the suspect/perpetrator; no crime was ever committed by that person. Recall that American citizens are assumed innocent until proven guilty, so authorities cannot just go and apprehend or do something else to a person because someone "thinks" he or she might commit some crime in the future. Do we really want the authorities to take action against one of us because someone made a complaint/warning about us or because we exercised our Right to Free Speech? I really do not think so. We need to be careful about giving too much power to the authorities. We lose our Rights that way!
Daryl
Daryls wrote:
One thing that never seems to be mentioned is the number of "warnings" authorities receive where nothing came of the suspect/perpetrator…….
Daryl
Just a gentle reminder, we get very close to the precipice. I don’t like myself being dragged up to the Attic by the Admin.
Scruples wrote:
Just a gentle reminder, we get very close to the precipice. I don’t like myself being dragged up to the Attic by the Admin.
Yes Scruples, close, maybe even on the line, but not over.
Always Living on The Edge!
Daryl
In today’s climate, the Police have to be very careful of what they do because of the possibility of law suites for violating someone’s rights. They are damned if they do and damned if they don’t.
jerryc41 wrote:
I just read this in the Boston Globe. An Army reservist shot and killed eighteen people at a bowling alley and bar. Police in Maine knew he was unstable, but they didn't want to confront him. A fellow reservist contacted the police and told them that he had threatened to do a mass shooting. The police didn't want to "throw dynamite into a pool of gasoline," so they did nothing. "Reamer also voiced concern about the safety of law enforcement officers if they made further attempts to ensure Card did not pose a threat."
After all those people were killed, the official report found that "the deputies acted appropriately 'under the totality of the circumstances.'"
"A crazy man says he's going to do a mass shooting. We don't want to confront him and make the situation worse. Let's wait and see what happens."
I just read this in the Boston Globe. An Army res... (
show quote)
How much of that information do you know to be true because of first hand knowledge?
jerryc41 wrote:
I just read this in the Boston Globe. An Army reservist shot and killed eighteen people at a bowling alley and bar. Police in Maine knew he was unstable, but they didn't want to confront him. A fellow reservist contacted the police and told them that he had threatened to do a mass shooting. The police didn't want to "throw dynamite into a pool of gasoline," so they did nothing. "Reamer also voiced concern about the safety of law enforcement officers if they made further attempts to ensure Card did not pose a threat."
After all those people were killed, the official report found that "the deputies acted appropriately 'under the totality of the circumstances.'"
"A crazy man says he's going to do a mass shooting. We don't want to confront him and make the situation worse. Let's wait and see what happens."
I just read this in the Boston Globe. An Army res... (
show quote)
I am a responsible gun owner....one of the ones that fear that our 2nd Ammendment Rights may be taken away. This is not the first time that an "unstable" person has been pre-identified, later to go on to do a senseless shooting. I suspect the public will be in an uproar, asking for greater gun control. This is sad in so many ways. Properly stored firearms (locked gun safe) in the hands of responsible, trained adults, are not to blame.
Maybe one of you 2nd Amendment Rights people can tell me why anyone, other than the military, needs access to an AR-15 or similar rifles. I have no problems with people owning handguns as long as they meet certain commonsense guidelines.
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