It is a popular and oft-repeated canard among the leftists, one Mayor Michael Bloomberg being chief among them, that “only the police should have weapons.” Well, we all know that criminals, even in very restrictive jurisdictions and countries, have access to plenty of firepower (some of it thoughtfully provided by our very own Justice Department). So, disarming citizens does little to disarm criminals.
But what about the police?
Empire State Building shooting victim says NYPD fired ‘randomly’ into street
Questions have been raised over the New York police department’s handling of a shooting near the Empire State Building after armed officers injured nine passers-by as they pursued a gunman who had just shot dead his former boss.
(The Guardian, Adam Gabbatt and Amanda Holpuch, 8/25/12)
Oh, the “armed officers”…”injured” them. Well, they “injured” them by shooting them. Or did I miss something?
NYPD: Disgruntled Man Kills Former Co-Worker Near Empire State Building Before Cops Fatally Shoot Him
At least nine other people on the street were also shot, but Mayor Michael Bloomberg said it is unclear whether they were shot by the suspect or police.
“Some may have been shot accidentally by police officers who responded immediately,” Bloomberg said.
Yes, well, it appears they “responded immediately” all right, and just maybe with insufficient regard for where the rounds went.
The NYPD said the two officers fired a total of 16 rounds.
(CBS New York, 8/24/12)
I’ll just leave that one laying right there where it is.
It is also well known that you cannot sue the government for failing to “protect and serve” you. But, I hope, soon we will see if you can sue them, in NYC, for “accidentally” shooting you. Maybe NYPD should have done a nice, anonymous drone strike instead?
Also, in San Diego (21 August 2012):
Calif. Police Respond to Woman’s 911 Call…And Then Accidentally Shoot Her
[San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore] said the deputies thought Orey’s open gate looked suspicious, so they went into her backyard. The deputies ran into Orey, and one of them had a “spontaneous reaction.”
Authorities said they did not know exactly what prompted the shooting. They said the woman did not have anything in her hands and was not armed at the time.
(The Blaze, Erica Ritz, 8/21/12)
Isn’t the language interesting? It’s kind of like the MFGlobal scandal, where the media reported that “money has gone missing.” Can I do that with my mortgage payment? “I had a spontaneous reaction, and the money has gone missing. I responded immediately, and there was an accident. Any questions?”
Photo ©ForthDude
