California cops shoot kid with toy gun aka Replica Assault Weapon

[malfunction]

Carrying a rifle around like that in public is grounds for citation, not termination not illegal.

There, fixed it for you.

[Volte6]

That's the power of propaganda. Whether it comes from the private media or the government.

It's insane the level of fear that's become natural in our society.

It's especially sad when you think you've met somebody who really gets it, but find they are just as retarded about other issues. They may be anti gun control, but somehow they are also pro TSA. They don't realize it's just another example of the same fear mongering.

[infamous1979]

Why do they even carry tasers and beanbag shotguns? This is disgusting! If the kid pointed it at them then it is somewhat different. But if he just failed to drop it when they told him to do so. I mean wtf????? It wasn't long ago that we were allowed to open carry unloaded long guns, don't forget that folks!

This is a perfect example of someone who doesnt get it. How about you try to taser or beanbag someone who is possibly carrying an AK 47 this type of thinking is ridiculous and comes from people who don't know. People go look up Graham Vs Connor (case law) and educate yourselves.

[Artema]

That's the power of propaganda. Whether it comes from the private media or the government.

It's insane the level of fear that's become natural in our society.

It's especially sad when you think you've met somebody who really gets it, but find they are just as retarded about other issues. They may be anti gun control, but somehow they are also pro TSA. They don't realize it's just another example of the same fear mongering.

Very true!

[SactoDoug]

This is a perfect example of someone who doesnt get it. How about you try to taser or beanbag someone who is possibly carrying an AK 47 this type of thinking is ridiculous and comes from people who don't know. People go look up Graham Vs Connor (case law) and educate yourselves.

If they believed that he really did have an AK 47, why did they engage him before backup came? No dead or injured people reported, no reports of threats made, and no reports of shots fired.

What was the urgency? They couldn't block off the streets and address the "gun man" over their PA?

[1CavScout]

The boy was described as facing away, and when he heard a commotion, began turning towards the source. LEO's also stated that he was simultaneously "raising the barrel". Before he could ID that LEO's were addressing anyone, let alone him, he was shot to death, 7 times I believe.

There were 10 seconds between the call in of a suspicious suspect and the call that shots were fired.

Carrying a rifle around like that in public is grounds for citation, not termination.

I want to know what procedure they had in place to avoid this sort of situation, and why that failed. I also want to know what they are doing in the future to keep this sort of thing from happening.

We have an ungodly amount of weapons in public hands, including children, from air rifles to pistols. 99.99999% are never used to violently attack the public or police. Why did they assume that this was somethign different? They assumed it was a real weapon, maybe that the kid was planning on rampaging, and finally that he was going to shoot them. Is this a normal set of assumptions to make on any citizen?

The first assumption should be that it's just a dumb kid playing with his friends or goign to his friends. They should be cautious and identify themselves. He never had a chance to even see them before being shot. To my mind they never gave him a chance for success in this situation.

You have no idea WTF you are talking about. What training real world experience do you have?

[1CavScout]

If they believed that he really did have an AK 47, why did they engage him before backup came? No dead or injured people reported, no reports of threats made, and no reports of shots fired.

What was the urgency? They couldn't block off the streets and address the "gun man" over their PA?

Another person that has no clue how things work in the real world. I will just stay out of this thread, and let you "experts" debate it.

[Volte6]

You are welcome to disagree with me but please dont resort to personal attacks. Theres no reason not to remain civil... can you clarify?

[magnusson]

In the end a cop shot a kid holding a toy, cop has to deal with being a kid killer and will lose his house and wife will ditch him for a basketball star when hes sued, at least he'll have his dog and some cardboard to sleep on..

[hermosabeach]

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/expanded-homicide-data-table-3

spend some time in a FATS simulator... do your opinions change??

[ReadyVallejo]

You have no idea WTF you are talking about. What training real world experience do you have?

It upsets me and others that they would kill a kid like this! There's no excuse! This is a poor post and personal attacks from the wrong side of the arguments as well here. Who are you to justify killing a 13 y/o in cold blood like this?

[oddjob]

Bad things were always happening sometime somewhere to unlucky ones as long as human being exist. Just before internet became accessible 24/7 the news were not spreading with a speed of light across the country in particular and the globe in general. As for the picture of rifles, the AK with a missing barrel cannot be real. It can happen to plastic only.

I understand what your saying, but when I looked at the photo for a half second (or less) I didn't see the broken end of the barrel. I don't know if the officer was in a position to see the broken tip anyways.

The barrel was not missing. The tip was broken off. The "missing" barrel is a perfect example of perception. Its in the eyes of the beholder. "Threat perception" (sworn or non-sworn) is very different in all of us.

[ReadyVallejo]

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr...e-data-table-3

spend some time in a FATS simulator... do your opinions change??

Could you clarify this?

In Vietnam they used slippery slope fallacies and lost. Invading Laos became "breaking down geographical barriers." Next we'll hear those shoot/don't shoot training sessions caused Waco, killing innocent people including women and children in My Lai even! Jeesh, Jesus was guilty! This was manslaughter at best, and the cop or cops should pay! Criminal charges should be filed!

"[T]he constitution is plain and intelligible, and is meant for the home-bred, unsophisticated understandings of our fellow-citizens." -- Frederick Douglass from his speech, "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" (1852)

[fiddletown]

...LEO's also stated that he was simultaneously "raising the barrel"...

...

...The first assumption should be that it's just a dumb kid playing with his friends or goign to his friends. They should be cautious and identify themselves. He never had a chance to even see them before being shot. To my mind they never gave him a chance for success in this situation.

If they believed that he really did have an AK 47, why did they engage him before backup came? ...

...What was the urgency? ...

Okay, who wants to try this?

You have two seconds to decide if that gun pointing in your direction from 15 feet away is real or fake. And if you're wrong, you will die.

Anyone interested in giving it a whirl?

It upsets me and others that they would kill a kid like this! There's no excuse! This is a poor post and personal attacks from the wrong side of the arguments as well here. Who are you to justify killing a 13 y/o in cold blood like this?

Yes it's very sad to kill a teenager. It was not, however, in cold blood.

See above.

[SactoDoug]

Okay, who wants to try this?

You have two seconds to decide if that gun pointing in your direction from 15 feet away is real or fake. And if you're wrong, you will die.

Anyone interested in giving it a whirl?

Sure. You get a report that there is someone walking down the street with a rifle. You are told that backup is on its way. There is no report of anyone dead, injured, shots fired or even of a threat made.

You block off the street, wait for backup and now have several minutes to confront the "gun man".

Why make a split second decision when you don't have to?