Some Comments on the Alton Sterling shooting
Knowing me, you're probably thinking "Gutmacher is gonna say this was a justified shooting -- he was going for his gun". But, Gutmacher isn't gonna say that. What I'm going to say is very different, and an important warning to anybody -- any color -- who comes in contact with the police:
Obey their instructions to the letter!
Don't argue! Don't question! (at least not until the situation has fully stabilized)
You could get shot if you don't!
Here's what I glean from the few seconds of video available and some of the witness accounts:
Alton Sterling had a firearm for self protection. He had some type of verbal confrontation with another individual, and displayed the fact he was carrying a pistol. Probably by pulling away his shirt and showing it. He was likely justified in doing so. However, no matter what -- the other individual called the police that he was threatened by a guy in the parking lot with a gun -- and they responded.
The police arrive, and Sterling is either confused by their commands, or didn't respond fast enough -- or maybe he even had the gaul to ask them what they were messing with him for. They took that as "resistance", and Tasered him. They then do a take down. Did the Taser work??? I don't know. Was he confused by the Taser? Probably. Does he reach for his gun, or is he just moving around because two guys are sitting on him, physically causing him pain??? Again -- I don't know. I really couldn't tell that from the video I saw. But . . . I will tell you the following:
When police respond to a gun incident -- they are on a HIGH LEVEL of caution! The problem being: lots of cops are being shot these days -- and most incidents (if you actually take the time to study them) transpire in seconds or fractions of seconds. It can take less than two seconds to draw and fire a weapon -- depending where it is. I've seen the videos, and read the reports. Shit happens, and it happens amazingly fast. Cops know that better than anyone.
So, the cops arrive -- almost for sure on a high level of awareness -- ready for anything. If Sterling was really just an innocent guy who happened to legally show a gun to avoid a more serious confrontation -- he is probably confused by their arrival, or at least thinks he can explain it away. But, that's not how it works.
The cops are likely going to shout orders at him, and maybe the orders are conflicting. Maybe he doesn't understand them. Maybe he is temporarily confused, and not sure what the hell to do. Maybe he tries to explain. Maybe he asks them why they are picking on him, or whatever.
ALL BIG MISTAKES!!!
Why?
Because as stupid as this may sound: that is considered "resistance" by law officers.
It's not the world of twenty years ago! You can't ask a cop to explain himself anymore. Their training is for you to instantly obey them without question. Many of them don't give you a chance to even mentally process what they're telling you to do. If that's the situation -- you're in for a really bad time. Black. White. Hispanic. It doesn't matter -- suddenly their training is you're "resisting"!!! And when you resist -- they react!
RESISTING??? RESISTING WHAT???
I'M ONLY TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE HELL THIS IS ALL ABOUT!
I'M ONLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY I'M SUPPOSED TO GET ON THE GROUND FACE DOWN IN MY NEW PANTS AND SHIRT!!! ARE THESE GUYS NUTS???
Well . . . again . . . welcome to the world since the 1980, and the "War on Drugs". Because the "War on Drugs" became the war on everyone who smoked a joint, and then a war on cops, and then . . . well . . . you get the point: Shit happens! It got worse all around.
Wake up! It is NOT a peaceful world out there! Cops who make mistakes get shot, or worse. And quite frankly -- African American and Hispanics make up the majority of their incidents -- so they focus on that to that extent. It's just common sense police work. Unfortunately -- if you're not a criminal, and react like most normal folks would to "what's this all about" -- you are in for a world of hurt! And many times -- had things been handled differently -- none of this shit would have happened. On the other hand -- cops have died because of less.
Is there an answer???
Well -- besides -- freeze, or do whatever the fuck they say -- without question . . . the answer is:
I don't know!
I've seen the video's where cops tried to be nice, and that let the bad guy get the drop on them before they could react. More than one cop died because of that. Some, more fortunate, were able to return fire, or defend themselves and even prevail. But, many more were severely injured. That's the problem! They don't know if you're a good guy or a bad guy!
So -- should Alton Sterling have been shot?
Again -- I don't know. But, to be honest -- it could all have been a horrible mistake gone totally wrong. There's got to be a better way! I just don't know what that is.
Kamis, 07 Juli 2016
Alton Sterling shooting in Baton Rouge on July 5, 2016
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