Simple question about Potter
-
Forget everything you have seen or heard.
If you were a cop, and assisting a traffic stop for a suspect with an outstanding warrant. And he started resisting and trying to flee. And you pulled your taser and pulled the trigger, only to realize it was a gun and you shot him.
What should be your punishment?
For me, it's a pretty clear cut answer, but will add it as a spoiler so I don't bias you.
Edit: Apparently I don't know how to use the spoiler tag. Will post reply below GK's post.
-
Not sure why, guess I'm new to computers.
Anyway, my opinion is:
Involuntary Manslaughter. Reference: https://www.hg.org/legal-articles/murder-charges-in-minnesota-43141
...Although because she was doing her job, and it was an accident in the middle of chaos, I could see an argument for even less...including just being fired. But I also give police extra slack because of their impossible/dangerous service to the community.
-
Forget everything you have seen or heard.
If you were a cop, and assisting a traffic stop for a suspect with an outstanding warrant. And he started resisting and trying to flee. And you pulled your taser and pulled the trigger, only to realize it was a gun and you shot him.
What should be your punishment?
For me, it's a pretty clear cut answer, but will add it as a spoiler so I don't bias you.
Edit: Apparently I don't know how to use the spoiler tag. Will post reply below GK's post.
@89th said in Simple question about Potter:
Forget everything you have seen or heard.
Done. I don't even know what you're talking about.
If you were a cop, and assisting a traffic stop for a suspect with an outstanding warrant. And he started resisting and trying to flee. And you pulled your taser and pulled the trigger, only to realize it was a gun and you shot him.
What should be your punishment?
Yeah well the fruitvale station shooting mirrors this. That one resulted in a murder charge. It's hard to be a cop, I wouldn't want to be, as I've thought since I was old enough to have thoughts. (Now to be a fireman.... there's the easy path.)
Society will judge you based on your alleged subconscious biases. The ones that you probably don't have, but which you will provide evidence of in the times you rolled the dice wrong.
-
Our local NPR station did a story on this and had a law school professor as part of the discussion. Both the professor and announcer used the word "murder" in describing the action. The professor went so far as to state that it was "impossible" for Potter not to know she was not holding a gun - based on his knowledge of firearms. I sent an email to the professor asking him why she would call out "taser, taser, taser" if she "knew" she was holding a gun - no response. Listening to the broadcast, I was angered at the stupidity of both of them - pretty much saying she deliberately killed the guy.
My personal opinion is that the officer has suffered a great deal already. I would hope that regardless of the charge, that she serve minimal or no time for what seems to have been an accidental shooting.
It might seem amazing to some that she could mistake a gun for a taser, but those are likely people who have not served in a combat setting where the brain can get hyper-focused on what's happening in front - and not at what's in her hand.
-
Question 1: What do you guys think would be appropriate if she never said a word about Taser. If she just pulled the gun and fired?
Question 2: What if it had been the taser she pulled but the kid stroked out from the shock and died. What would have been appropriate?
The Brad
-
Personally, I wish people would understand that bad shit happens when you resist arrest. It doesn’t matter what your skin color is. Once we recognize that, we can begin the other conversations.
The Brad
-
Personally, I wish people would understand that bad shit happens when you resist arrest. It doesn’t matter what your skin color is. Once we recognize that, we can begin the other conversations.
@lufins-dad said in Simple question about Potter:
Personally, I wish people would understand that bad shit happens when you resist arrest. It doesn’t matter what your skin color is. Once we recognize that, we can begin the other conversations.
Hell, there are loads of Youtube videos telling people to be completely un-cooperative if pulled over by Johnny Law. How does that philosophy work if the fuzz decides to up the ante and arrest the alleged drunk driver/speeder/really obnoxious bloke with the dodgy tail-light who smells of weed?
As far as skin colour goes, if somebody has grown up in an environment that sees the police as the enemy (possibly, it has to be said, with some justification), then it's perhaps not that surprising if more of them fail to do what they're damn well told in a stressful situation.
-
@lufins-dad said in Simple question about Potter:
Personally, I wish people would understand that bad shit happens when you resist arrest. It doesn’t matter what your skin color is. Once we recognize that, we can begin the other conversations.
Hell, there are loads of Youtube videos telling people to be completely un-cooperative if pulled over by Johnny Law. How does that philosophy work if the fuzz decides to up the ante and arrest the alleged drunk driver/speeder/really obnoxious bloke with the dodgy tail-light who smells of weed?
As far as skin colour goes, if somebody has grown up in an environment that sees the police as the enemy (possibly, it has to be said, with some justification), then it's perhaps not that surprising if more of them fail to do what they're damn well told in a stressful situation.
@doctor-phibes said in Simple question about Potter:
@lufins-dad said in Simple question about Potter:
Personally, I wish people would understand that bad shit happens when you resist arrest. It doesn’t matter what your skin color is. Once we recognize that, we can begin the other conversations.
Hell, there are loads of Youtube videos telling people to be completely un-cooperative if pulled over by Johnny Law. How does that philosophy work if the fuzz decides to up the ante and arrest the alleged drunk driver/speeder/really obnoxious bloke with the dodgy tail-light who smells of weed?
As far as skin colour goes, if somebody has grown up in an environment that sees the police as the enemy (possibly, it has to be said, with some justification), then it's perhaps not that surprising if more of them fail to do what they're damn well told in a stressful situation.
Prison isn't that bad compared to the sub average male existence. It must be told. Now let's bring into it the selection process of the females.
-
I agree with Ken but think the “she’s suffered enough” is a question more for sentencing than charges. Involuntary manslaughter seems correct.
Re LD’s questions I think if she hadn’t said ‘taser taser’ it would be hard to believe her story.
Question 2, no punishment at all if he died from a taze, bro.
-
I agree with Ken but think the “she’s suffered enough” is a question more for sentencing than charges. Involuntary manslaughter seems correct.
Re LD’s questions I think if she hadn’t said ‘taser taser’ it would be hard to believe her story.
Question 2, no punishment at all if he died from a taze, bro.
@jon-nyc said in Simple question about Potter:
I agree with Ken but think the “she’s suffered enough” is a question more for sentencing than charges. Involuntary manslaughter seems correct.
Re LD’s questions I think if she hadn’t said ‘taser taser’ it would be hard to believe her story.
Question 2, no punishment at all if he died from a taze, bro.
Involuntary Manslaughter sounds about right to me, too.
As for question number 1, my point is this. Wright was clearly attempting to escape. Once he's in that car does he have a weapon? Does he attempt to use the car as a weapon? Does she have a right to use potentially lethal force at that point?
-
@jon-nyc said in Simple question about Potter:
I agree with Ken but think the “she’s suffered enough” is a question more for sentencing than charges. Involuntary manslaughter seems correct.
Re LD’s questions I think if she hadn’t said ‘taser taser’ it would be hard to believe her story.
Question 2, no punishment at all if he died from a taze, bro.
Involuntary Manslaughter sounds about right to me, too.
As for question number 1, my point is this. Wright was clearly attempting to escape. Once he's in that car does he have a weapon? Does he attempt to use the car as a weapon? Does she have a right to use potentially lethal force at that point?
@lufins-dad said in Simple question about Potter:
Once he's in that car does he have a weapon? Does he attempt to use the car as a weapon? Does she have a right to use potentially lethal force at that point?
Cops in Kenosha might have an answer.
-
It's kind of simple, really: because Voldemort assumed Harry was the child spoken of in the prophecy, he essentially set the latter in motion by going after Harry in the first place.
-
It's kind of simple, really: because Voldemort assumed Harry was the child spoken of in the prophecy, he essentially set the latter in motion by going after Harry in the first place.
@aqua-letifer said in Simple question about Potter:
It's kind of simple, really: because Voldemort assumed Harry was the child spoken of in the prophecy, he essentially set the latter in motion by going after Harry in the first place.
Apparently, he meant to cast a Petrificus Totalus, but inadvertently let slip an Avada Kedavra. Or so he freaking claims. If his nose hadn't rotted off like some syphilitic old tramp, it would be a clear double Pinocchio.
-
@aqua-letifer said in Simple question about Potter:
It's kind of simple, really: because Voldemort assumed Harry was the child spoken of in the prophecy, he essentially set the latter in motion by going after Harry in the first place.
Apparently, he meant to cast a Petrificus Totalus, but inadvertently let slip an Avada Kedavra. Or so he freaking claims. If his nose hadn't rotted off like some syphilitic old tramp, it would be a clear double Pinocchio.
@doctor-phibes said in Simple question about Potter:
@aqua-letifer said in Simple question about Potter:
It's kind of simple, really: because Voldemort assumed Harry was the child spoken of in the prophecy, he essentially set the latter in motion by going after Harry in the first place.
Apparently, he meant to cast a Petrificus Totalus, but inadvertently let slip an Avada Kedavra. Or so he freaking claims.
It would take sherry glasses of Trelawneyan volume to even entertain the possibility.
-
Our local NPR station did a story on this and had a law school professor as part of the discussion. Both the professor and announcer used the word "murder" in describing the action. The professor went so far as to state that it was "impossible" for Potter not to know she was not holding a gun - based on his knowledge of firearms. I sent an email to the professor asking him why she would call out "taser, taser, taser" if she "knew" she was holding a gun - no response. Listening to the broadcast, I was angered at the stupidity of both of them - pretty much saying she deliberately killed the guy.
My personal opinion is that the officer has suffered a great deal already. I would hope that regardless of the charge, that she serve minimal or no time for what seems to have been an accidental shooting.
It might seem amazing to some that she could mistake a gun for a taser, but those are likely people who have not served in a combat setting where the brain can get hyper-focused on what's happening in front - and not at what's in her hand.
@kluurs said in Simple question about Potter:
Our local NPR station did a story on this and had a law school professor as part of the discussion. Both the professor and announcer used the word "murder" in describing the action. The professor went so far as to state that it was "impossible" for Potter not to know she was not holding a gun - based on his knowledge of firearms. I sent an email to the professor asking him why she would call out "taser, taser, taser" if she "knew" she was holding a gun - no response. Listening to the broadcast, I was angered at the stupidity of both of them - pretty much saying she deliberately killed the guy.
My personal opinion is that the officer has suffered a great deal already. I would hope that regardless of the charge, that she serve minimal or no time for what seems to have been an accidental shooting.
It might seem amazing to some that she could mistake a gun for a taser, but those are likely people who have not served in a combat setting where the brain can get hyper-focused on what's happening in front - and not at what's in her hand.
Very good post. ZERO chance she knew she was holding her gun. Not only from the chaos and her yelling 'Taser" 3 times (which is evidence enough) but also her surprise/anguish in the moments following.
-
Question 1: What do you guys think would be appropriate if she never said a word about Taser. If she just pulled the gun and fired?
Question 2: What if it had been the taser she pulled but the kid stroked out from the shock and died. What would have been appropriate?
@lufins-dad said in Simple question about Potter:
Question 1: What do you guys think would be appropriate if she never said a word about Taser. If she just pulled the gun and fired?
Question 2: What if it had been the taser she pulled but the kid stroked out from the shock and died. What would have been appropriate?
-
Either voluntary manslaughter or just firing (I give cops a lot of slack when they're dealing with a combative/resistant suspect).
-
Nothing, maybe a cup of coffee for her next shift?
-
-
-
More reality TV. I think I'll pass.
