Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Law Enforcement Killings
Date:	8/31/2015 11:50:51 AM

So far this year, 23 law enforcement officers have been killed in the of duty, including the most recent "assassination" of a deputy in Houston.  What do you think about this, and what do you think should be done?

I think one solution is to have law enforcement operate in pairs.  Budget cuts have discontinued this practice. 

Name:	architect -	Reply
Subject:	Law Enforcement Killings
Date:	8/31/2015 2:22:33 PM (updated 8/31/2015 2:49:16 PM)

It is probably not the situation in most cases, but I think a argument can be made that the so called "Black Lives Matter" crusade may be used as an excuse by a mentally unstable person as a reason for violence against law officers.  Black lives do matter but no more so than any person's life.  There are certainly horrible and perhaps unjustified killings of unarmed black men which still demand answers and justifys some anger against "the man", but Black Lives is an insult to that justifiable anger in my opinion!

Not sure what the answer is, but there is a disturbing trend of cops being killed and cops being killers.  Patrolling in pairs might help with both problems, but the Houston murder was of an officer not even on duty.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Law Enforcement Killings
Date:	8/31/2015 2:22:54 PM

I guess the question is whether that is an unusual number or not.  Any word about whether it is high, normal or what?  I think what is more disturbing to me is the apparent targeting of white LEO's by blacks for execution.  If this is something new or an increasing trend then we have a problem.  So I really don't know the significance of the number in historical context to comment.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Law Enforcement Killings
Date:	8/31/2015 4:01:20 PM

I believe I read that this is an upward trend from last year.

Read an article today on the internet that said at a Black Lives Matter rally this past weekend, there were chants of death to pigs, cook them like bacon.  If, in fact, the group is advocating killing of LEO, I think that they will shortly find that the empathies of even the most liberal white people will turn against them and it won't be pretty.  I think it said a lot about the mindset of the group, when Hilary tried to offer them some advice about needing an actionable platform and they told her that she "don't be telling what black folks should do.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Law Enforcement Killings
Date:	8/31/2015 4:57:42 PM

Yeah I saw that as well and am pretty much disgusted with this black lives matter group.  It started with a lie about what happened in Ferguson and seems to have morphed into a radical group that will continue to divide America along racial lines.  I think the fish stinks from the head up and agree with the comments of the black sheriff or police chief that called it black lies.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Law Enforcement Killings
Date:	8/31/2015 5:05:46 PM

Thugs.  I wonder how many of them actually have jobs. 

You know, over the years most of the black people I have known were educated and hard working.  Snapping their kids in shape and planning for them to go to college.  Active in their churchs and in their communities.  I have no idea about these thugs, other than they figure they will try to strike fear in the law enforcement community and with whites.  File law suits and try to get money out of it, when their thug kids get killed for fighting with the police.  As I say, even the most bleeding heart liberals are not going to tolerate them gunning down LEO.  And no amout of rioting is going to help them. 

Name:	lucky67 -	Reply
Subject:	Law Enforcement Killings
Date:	8/31/2015 5:39:36 PM

my godson is a policeman in Auburn; I am advising him to go back to College for another degree & leave policing

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Law Enforcement Killings
Date:	8/31/2015 6:34:36 PM

Smart advice. 

Name:	copperline -	Reply
Subject:	Law Enforcement Killings
Date:	8/31/2015 9:38:15 PM

I'm reading that the shooter in Texas has a history of mental illness, severe enough to have been required to be in a hospital for 6 months recently.   This case is going to bring up a national discussion of race & gun control AND the state of mental health care.  I would not want to be in law enforcement (or public health) at this time....   

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Law Enforcement Killings
Date:	8/31/2015 9:55:55 PM

Yes.  I thought at first that he was a low IQ individual but now I am reading that he has attended colleges for short periods of time.  Haven't heard if he purchased the gun legally or if it is a stolen gun.  I imagine his Drs. will try an insanity plea, but I don't think it will work.

Name:	copperline -	Reply
Subject:	Law Enforcement Killings
Date:	8/31/2015 10:45:01 PM

I agree that he is not going to get an insanity plea, but it seems to me that as we keep looking at this mass murder/cop-killing phenomena we keep seeing that it is done by a criminally insane person with access to a weapon, and no motive except some severe delusional beliefs.   

One logical restriction to place on gun purchasing has got to be the frame of mind of the customer... and if the customer has a history of violence, then extra precautions should be taken before handing them a weapon, IMO.  

But how a system like that could be created without violating civil rights & privacy laws, I have no idea.

On a more positive note, I wonder if anti-gun control folks AND pro-gun control folks can find common ground in wanting to keep guns out of the hands of people that have severe mental illnesses.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Law Enforcement Killings
Date:	9/1/2015 12:01:15 PM

Actually, it is illegal for people with mental illness to purchase a gun.  It is question that is on the form you fill out to purchase a weapon.  But without information in the FBI database about those who have been treated for mental illness, anyone can check the box "NO" and there is no way to check.  And then there is the question of what constitues mental illness - if you were ever treated for depression, but are no longer depressed, would you still be considered mentally ill?  And with no input from a medical Dr. into the data base that states that you do/do not pose a public threat, where do you draw the line? And if you are mentally ill, but have never seen a Dr. about it, what then?  Lots of delusional people out there who never get treatment. 

The devil is in the details and in the process.  And then there is the problem of gun sales at shows.  If you buy in the gun show, they have to process your application with the FBI.   If you buy a gun in the parking lot at a gun show from a private individual, no application, no background check, etc.