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comment by user-inactivated
user-inactivated  ·  3734 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Darron Wilson not indicted

You know that's a bad analogy, though.

    But then we have cops pulling the trigger at the drop of a hat, rarely facing ANY significant consequences.

The potential consequence in this particular instance is being shot, if he's wrong about the 12 year old. And 12 year olds come in all shapes and sizes, it hardly needs to be said, and can of course use small firearms as well as anyone, ceteris paribus.

    I think a police officer, who has a considerable amount of training, and has sworn to protect the people and uphold the law, even when it puts their life in danger should take more than a split second to make a decision when faced with a 12 year old with a gun.

I agree. But I do not criticize (in shades of grey situations such as that one) because I've never been there. I've never had less than a second to figure out if someone was going to shoot me or not. I have no idea what I'd do, so in the interest of avoiding hypocrisy I attempt to be as fair as possible.





tehstone  ·  3733 days ago  ·  link  ·  

How about this then?

If a firefighter's sole intention is self preservation, they're not going to run into burning buildings to save others are they? They signed up, and went through hundreds of hours of difficult training in order to put themselves in danger for the benefit of others. Do police officers not do the same? Should they not put the lives of others before themselves as well?

user-inactivated  ·  3733 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    Should they not put the lives of others before themselves as well?

The lives of the innocent, yes (in my opinion). The lives of people who might be innocent or might be pointing guns at them, and they have to determine which is true in a split second? Hmm. Ideally they make the right choice, but I don't think I could do it with any amount of training.

Firemen go into each situation knowing whose side they're on, and that never changes. A lot easier mentally, though probably just as dangerous physically.

bioemerl  ·  3733 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Firefighters take every possible precaution to help and ensure they stay safe, all before going in to protect others.

If a firefighter thinks they are in significant danger, they likely won't be going into the building.