quote:Originally posted by Claudia:
Can you see the contradiction in saying the police should be allowed to shoot people for boarding a train or carrying a table leg for repair while we should not be allowed to defend ourselves from trigger happy policemen?
Actually, I don't see that as a contradiction.
The Police are charged with a duty to defend the public; if someone is perceived as a threat to the public, it is their job to neutralise that threat. Sometimes that requires them to shoot people who are perceived as a threat.
Yes, sometimes they make mistakes; they're only human. But those mistakes are rare (which is why they are newsworthy); I don't think it's fair to paint them as 'trigger-happy' and I don't think it's a good idea to let just anyone cary a gun and start blasting away anytime they feel the need.
A gun is an offensive weapon; you can't defend yourself with it, you can only attack with it.