Monday, December 14, 2009

 

Government Boots

I hear them boots, boots, boots and more boots
On the feet of young trigger happy recruits
I see them boots, boots, boots and more boots
Marching threatening......Gabby


Yesterday, I went to the funeral of yet another man shot and killed by the police. I find it quite alarming that so far this year at least six(6) persons have met their deaths at the hands of police officers. Sometimes, I can't help but think there is a war being waged between police and civilians which judging by the body count the police is winning. Before anybody gets the wrong idea I am not advocating that civilians try to settle the score but I worry that things could escalate.

This latest incident has left a bad taste in my mouth given that the deceased was a known mentally ill person. The disconnect for me is whether or not the right institution was called to handle the situation. Additionally, SVG TV's newcast and one newspaper that I read gave a different account of the incident. I suspect that some where in the middle lies the truth but going by past history the police officer will be vindicated. As we are prone to do some sections of the public have reasoned that since he was mentally ill and a menace to his mother it somehow validates being shot in the chest.

And it is the placement of the bullet that is further disturbing. Naturally, I have no beef with police officers defending themselves if the need arises but the shoot to kill mentality is all too common. It's as if these officers are trained to kill and when presented with a real live target they just cannot control themselves. Police officers are crucial to our security and well being but they simply cannot be given a licence to kill or become law unto themselves.

Comments:
If the only tool in your toolbox is a hammer then every problem will look like a nail. The police do seem a little trigger happy, to say the least. And it is amazing how they never get injured when they face off with the (un)armed suspects.
 
i just don't know what to think any more...

i keep feeling like we're becoming jamaica...
 
Aint thst the truth! The police are always unscathed despite being under threat.

When I look through the iron bars on the house I know we there @will.
 
You don't like the location of the bullet? Seriously? Seemed like a good shot to me, center of the chest. Perhaps you think he should've shot the guy in the leg? I can tell you, if someone threatens to hurt me or my family, I'm not going to shoot them in the leg. If I did, they would return fire if they were armed, and they wouldn't be aiming for my leg. Cops put their lives on the line every day to protect us, and they are thoroughly investigated whenever a firearm is discharged. I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt on this one.
 
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