Multani's Political Corner: 2

M

Multani

Guest
This month's issue:
American Police.
Does anyone think that American Police Departments have too much power.
Ex: The shooting up in New York where 3(4?) officers shot an innocent man 40+ times! Yet none of the officer got a severe punishment. Can cops get away with murder?! :mad:

Ex2: New Jersey. A police officer kills several innocent people in a van. One of the victims is asleep.

All other Developed countries do not allow cops to possess weapons.
China- Usually no weapons
Britain- No weapons.
Germany- No guns.
Russia- No weapons.

This issue is open for debate. What do you think?
 
C

Cateran Emperor

Guest
Hmm, I never heard about the NJ one. How very odd as I live there... [thinks this is a conspiracy against him ;) ]

Seriously though, our police should be armed on account of our citizens can be armed. Now I don't know about police officers being armed with firearms per se, if what you say is true, but yes, they seriously should be armed. I think our police forces are getting too lax in terms of discipline if something like THAT happens however, with little or no repercussions. Though I'd say the police forces do need serious revamping in general, I'm in no way going to support the idea of unarmed policemen. I can hear it now:

"Please drop your weapon and come out with your hands up or we cannot arrest you. Be certain to bring along all evidence and refrain from destroying it or we do not have a case against you."

Hmm, reminds me of the autodialer episode of the Simpsons... "let's see if your wheels still work, GLAVEN!"

Prof. Frink is the best :D
 
T

theorgg

Guest
Why are our police armed? because we as americans have the right to protest our treatment and to carry guns.
most people realize that they don't go hand-in-hand, but those high-school dropouts selling only God truly knows what usually don't.

When there's a story on the news at least once a week about a cop being shot six times in the chest(thankfully not in the same spot, as bullet proof vests can only take one shot in the same place).

At least twice a year there's a newsstory about a smart drug smuggler who shot the cop in the face instead of "pointing and clicking".

Yes, they have power.
Yes, they have guns.
Yes, they are in danger every #^@#ing DAY trying to keep damn fools off of the street.

There's a fifteen percent chance of "bad apples" or random error, but at least they don't control tanks and run over protesting students.
Tainamain square, anyone?

I'd rather have a gun.
 
H

Hetemti

Guest
If every man in America had a loaded gun over the mantle, and if every woman had a Baretta in her hand bag, and if every police officer could shoot a fleeing suspect, there would be less crime since a crook would not want to rob a house knowing the vitims have guns, the neighbors have guns, and the cops have guns. It's called self-regulation. The American crime problem stems from the fact that a felon can commit crime and survive to commit crime another day.
 
E

Elrond

Guest
I just wanted to say, I saw a news broadcast about the security measures at the Sydney Olympics, and the chief of security there said that the Australian police force is armed like the American ones.

I agree with Theorgg all the way on this one.
 
U

Ura

Guest
Simply put, in a country where you have people who would rather shoot a police officer then get a speeding ticket I think the police have every right to defend themselves with equal force by carrying firearms.
Although I don't live in the U.S. (I live in Canada), the conditions here for police work are very similar. I work with my towns local police force in anti-drug campaigns and whatnot so I've gotten to know a few of them and 2 have been shot while on duty, one in a botched corner store robbery and the other by someone who didn't want the speeding ticket.
Its an unfortunate situation that everyone needs weapons just to act as a deterrent from the possibility of a violent crime. At least the police here don't have heavy artillery and missles.

As for the countries mentioned;

Russia - Has the military backing up the police so there is no need for the average police officer to carry a firearm.
Britain - Much lower rate of crime both violent and non-violent
Germany - Same as britain, much lower violent crime rate.
China - Has military support to back up police force, and they aren't affraid to use tanks and the like to enforce laws, the tradgedy of Tianimin Square comes to mind. Of course, they also have a much shorter judicial system and the death penalty as an additional deterrent, kinda insulting when they charge the price of the bullet to the criminal's family as I've heard happens.

On top of all that, countries such as the US, Canada, Britain, and Germany have a far lower rate of police corruption, so they can normally trust they're officers with weapons if its needed.
 
Z

Zadok001

Guest
The reason Britain has unarmed police is because in Britain, guns are illegal. Problem is, if someone is breaking a law, and thus needs protection from the police, then they may very well have access to illegal weaponry. Thus, you have a catch-22: Legalize guns, and have police carry them to protect themselves from the criminals with guns, or illegalize guns and have unarmed police. Either way, police are in danger of being shot. However, in one instance, the police can shoot back.

That's always been my argument, it admitably is not a bullet-proof theory (such skillful word choice!), but it's what I use...
 
Killer Joe

Killer Joe

New member
Police don't have too much power because if they did, there wouldn't be any crime left in the country. Seriously though, I would be willing to guess that for every police infraction made public, there's got to a thousand unreported good deeds done by the police. Why? Because no one wants to read, see or hear postive things. Negative sells, and it sells BIG! Did you ever wonder why the newscast never opens with, "And breaking news this hour; Officer 'So-n-so' helped a little old lady accross the street" more at 11." no we hear crapola on a stick like; "White officer stops non-white driver and is being held for questioning for doing so, more, right after a word from our sponor."
And that goes for the whole spectrum of everything that can be spit-on, kicked, and ridiculed. Did you ever wonder why the news always saves a human interest story for last? It's because no one cares and has already fliped the chanel to "COPS", or "911", or "Murderous Confessions" (new on Court TV), or some other show that exploit more human suffering.
 
P

Phyrexian Pie-Eater

Guest
Hey, I wear this NYPD hat with pride, knowing that officers in my area have put a major damper on crime in this area. Yea, you hear about these shooting/beatings/whatevers, but you should realize, that these guys also stop 100 times more crimes then the few bad apples commit.

Its like in any social setting large enough you will have someone that is going to bad things. You will also have a guy that will go over and beat the bejesus out of that punk. This may be wrong, and 2 wrongs don't make a right, but it stoped everyone else from suffering. Then you get your bleeding hearts who complain that the guy beat the punk up. Everyone else just goes on happy that the a$$ is gone.



PS i don't work for the nypd i just really like this hat.
 
M

Multani

Guest
Well... Some very interesting replies... :D
Note on the Tiananmen issue: They have proved that CIA was indirectly, partly responsible for that. Don't get me started.:mad:

Otherwise, I think everyone has valid points. However I believe I wasn't disputing whether police should have guns or not. Rather, I believe that consenquences should be more severe when an officer "accidentally" kills an innocent civilian. Theoretically, those consenquences exist, but I rarely see them enforced.

I know that in China, when a police officer kills a civilian, he gets the death penalty. :D

Note: I am trying to be impartial while still trying to provide counterpoints to different views.
 
H

Hawaiian mage

Guest
I think we should legalize all types of fire arms. Any one should be able to own Bazookas, grenade luanchers, etc...
But only I would be able to own the ammo.:D

Siriously though, police should be armed with high power multi-shot tasers.(I've seen them on websites for $50) Or at least something like that.

If not that, then I can't see any reasonable alternative besides not doing any thing.
 
S

Spiderman

Administrator
Staff member
Where did you say you are, Multani? Are you in the US or abroad? I just have the feeling you are asking 'loaded' questions, or at least those that seem to be contradictory to your views. For instance, the instances you cited, they came from media reports, correct? Yet in another thread you think the American media is the devil. So why should you believe what they say about this?

For the record, I don't think the police in America have too much power. I also think that it's hard for a non-police person to judge a police action if you haven't been in their shoes/situation.

Questions for you: Where was it proven that the CIA was partly behind T. Square?

Do you believe criminals in US have too much power? What kind of punishment should a criminal get for shooting an "innocent" police officer?
 
M

Multani

Guest
Your correct. I have a distaste for the media. :)
I did not get this from the media, by which I think your referring to CNN, no?
I get most of this stuff from different newsgroups.
Also, I do live in th U.S. I'm not a commie. I try to think the best of both countries as I genuine love for both China and the U.S.
However, not many people here know about issues in China.
I therefore post conterversial issues about the U.S. I do this to see other people's opinion on the topic. I also take the oppurtunity to a friendly debate with you people. :D
 
S

Spiderman

Administrator
Staff member
Actually no, I was thinking of the papers (whatever you get) or TV. I primarily read the Washington Post and Baltimore Sun, myself.

You live in the US? So.... how well informed are you on issues in China? Where and how do you get information on it?
 
M

Multani

Guest
Like I said, I get the info off of Chinese Newsgroups.
The information is pretty reliable.
I'm fairly well informed about international and some internal issues.
As far as papers go, I get the Dallas Morning News. There's really not much in it, though. CNN is counted as TV.


Spidy: I've been on the CPA for several months and you don't know where I live?
I'm surprised. :D
 
S

Spiderman

Administrator
Staff member
What makes the American media different from Chinese newsgroups? Why not get your news/additional information from American newsgroups as opposed to Chinese newspapers?

I know you've said where you are (lord knows how many threads have been started about "where are you from" topics), I just couldn't remember in that flash of a moment :D
 
M

Multani

Guest
It's all about perspective.
Information can be manipulated. On some issues, I know the American side. I look to the Chinese newsgroups for counterpoints.
You see, most Americans only get one side of a story. Why? Because they only have "one" source. That is why I dislike the U.S. media. It only gives one side of any story. It is the truth. I don't like the fact that a single news organization can make an innocent person seem like a guilty one. I don't like the fact that it can make a peaceful state look like a warlike one.
Back on subject:

It seems that everyone thinks that American cops don't have a lot of power. Hmmmm.... very interesting as opposed to my conclusions.
:D
 
U

Ura

Guest
Just to jump in on a small comment. Every countries media is like that. They all only tell one side of the story and most often its the one that either A: Is so blown out of proportion that it can make every cop look like a reborn Hitler just because one or two is a bad apple, or B: Tells the side that is most beneficial to the state on matters of international affairs. Its very rare to find a paper or news program that tell all sides of the story to the utmost truth. Alot of media groups won't directly "bad mouth" their country unless they don't mind pissing off alot of people.

As for american cops, or cops in general having too much power. No, they don't have too much. They have what is needed to protect innocent people everyday, and as long as they're doing that, then its not to much. When and if they abuse the power they are given, then its too much, but thats why most police forces have intense screening processes to make sure they get rid of the bad apples before putting them on the street with a firearm and a siren. :)
Its unfortunatly a double edged sword at times. :)
 
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