If you think that was dumb, then you're missing the point.

Ehh. The guy was expecting the officer to have better aim.

Guy almost got what he wanted.

> people who have brains that lie to them about things

This is all humans.

Enjoy your cake.

The rhetoric of "[Region X] is bad, so people should just leave there" isn't really helpful at all. It overlooks the many challenges that might keep people from leaving their homes. You could just as easily say the same thing about the people living in Yemen, or Detroit, or Palestine, or West Virginia, or Ukraine, or Florida. "If it's such a horrible place to live, then why don't the people there just leave?" Because it's really not that easy.

I didn't remember these, until I saw this picture. Then I did.

Wish I was close enough to take up the offer! It's been awhile since I've been on the player's side of the table.

> 17 years old is not a "kid". That's a young adult.

Try telling that to the military.

> The police do not control the mental health system.

That doesn't mean they don't play a role in how society deals with mental health.

> Not based on what we know.

We know humans have free will.

> The police must react if that person is threatening the life of another.

False. Police have no legal obligation to endanger themselves for the protection of others.

> but so far there are no red flags.

Just newly red walls and carpeting.

Whatever, creep.

> But you can’t make the conclusion that they lie if you don’t listen to them.

Sure I can. I can listen to and evaluate reliable outside sources.

> Listen, evaluate, determine. Three basic tenants that are required for critical thinking.

Sure, absolutely. But I don't need to do that with every possible source. I can listen to lawyers, activists, and cons/ex-cons all agree that cops can and will lie, evaluate the consistency of the claims over multiple sources, and determine that cops are an unreliable source of information. Once I've determined, through critical evaluation, that cops aren't reliable, then there's no point in me asking a cop if cops lie. Obviously the cop is going to say no, regardless of whether or not that's actually true.

> If you can’t even do those three basics, then there’s no legitimate basis to your beliefs.

Fortunately for me, I can.

I shouldn't have to answer it. If you don't know the difference between a child and a grown-ass adult, then you probably shouldn't be allowed around children.

> They are well aware that many folks wearing the badge have no business doing so and are a danger to themselves and the public.

So what do they actually do about that, then? Do they snitch on their fellow cops? Or do they just kinda accept that public danger?

> I’m not sure what killings you’re talking about.

Sorry, having two similar conversations at the same time, and got my wires a bit crossed. This was in reference to that Gilford kid.

> And the state does a pretty mediocre job of educating children.

Maybe because... they're not getting enough funds to do the job right? Just a thought.

> You notice how many dumb people are around?

Oh come on, you're making this one way too fucking easy. The bait is just too obvious, here.

Yep, my bad. Similar arguments at the same time, getting my wires a bit crossed. Sorry about that.

To what you said: no, that's not at all what I'm saying. I'm saying that, regardless of authority or expertise, I don't have to listen to anyone representing a group that's known to be dishonest. My comment was in response to someone else saying that cops lie. I agree with that person: yes, they do, and I have no reason to trust them to represent themselves honestly.

Username checks out unnervingly well.

> It's only warranted if they did something wrong.

Killing kids isn't wrong?

> They're not at fault for the way our society deals with mental health.

They're at fault for their role in the way our society deals with mental health.

> So long as their procedures were carried out properly, there's nothing else to pursue.

"I was just following orders, Sir."

> If you want to revamp the entire system

I'd love to do this. Yes, please.

> that's something that either needs to be done at the local level or by the state legislature.

Ideally, I'd like to work on that at every level, ranging from the individual level to the national level.

> Cops responding to an emergency call aren't in a position to make those kind of changes

They're in a position to change how they react to the situation. Drawing weapons was a personal choice, made by both officers.

> they have to follow their department's policies and procedures.

They really don't, though.

I dunno. It seems to have enough information to support the conclusion that a kid was shot dead.

> “You should listen to all perspectives of stakeholders directly impacted by the issues you mention, it might help you learn and developed a more balanced world view”

If you sincerely believe this to be reasonable without exception, then you'd be listening to the teachers who are directly impacted by the issues you're mentioning. Let's at least try to be consistent.

> If a person is wielding a knife in a threatening manner, that's not a situation where a social worker is magically going to defuse the situation.

Actually... yeah, it absolutely can be. Often, that's exactly what mental health crisis intervention looks like.

> Is it possible? Sure.

Not just possible, but also plausible, and more probable than a police officer doing the same.

> But depending on how the situation played out, this may not have been avoidable.

That's pretty defeatist. Sure, it's possible the death might have been unavoidable... but what if it was avoidable? We'll never know now.

> If anything, we need to address these mental health issues before it gets to a situation like this.

10,000% behind this.

> But simply pointing fingers at the police and police procedures does not appear to warranted right now.

If it's not warranted after the police kill a kid, then when is it warranted?

Because State workers are killing our children, and that is equally as heinous as State workers educating our children. It would be inconsistent to not treat these two atrocities as moral equivalents.

So let's start treating teachers like the fucking rockstars they are. Your wife is a badass for what she does.

Someone who isn't a grown-ass adult.

> Mental illness isn't curable by just talking to someone.

But momentary emotional distress absolutely is.

> Nothing like other people in this thread vilifying the cops for doing what they're trained to do.

I vilify the fact that they're trained to do this, too.

But that still doesn't explain why taxpayers should pay cops to be trained (edit: and equipped) to treat them as militant enemy combatants.