We could go for days on this, but to me it sounds like you're arguing for the sake of arguing. You haven't proposed a solution. If you think you're the badass life saver you are why don't you put on the uniform and go tackle the individuals toting an assault rifle? He's shown it's loaded, he's shown he's willing to use it in wanton disregard for public safety by firing it in the air. I get it you don't like the fact that these cops aren't superhuman and were unable to telepathically disarm him of his assault rifle.
There's innocent people walking around the street that don't have an assault rifle and aren't firing it in the air. So "Waiting to see what the guy with a loaded assault rifle" is going to do is stupid. No offense my man but your proposed tactic is stupid. Instead of reading over every single fact and minute detail...take the information that they have in front of them then think about how you'd react:
- I get a call over the radio of an individual that just stole an assault rifle. We confront said subject who puts the gun to his head while making eye contact with me then turns and walks away into a heavily populated area. Based on the way he's walking and acting it appears as if he may be drunk. Based on my training and experience (yes experience, I've had people point guns at my partners and I) my reaction time is just under 3.0 seconds in order to process/get my gun trained on my target/and fire. With the gun pointed to a person's head it takes under 1.0 second to turn the gun on the officer and fire. That means there are 2-3 shots coming your way before you're returning fire. Sounds like a fun time huh?
It is what it is, you're probably never going to change your opinion but try to take a different perspective from time to time. It's easy to say, "He's mentally ill why'd you hurt him." It's not easy after meeting someone for 30 seconds, seeing objective signs and symptoms of someone under the influence of alcohol/holding a loaded assault rifle, that they're mentally ill.
I know it's sad, mental illness is no joke. California closed all of it's state mental institutions and now people exploit the goverment by renting out a 4 bedroom house to 12 mentally ill people for $750 per person. I fight with one every day, do I enjoy it? Hell no. I've been pinned in my car by a paranoid schizophrenic, I've been sucker punched in the back of the head by someone that's bipolar. But I'm not going to get killed because tax payers don't want to pay more for safe housing for these individuals.
You're saying that violence is acceptable, even funny, in one situation. But then you're offended when violence is used on someone that you identify with and suddenly you get holier-than-thou and wrap yourself in the flag? Oh wait -- let me explain -- it's funny to watch the cop get shot and flop around because it all worked out. That's what so damn comical about it! Just ask the mentally ill thief -- his family would totally agree.
If you don't see the difference I won't be able to change your mind so I guess we'll leave it at that. I value people that wear the badge and put their lives on the line to protect others. I value those that put others in life threatening danger less, mentally ill, intoxicated on alcohol, or self medicating with lsd/cocaine. Do I protect them both the same? Yep
