08-08-2011, 08:46 PM
(The Greek riots were caused by an economic crisis and political decisions, they lasted so long because the people believed in what they were fighting for and they banded together, just want to point it out because it seems horrendously offensive to just dub them "stupid" and let it stand.)
I just wanted to touch on the firearms thing, guns are pretty well verboten over here, with the exception of heavily restricted shotgun and rifle licenses for farmers and game wardens, but they're not quite as rare as you might imagine, I'm not saying every second-rate stickup artist has a gun, but if you know the right people and shake the right hands, you can get one.
Personally I wouldn't bother, since you've broken the law just by owning it, but the wrong kind of people can get them is what I'm saying.
Obviously it's still up in the air exactly what happened, but if the police are dealing with an armed suspect their immediate priorities are very clear, disarm them, or if that isn't an option, take them out.
It makes no difference if the gun is actually a toy or a replica or not even there at all, if they think a gun is involved they have to act like it.
It's a very tough call for them and not one I would like to make myself, if the suspect does shoot someone they're at fault for not stopping them fast enough, and if they shoot the suspect before anyone is hurt, they get slated for police brutality.
And as we're seeing now, with the alarming trend of anarchism going on, that can get out of hand very quickly.
I don't have enough information to go on and take a solid stand on either side of the fence, I'm definitely against the outbreak of violence and looting over the situation, but the only thing I can really say at this point is that I hope it passes quickly and we see as few casualties as possible.
If the motivation was an ongoing situation I could see the need for immediate and definitive action, if it was something serious enough I could even imagine myself being involved in it, but when you're rioting over something you can't possibly change, that has already happened, there's nothing to be gained and a hell of a lot to lose.
I just wanted to touch on the firearms thing, guns are pretty well verboten over here, with the exception of heavily restricted shotgun and rifle licenses for farmers and game wardens, but they're not quite as rare as you might imagine, I'm not saying every second-rate stickup artist has a gun, but if you know the right people and shake the right hands, you can get one.
Personally I wouldn't bother, since you've broken the law just by owning it, but the wrong kind of people can get them is what I'm saying.
Obviously it's still up in the air exactly what happened, but if the police are dealing with an armed suspect their immediate priorities are very clear, disarm them, or if that isn't an option, take them out.
It makes no difference if the gun is actually a toy or a replica or not even there at all, if they think a gun is involved they have to act like it.
It's a very tough call for them and not one I would like to make myself, if the suspect does shoot someone they're at fault for not stopping them fast enough, and if they shoot the suspect before anyone is hurt, they get slated for police brutality.
And as we're seeing now, with the alarming trend of anarchism going on, that can get out of hand very quickly.
I don't have enough information to go on and take a solid stand on either side of the fence, I'm definitely against the outbreak of violence and looting over the situation, but the only thing I can really say at this point is that I hope it passes quickly and we see as few casualties as possible.
If the motivation was an ongoing situation I could see the need for immediate and definitive action, if it was something serious enough I could even imagine myself being involved in it, but when you're rioting over something you can't possibly change, that has already happened, there's nothing to be gained and a hell of a lot to lose.