[NEWS]War zone in Dallas, 11 cops shot during protest, 5 dead. suspects escaped

[SeventhSandwich]

Does further training in marksmanship and target identification not count as "militarization of police"?

Sure, but so does further use of military equipment for stuff like routine traffic stops and handling peaceful protests. The potential for further deaths easily outweighs the benefits.

[Ad Bot]

[Rally]

Sure, but so does further use of military equipment for stuff like routine traffic stops and handling peaceful protests. The potential for further deaths easily outweighs the benefits.

How is increasing police tactical knowledge and giving them more versatile gear going to increase violence during traffic stops and peaceful protests?

[WaterOre]

How is increasing police tactical knowledge and giving them better gear going to increase violence during traffic stops and peaceful protests?

fear and power do not calmly confront each other often

[Alternat¡ve]

they need to stop cutting the loving funds for police training, not give more power to untrained cops

[SeventhSandwich]

How is increasing police tactical knowledge and giving them more versatile gear going to increase violence during traffic stops and peaceful protests?

The same way it did at Kent State. Focusing on lethal force rather than de-escalation is essentially at the root of the police brutality.

[Red Spy]

If it hasn't been said already there's loving protests in Oakland and they blocked off the loving highway

Delicious source

[News]

Another officer has been pronounced dead.

[WaterOre]

If it hasn't been said already there's loving protests in Oakland and they blocked off the loving highway

Judging from this article, the Oakland protest seems incredibly civil when compared to what happened in Dallas.

[Decepticon]

5th officer dead goddamn i feel bad for the DPD

holy stuff i just heard quite a few shots on the scanner

[Rally]

they need to stop cutting the loving funds for police training, not give more power to untrained cops

Well realistically I'd imagine this falls under militarization. If they have trained muscle-memory by the book knowledge of how to act in potentially lethal situations, we might have less cases of people getting shot reaching for the registration in their glove-box. Being well versed with better gear will also give officers a better chance in confrontations like we saw in Dallas.

The same way it did at Kent State. Focusing on lethal force rather than de-escalation is essentially at the root of the police brutality.

Well what should they do when a scenario escalates to a lethal confrontation? I'm not saying we should replace tasers with anti-material rifles. I don't see how military tier training is going to result in less death over keeping them ignorant. I prioritize the safety of the officer above the protester, because the officer represents the citizen.

[Decepticon]

it's over now

[SeventhSandwich]

Well what should they do when a scenario escalates to a lethal confrontation?

Perhaps use their duty pistols or call in the SWAT team? Not confront protestors with riot shields and high-capacity rifles straight off the bat.

I don't see how military tier training is going to result in less death over keeping them ignorant.

When most people refer to the 'militarization of police', they're talking about the emphasis on use of lethal force and deadlier weaponry, not better combat training. Training is fine in my book and doesn't reflect the problems associated with a militarized police force.

I prioritize the safety of the officer above the protester, because the officer represents the citizen.

So just so we're clear here- protestors are not citizens?

[DestroyerOfBlocks]

ATF are involved now.

stuffs about to get real

[Decepticon]

stuffs about to get real

enough is enough

[Rally]

Perhaps use their service pistols or call in the SWAT team? Not confront protestors with riot shields and high-capacity rifles straight off the bat.

So what about the officers that died today? Do you disagree with the notion that having military grade equipment would have resulted in them still being alive?

When most people refer to the 'militarization of police', they're talking about the emphasis on use of lethal force and deadlier weaponry, not better combat training. Training is fine in my book and doesn't reflect the problems associated with a militarized police force.

Personally I figure that the standard police side-arm is more deadly in a close-quarters street scenario than the average military rifle. A military rifle would mostly provide a tactical advantage in a defensive scenario, much like the one that occurred today in Dallas.

So just so we're clear here- protestors are not citizens?

Violent protesters do not represent law abiding citizens, as far as I figure.