"We are now satisfied that he was not connected with the incidents"

[Agathon]

It's lucky he wasn't a terrorist. That would just have given Bliar a reason to arm all the UK police. Frankly, I don't like the idea of cops carrying handguns, it isn't necessary.

But it's nice to see Poly's resident psychopaths cheering at this man's death.

[BlackCat]

Unless I'm wrong, then you are the first that cheers the killing of this guy.

[Agathon]

Originally posted by BlackCat
Unless I'm wrong, then you are the first that cheers the killing of this guy.

Not really, I just think it would have been worse if he were a terrorist. The one thing that the Libertarians are spot on about is that many people in authority tend to get quite cavalier about giving themselves more power over other people's lives. All sorts of draconian measures like national ID cards are foisted on a public if they can be made afraid enough. Many Americans have at least had the brains to notice that their current government is busy withdrawing basic social freedoms in the name of security. There's no point in such security if life is worse with it.

You know what's weird? In Toronto, I have met many people who are actually afraid of the police. At home people may resent the police, and criminals obviously see them as a hindrance, but no-one is afraid of them because they don't carry guns. I've seen the NZ police do some pretty ****ty and unprovoked things to people, but their and our lives are made easier by them not carrying guns. That means that when mistakes are made, they tend to be reparable, and that situations tend not to escalate out of control.

[notyoueither]

If you associate with criminals, you likely know people who are afraid of the police.

[Donegeal]

Originally posted by Agathon
You know what's weird? In Toronto, I have met many people who are actually afraid of the police. At home people may resent the police, and criminals obviously see them as a hindrance, but no-one is afraid of them because they don't carry guns. I've seen the NZ police do some pretty ****ty and unprovoked things to people, but their and our lives are made easier by them not carrying guns. That means that when mistakes are made, they tend to be reparable, and that situations tend not to escalate out of control.

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

[notyoueither]

I don't think it is feasible to have a police force not carrying guns when our culture has a large place for guns in it, and 90% of our population lives within 100 miles of the largest weapons market in the world.

[Agathon]

Originally posted by notyoueither
If you associate with criminals, you likely know people who are afraid of the police.

No. I don't know any criminals in TO. I do know a few petty crims in NZ (old high school mates), and I've known a few dodgy people in my time. None of them are afraid of the cops. They dislike and resent them, but there is no fear.

[BlackCat]

Originally posted by Agathon


Not really, I just think it would have been worse if he were a terrorist. The one thing that the Libertarians are spot on about is that many people in authority tend to get quite cavalier about giving themselves more power over other people's lives. All sorts of draconian measures like national ID cards are foisted on a public if they can be made afraid enough. Many Americans have at least had the brains to notice that their current government is busy withdrawing basic social freedoms in the name of security. There's no point in such security if life is worse with it.

You know what's weird? In Toronto, I have met many people who are actually afraid of the police. At home people may resent the police, and criminals obviously see them as a hindrance, but no-one is afraid of them because they don't carry guns. I've seen the NZ police do some pretty ****ty and unprovoked things to people, but their and our lives are made easier by them not carrying guns. That means that when mistakes are made, they tend to be reparable, and that situations tend not to escalate out of control.

I think that you are speking pure BS - bad statement , but ir's 4:44 here and I need sleep gonna killl ya tomorow

[notyoueither]

I am not afraid of the cops, and even people I know who have been in brawls with cops are not afraid of them. I have never heard anyone say they are afraid of the cops.

Now, TO has a problem of a different sort, IIRC. It has little to do with police being armed but more to do with the attitude of some of the force.

Besides, when I said associating with criminals, I was commenting on NZs proximity to Australia. Duh!

[Agathon]

Now, TO has a problem of a different sort, IIRC. It has little to do with police being armed but more to do with the attitude of some of the force.

You are probably right.

Besides, when I said associating with criminals, I was commenting on NZs proximity to Australia. Duh!

[Odin]

Originally posted by Lefty Scaevola
"The man was identified by police as Jean Charles de Menezes, a 27-year-old Brazilian, described by officers as an electrician on his way to work."

Oh, dear. Not only is this guy not a terrorist, he's not even close to being a terrorist.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Odin
Oh, dear. Not only is this guy not a terrorist, he's not even close to being a terrorist.

Electricians are further from being a terrorists than other people?

One of the guys was a chemical PhD.

Wouldn't it be funny if the chemical PhD guy made the compounds and the electrician wired them

^^^^ hypothetically of course

(as a sidenote, another one of the suicide bombers was a teaching assistant for developmentally disabled children -- is he also not even close to being a terrorist?)

[Eli]

He doesnt even look asian.

[Sandman]

I'll bet his 'bulky' coat was nothing of the sort.

[lightblue]

It's unfortunate, but running from armed police is never going to be the smartest thing to do when they want you to stop, especially considering recent events.