"I have to make sure I go home to my family at night,"
Well, in that case- maybe don't become a police officer?
I mean, I don't know that I've ever heard a fireman, or a doctor, a rescuer, a
lifeguard, etc, say that sort of thing - "my first priority is to go home
safely tonight". That doesn't mean that they're expect to sacrifice their
lives in the line of duty, it means they're expected to risk their lives, to
save someone else's (the doctor, if you were wondering, because they can
easily catch something nasty).
The police officer who made the comment shot a szhizophrenic woman who was
holding a knife (that's all we're told about that case). So presumably he shot
her because he was afraid she'd stab him. Presumably, also, that was part of his training.
That is very dangerous. Giving someone a gun and telling them that when
their live's in danger their priority is to come out of it alive, is dangerous
for everyone around the person with the gun. Because the easiest way to make
sure you "go back to your family" when you have a gun and the crazy lady is
holding a knife is to shoot her dead. I mean, duh.
I should also probably point out that I think this is a peculiarly US thing.
I doubt that anywhere else in the developed world police officers are
adviced to shoot first and ask questions later, or in any case,
as a first line of defense.
Well, in that case- maybe don't become a police officer?
I mean, I don't know that I've ever heard a fireman, or a doctor, a rescuer, a lifeguard, etc, say that sort of thing - "my first priority is to go home safely tonight". That doesn't mean that they're expect to sacrifice their lives in the line of duty, it means they're expected to risk their lives, to save someone else's (the doctor, if you were wondering, because they can easily catch something nasty).
The police officer who made the comment shot a szhizophrenic woman who was holding a knife (that's all we're told about that case). So presumably he shot her because he was afraid she'd stab him. Presumably, also, that was part of his training.
That is very dangerous. Giving someone a gun and telling them that when their live's in danger their priority is to come out of it alive, is dangerous for everyone around the person with the gun. Because the easiest way to make sure you "go back to your family" when you have a gun and the crazy lady is holding a knife is to shoot her dead. I mean, duh.
I should also probably point out that I think this is a peculiarly US thing. I doubt that anywhere else in the developed world police officers are adviced to shoot first and ask questions later, or in any case, as a first line of defense.