Ferguson: too much or not enough?

[DeistPaladin]

No, it is not irrelevant to the judgment of the veracity of the cop's claim. It is only irrelevant to the cop's decision to shoot. Before we get to discussing whether or not the cop's actions are justified, we first have to decide what actions actually took place.

That's for a trial to determine. I did say "alleged" and "allegations".

But the situation has escalated to the point where even this incident is almost a moot issue. If it turned out that the shooting was completely justified, the problems that have since been revealed by what's happening in Ferguson dwarf that issue to near irrelevance.

My characterization of the police as acting like a bunch of drunken frat boys playing with their shiny new toys is, I think, fairly descriptive. They went on a power trip with no apparent boundaries. They not only ordered people off the streets but swept into nearby restaurants, ordering people to clear out and arresting them if they didn't move fast enough. Their treatment of the press is even more alarming. What first amendment?

They've also been militarized and aren't shy about using their new toys, even in situations analogous to swatting a fly with a sledgehammer. This was a peaceful protest met with sonic cannons, rubber bullets and armored ATVs.

This is in every town in America. What happened there can happen anywhere else in America.

We've escalated way past "was the shooting justified"? We're in the territory of "are there any boundaries for the new military police or can the local police chief suspend the constitution and impose martial law at any time with no accountability?"