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Worries
#11
RE: Worries
I didn't think that even a slightly reasonable person could mistake a white or red folding cane for a gun under normal circumstances. But a quick Google search informed me that dumb cops DO on occasion.

In the off chance that you're in a public place and hear a cop yell "Drop your weapon!", assume that he/she could be talking to you and drop it, then LOUDLY state your disability and that it is in fact, a cane. Odds are there would be some decent people within the vicinity that would come to your assistance.

Bottom line is, you've got to use your cane and you've got to live your life. Try to not let the fear of such unusual occurrences consume you if you can.

(May 29, 2019 at 9:15 am)onlinebiker Wrote: Two facts. Both true.

A black person IS more likely to be killed by police than a white person - when figured by race percentages.

If you ARE shot by the police - you are more likely to be white than black - if you simply look at the numbers.

That aside - to the OP's question - 

The question of - are you more likely to be shot by police if you are carrying a cane is very like the following - Are you more likely to be hit by lightning while walking on a freeway - if you a re carrying an umbrella?

Probably.


But , you are far more likely to be run over by a car.

...

The parallel? Black people are far more likely to be killed by other blacks than by police.

I don't find being killed by someone of my own race more palatable than being killed by police.

I would think you are worrying about the wrong thing.

Blacks are more likely to be murdered by blacks, as whites are more likely to be murdered by whites.
People of any race who live in lower-income, high-crime areas are more likely to victims of crime than people who do not.

But none of that is particularly relevant to BQ's situation if she doesn't she doesn't live in "the hood" or a high-crime area.

Her concern is that she MUST use an assistive device that dumb, racially-biased cops can and do mistake for a firearm/weapon.
Every time she leaves the house.


Though it's not a reason for undue worry, it is a legitimate concern.
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#12
RE: Worries
It's not just skin color, anything that can be construed as against the grain is more likely to be confronted with the use of force. Now, I'm not saying that just because you appear different you are going to be smacked down, but the chances are greater. Even if it's a just negligible chance, it still is greater.
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#13
RE: Worries
Another analogy.

It's like a person who is afraid of flying - but is perfectly comfortable driving a car to the airport.
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#14
RE: Worries
What’s truly frightening is that I’m always afraid they might kill from several feet away and they won’t even try to get my attention first. They’ll just open fire. No explanation. No warning. I’ll never see it coming…Like poor Tamir Rice. And I live only a few miles from where he was killed.
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#15
RE: Worries
(May 29, 2019 at 12:10 pm)BrokenQuill92 Wrote: What’s truly frightening is that I’m always afraid they might kill from several feet away and they won’t even try to get my attention first. They’ll just open fire. No explanation. No warning. I’ll never see it coming…Like poor Tamir Rice. And I live only a few miles from where he was killed.

Like a fear of sharks - you are reacting emotionally. Reason and logic tell you that the odds of sharkbite or being shot by police is miniscule compared to many everyday activities you are totally comfortable with.

Do you drive or ride in motor vehicles? Those are dangerous - but few people are afraid of them.
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#16
RE: Worries
(May 29, 2019 at 6:29 am)BrokenQuill92 Wrote: Wasn’t sure where post this… In the increasingly crazy rise of white supremacy in the US I’m seriously fearful of my safety. With more and more videos of cops killing unarmed black people, carrying a cane makes me nervous. I’m terrified that some upjumped cop will “mistake” my cane for a weapon and kill me. Am I being paranoid?

No, you are American.

Even over here the police tazed a blind man thinking his cane was a sword.



You can fix ignorance, you can't fix stupid.

Tinkety Tonk and down with the Nazis.




 








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#17
RE: Worries
(May 29, 2019 at 12:56 pm)onlinebiker Wrote:
(May 29, 2019 at 12:10 pm)BrokenQuill92 Wrote: What’s truly frightening is that I’m always afraid they might kill from several feet away and they won’t even try to get my attention first. They’ll just open fire. No explanation. No warning. I’ll never see it coming…Like poor Tamir Rice. And I live only a few miles from where he was killed.

Like a fear of sharks - you are reacting emotionally. Reason and logic tell you that the odds of sharkbite or being shot by police is miniscule compared to many everyday activities you are totally comfortable with.

Do you drive or ride in motor vehicles? Those are dangerous - but few people are afraid of them.

I don’t think it’s irrational. Not when I don’t have the advantage of eyesight. And cops have killed people for less…

(May 29, 2019 at 1:01 pm)downbeatplumb Wrote:
(May 29, 2019 at 6:29 am)BrokenQuill92 Wrote: Wasn’t sure where post this… In the increasingly crazy rise of white supremacy in the US I’m seriously fearful of my safety. With more and more videos of cops killing unarmed black people, carrying a cane makes me nervous. I’m terrified that some upjumped cop will “mistake” my cane for a weapon and kill me. Am I being paranoid?

No, you are American.

Even over here the police tazed a blind man thinking his cane was a sword.

If you’re talking about the guy from Manchester I actually kinda know him . Casual acquaintance he gives speeches about Braille literacy at International Councils of the Blind.
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#18
RE: Worries
(May 29, 2019 at 1:04 pm)BrokenQuill92 Wrote:
(May 29, 2019 at 12:56 pm)onlinebiker Wrote: Like a fear of sharks - you are reacting emotionally. Reason and logic tell you that the odds of sharkbite or being shot by police is miniscule compared to many everyday activities you are totally comfortable with.

Do you drive or ride in motor vehicles? Those are dangerous - but few people are afraid of them.

I don’t think it’s irrational. Not when I don’t have the advantage of eyesight. And cops have killed people for less…

(May 29, 2019 at 1:01 pm)downbeatplumb Wrote: No, you are American.

Even over here the police tazed a blind man thinking his cane was a sword.

If you’re talking about the guy from Manchester I actually kinda know him . Casual acquaintance he gives speeches about Braille literacy at International Councils of the Blind.

Ha really I'm just reading a book by David Mitchell where he's mentioned. "Thinking about it only makes things worse" its called.



You can fix ignorance, you can't fix stupid.

Tinkety Tonk and down with the Nazis.




 








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#19
RE: Worries
Fearing something that statistically is far less likely to happen, while not fearing something that is more likely to happen is sort of a textbook definition of irrational.
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#20
RE: Worries
BQ's life is not a statisic though. She isn't in a gang, doesn't live in public housing/other high crime area, or live a "thug life" in any capacity. 

No reason to think that she specifically, should be fear being murdered by the Blacks more than she should worry about her folding cane device between mistaken for a weapon. It does happen.

Truth is, there exists a number of extremely stupid people in this country who feel "threatened" quite easily and will call the cops on certain folks for extremely stupid reasons. And enough cops seemingly don't have the uh...tools, to discern a credible threat from a non-credible one; especially when certain folks are involved. 

Police departments have a penchant for hiring cops who are smart enough to follow orders and nothing more.
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