D.C. Christmas Eve Summary Execution
Guénady
December 28, 2007
http://www.topix.net/forum/source/wusa/TIMQ84RKISTT22PLL
It isn't enough that this situation has already occurred, with much public outcry, not so very long ago in Tennessee. Police in that earlier instance stopped a family car on a freeway, ordered the family out at gunpoint, to be frisked (put yourself in their place-- the police quickly realized that they had done nothing wrong) and the family dog took advantage of the open car door to jump out and have a run. One of the police officers shot the dog, claiming he was afraid the dog was going to attack him. From all reports the dog was not trying to approach this officer, and was not a dangerous or aggressive dog. Just a friendly pittbull that had been cooped up too long. And some nitwit officer with a gun, and a badge, thinking he has the right to do exactly as he pleases, with impunity, followed an unjustifed impulse and shot the dog. The officers apparently apologized (some comfort!) and left the family with a plastic bag to wrap the dog's dead body in (thoughtful, no?), before they continued on their way, leaving this traumatized family and the dead dog on the shoulder of the freeway.
The D.C. policeman was not so courteous, or thoughtful, but just as deadly. On Christmas Eve, he just shot the family dog, because it was running in a park without a leash. Is that a reason to pull a gun and kill a dog? This was a 2 year old boxer, so there is not even the pretext of a so-called dangerous breed.
What is wrong with the police? In the Tennessee case, many calls were made for police, who are trained (supposedly) in how to deal with difficult people, to receive training as well in how to face a situation with an animal. But apparently the police aren't taking this potential situation seriously.
And they should be. Because it's not that far from pulling a gun to shoot a dog ('after all, it's only a dog'), to pulling a taser to shock a big, unruly, incomprehensible foreigner in an airport ('it's only a taser, and it's only an immigrant...')... And shock him and shock him, and guess what... They didn't mean to kill him, it just happened... Those who will use violence against animals will use it also against people, whether they wear a badge to justify it or not..
And I tell you frankly, if it had been my dog shot on Christmas Eve, you can wonder how that policeman would have reacted, because I'm pretty sure I would have tried to tear my dog's killer limb from limb. There is no excuse, and no pardon for the use of lethal force in a situation where it is not warranted, police badge or no police badge.
The officer in this case, like the officer in the Tennessee case, has forfeited the right, in my view, to pack a gun and pace the streets wearing a badge that puts him over ordinary citizens. He should be brought back down to earth and reassigned to a desk job, where the most dangerous weapon he can get his hands on is a pen. And leave him there to stew until retirement. And asap get his colleagues, in all police departments around the country, around the civilized world, some minimal training in animal behavior, so they can recognize a family dog who's having a run, and let him be, like a civilized person and not a ruthless, armed bully.
Mr D.C. Police Chief, are you listening?
It isn't enough that this situation has already occurred, with much public outcry, not so very long ago in Tennessee. Police in that earlier instance stopped a family car on a freeway, ordered the family out at gunpoint, to be frisked (put yourself in their place-- the police quickly realized that they had done nothing wrong) and the family dog took advantage of the open car door to jump out and have a run. One of the police officers shot the dog, claiming he was afraid the dog was going to attack him. From all reports the dog was not trying to approach this officer, and was not a dangerous or aggressive dog. Just a friendly pittbull that had been cooped up too long. And some nitwit officer with a gun, and a badge, thinking he has the right to do exactly as he pleases, with impunity, followed an unjustifed impulse and shot the dog. The officers apparently apologized (some comfort!) and left the family with a plastic bag to wrap the dog's dead body in (thoughtful, no?), before they continued on their way, leaving this traumatized family and the dead dog on the shoulder of the freeway.
The D.C. policeman was not so courteous, or thoughtful, but just as deadly. On Christmas Eve, he just shot the family dog, because it was running in a park without a leash. Is that a reason to pull a gun and kill a dog? This was a 2 year old boxer, so there is not even the pretext of a so-called dangerous breed.
What is wrong with the police? In the Tennessee case, many calls were made for police, who are trained (supposedly) in how to deal with difficult people, to receive training as well in how to face a situation with an animal. But apparently the police aren't taking this potential situation seriously.
And they should be. Because it's not that far from pulling a gun to shoot a dog ('after all, it's only a dog'), to pulling a taser to shock a big, unruly, incomprehensible foreigner in an airport ('it's only a taser, and it's only an immigrant...')... And shock him and shock him, and guess what... They didn't mean to kill him, it just happened... Those who will use violence against animals will use it also against people, whether they wear a badge to justify it or not..
And I tell you frankly, if it had been my dog shot on Christmas Eve, you can wonder how that policeman would have reacted, because I'm pretty sure I would have tried to tear my dog's killer limb from limb. There is no excuse, and no pardon for the use of lethal force in a situation where it is not warranted, police badge or no police badge.
The officer in this case, like the officer in the Tennessee case, has forfeited the right, in my view, to pack a gun and pace the streets wearing a badge that puts him over ordinary citizens. He should be brought back down to earth and reassigned to a desk job, where the most dangerous weapon he can get his hands on is a pen. And leave him there to stew until retirement. And asap get his colleagues, in all police departments around the country, around the civilized world, some minimal training in animal behavior, so they can recognize a family dog who's having a run, and let him be, like a civilized person and not a ruthless, armed bully.
Mr D.C. Police Chief, are you listening?
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