We really need to be talking about the shooting of Amir Locke and we should be doing so with more honestly and nuance than anybody who I've encountered.

in amir •  3 years ago 

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I'm sad to say that even people who I respect are missing the point. Most of the commentators on the left are factually wrong and most of the commentators on the right are morally wrong.

Leftists are saying that the cops busted down the door. That's wrong, the used a key and immediately announced themselves. Some leftists are bringing into question whether or not Amir had a gun. He clearly did. Some leftists are claiming that it was two seconds from the cops breaching the door to the moment when Amir wad killed. That's also false; still, this is where the right is falling apart.

Amir was clearly asleep on the couch when the cops barged in. The commentators on the right think that pointing out that it was nine to ten seconds after the beach that Amir was killed rather than two is consequential. Seriously, have any of you not experienced being woken up from a deep sleep? Just last week I had a dream that I was back in the hospital and was jarred awake by nothing external. I don't know specifically how long it took me to realize that it was just a dream and everything was fine; but, it was more than ten seconds.

Amir clearly didn't have a chance to gather his senses.

That said, the officer who shot him was operating within his legal right by enforcing the warrant. Amir is related to a man who is likely a murderer. The cops knew that, when they entered the apartment, they may encounter a wanted murderer. The officer saw a gun being raised and fired on Amir to defend his own life. The fact that Amir was pointing the gun while not being of sound mind made the likelihood that Amir would have been a threat greater.

I know that a lot of people who still think that Rittenhouse is a murderer think that people should let themselves be killed before they gain the right to kill the assailant back (yes, that's how dumb I think you people are); but, in a situation like that, nobody can be expected to wait to be fired upon or to psychologically analyze the person pointing the gun before taking actions to defend his life.

If Amir had fired first, killed the officer, and survived the ordeal, Amir would likely have been considered legally justified in firing his gun just like Kenneth Walker was.

What everybody is missing is the system that put Amir and the officer in that situation.

Yes, I condemn the officer for feeling justified in participating in this kind of a no-knock raid; but, that's a criticism of his worldview rather than his overall character. I just hope he'll grow up.

The real problem is the USA's capricious use of no-knock raids.

Yeah, the police were looking for a murderer; but, the police have apprehended serial killers while knocking. It makes sense that police don't knock in an active hostage situation; but, we need to be more selective in the use of these warrants.

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