Snipers kill several police officers in Dallas

[Itsthejoeker]

Imagine being 2.7x more likely to be killed by police. They is quite a lot.

The 21x stat is for black teens apparently.

Okay, now factor in violent crime rates by race and you may see why.

Like said above for every one black man killed by police, there are 40 black on black murders

[Merging Cultures]

Okay, now factor in violent crime rates by race and you may see why.

Like said above for every one black man killed by police, there are 40 black on black murders

Already said that is awful and needs addressing. Doesn't mean a cop can rock up and shoot a guy dead in seconds because he has stereotyped him due to gang violence perpetrated by people of the same color.

This isn't an excuse, but I'll try and explain a few of the socioeconomic issues that lead to black people being engaged in more violent crime.

Black people are more likely to be poor.

Black kids are more likely to grow up without a father.

Black kids are less likely to graduate high school.

Black people are more likely to live in urban ghettos.

Watch the wire and you'll see how kids are indoctrinated into gangs. How violence begets violence.

Also, watch and read the now numerous videos and reports of how the police give short shrift to what is happening before shooting a black person, compared to white people. I'll dig some out to compare. But in short, all too often black people (men) have seconds before being shot (while many times unarmed or legally armed) while more often than not white people are afforded more time and opportunity.

Two examples:

John Crawford, shot from the side with no engagement, https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2014/sep/25/ohio-shooting-walmart-video

Tamir Rice, shot within 2 seconds http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/25/us/tamir-rice-settlement/

It can be the same for white people too, the police shot a white kid the other day who wasn't complying.

But then you have things like the Bundy standoff, http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2016/01/post_229.html

The police system needs reforming for everyone. But in the words of Trevor Noah (paraphrased) 'unless you walk in someone's shoes don't dismiss the issues they face as not real.' I can't understand what a black person, a woman, a poor person, or someone with a disability goes through each day. What I can do is listen to them, form a valid opinion, and advocate for change. I've listened to how friends of mine get stopped constantly, because they drive a BMW and are black (therefore a criminal), and I've seen how poverty can hold people back and has led to poor decisions for a quick fix. I will never fully understand why people can't judge individuals or be more compassionate. But I can take my time to make more of an effort.

At the same time though, there shouldn't be hyperbole and panic, and definitely no need for being overly PC. Go and police the crime ridden, drug infested areas. Go and be present in the communities. Go and use all the power you have to lock away criminals. But don't take that power for granted and use your common sense to engage people and deescalate situations.

[Webbo]

Two cops shot in Louisiana.https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2016/jul/17/baton-rouge-police-officers-shooting-louisiana

[Guest]

Now 3 dead, 1 in fair condition and 1 in critical.

[Merging Cultures]

The world is fvcked.

[Guest Col city fan]

On 8 July 2016 at 12:39, Col city fan said:

When I was a little kid I'm sure that if anything like this made the news, it was MASSIVE news. It would scare people, it would be talked about for weeks after.

Nowadays, situations like this amidst so many others have become commonplace. So much so, that the surprise factor had turned on its head. We are now surprised if some 'catastrophe' HASN'T happened in a few weeks.

Looking back, probably the main stuff that made the headlines was all the IRA stuff. That was terrible of course, but with a few exceptions, was relatively confined geographically. Of course, there was all the football violence too.

Now, terrorismin its various guises is commonplace. It's become 'the norm' to read and hear about such and such going on, again and again and again.

Maybe it's always happened? Maybe it's now about having greater access to so many forms of media that it's just reported more?

But if this is somehow seen as 'modernisation', take me back to when I was a kid and genuine became scared when the Embassy was sieged in London. What is this world coming to.....

Again.....