I withheld my Hoyt Arboretum/Portland Police [Click the link for a news story on the issue] spin opinions to myself, but wanted to see if I could generate outside rants, maybe even start a fight amongst my Facebook friends. I simply posted the following:
It was an X-Acto knife?
For the entire day, no one left so much as a "like" or a comment regarding this ambiguous statement. A lot of people probably didn't know (or care) about what I was referring to. Then, in the afternoon, the following:
Really? Where you going with this?
Yeah... Why would anyone think an "X-Acto" knife was dangerous...?
Heck, you're right! Only a dumb ass would possibly be scared of a box knife weilding nut to the point where they might be compelled to do something they didn't want to do... Oh like, let's say...Hmmm?... give over control of their plane to a group of terrorists who would then crash said plane into the frigg'n World Trade Center Towers.... Oh, wait? That actually happened...Oops!... See More
Bloody dude + Weapon + Threatening behavior + Non-compliance = Deadly Force...... an "X-acto", a pencil, a screw driver, a baseball bat, a fork, a revolver, or a samuri sword... When used in a particular manner all are capable of serious physical injury and/or death... Don't fall for the "Albina" Hype.... Look at each scenerio independantly and objectively AND then make your judgement (or offer your "criticisim")....
I don't know what the "Albina Hype" is. I just liked how an entire opinion was formed based on one sentence. Barely a sentence. Almost a sentence fragment. I responded:
Just the phrase "It was an X-Acto knife?" has you assuming that I believe that the X-Acto knife is not a dangerous weapon and elicited your response? [I'm such an asshole, this response was exactly what I was hoping to get.]
I do take issue with Sizer's spin on the weapon, referring to it as having a "six inch handle" with no mention of the one inch blade. I would feel better if the Police provided facts rather than spin... [True. I didn't even pay attention to the story until I heard the Police Chief mention a knife handle as opposed to the blade. They worked hard to make that X-Acto knife sound like an Uzi. Hell, I'm not judging the actions of the Police (not here, anyways) but clearly even they believe the pen knife was a benign threat that might not serve as good press. I hate it when people try to bullshit me.]
If you think that I'm anti-cop by any stretch of the imagination, you're mistaken. I could never judge an entire profession by any one event. That would be as silly as judging someone based on a five word facebook post.
Then pleasantries followed. It's all good.
Police should be obeyed. It's the only way law and order ultimately will prevail (provided the cop isn't dirty). I don't know if I could shoot a dude with a one inch blade. I don't know if I could shoot a 12 year old girl at point-blank range with a bean bag gun. I've worked as a bouncer and been threatened MANY times. I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't have the same blessing of the police should I use the same tactics afforded to them.
People are fucking crazy. There are a lot of drunken, drugged up, depressed people out there [looks at himself in the mirror... a single tear rolls down his face]. There should be ways of dealing with these people that doesn't involve killing them. I"m sure it's easier just to kill people, but sometimes work is hard. I would love to know the situation specifics of the Hoyt Arboretum shooting, but the PPD is working overtime to create a press release that is likely based in spin [like when law enforcement refers to marijuana as "dangerous" ] rather than the facts at hand.
That's another thing: mistrust only builds when the police take so long to investigate/report on a shooting. Police make such a big deal when it comes to interviewing witnesses/victims immediately after a crime, but it takes 48 hours to interview an officer that shoots someone?
I'm happy that I have the Portland Police protecting me, but I can't stand when their upper brass bullshits the public.
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