What A Tragic Ending.

[youngmafbog]

http://news.sky.com/story/1379087/police-shoot-dead-12-year-old-holding-fake-gun

But what can the Police do, if someone reaches for a gun (and it certainly looks like one) they can't stand there and be shot first.

[Peter Pedant]

damn
In the United States, annual deaths resulting from firearms total

2011: 32,163
2010: 31,672
2009: 31,347

around 30 000 a y - sorry the index numbers were pasted as well

[bhg481]

So, the USA has a population about 5 times that of the UK and about 20 times more deaths per year due to firearms; it's a good job they're allowed to carry guns to protect themselves.

[Peter Pedant]

unbelievable level of violence

[Khandro]

Baldric; I have just read up on the internet about "shooting to wound" and there is a lot on there, it appears you are quite right, the standard response sadly seems to be either shoot to kill or don't shoot at all.

[ChillDoubt]

Do you remember the Gibraltar shootings ? The IRA team was shot because they went for guns they knew they didnt have....
---------------
I certainly do because I remember the fallout. I was based in NI at the time and was less than a mile away from Corporals Derek Wood and David Howes on that dreadful day.

P.S. Thanks for the endorsement Baldric.

[Peter Pedant]

ever since this case:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Stephen_Waldorf

when the police draw their guns - RUNNNNNN!

( clearly not relevant to the Land of the Free )