Thursday, April 05, 2007

Another One Bites the Dust

Some mope in Boise was trying to buy a $150 vacuum cleaner with a forged check, and ended up dead, according to the Statesman.

The Fred Meyer store manager called the BPD, a scuffle ensued inside the store, the guy pulled a knife, and the officers shot him three times; once in the arm, twice in the "torso."

The Boise Police Chief said that "Tasers are not appropriate in this situation." The article carried no elaboration on this point. This got me wondering, why isn't it safer for bystanders if police fire off a Taser than start shooting? Was guy with the 6 inch knife such a great threat that deadly force was more appropriate than a Taser? Wasn't there a risk of missing the guy and the bullet taking out an onlooker?

I'd like to know more. In the mean time, Fred Meyer is the venue of choice for Boise Police shootings. They shot another fellow in November at a different Fred Meyer in Boise.

In that case, six of the eight shots fired hit the guy. Two missed. The decedent "made a threatening move with a handgun." Don't bring a Taser to a gunfight, of course, but this shows that bystanders are at risk when the guns come out.

2 comments:

Bubblehead said...

Hey, Alan. Post about your big award so we can properly congratulate you!

Anonymous said...

You know you live in wacky land when Boise Police responding to a fraud call (bad check) end up sending the suspect to the morgue yet Rush Limbaugh fans are allowed to open fire on Idaho Guard troops training south of town.