Does prosecutor blame gun rights for police shootings?
September 30, 10:08 AMGun Rights ExaminerDavid Codrea

Courtesy Oleg Volk, A Human Right
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Who are the 'Only Ones' we can trust with guns?"[S]hootings of citizens by Harris County law officers" are on the rise, The Houston Chronicle tells us.

Why?

Prosecutors point to expanded gun rights.

Huh???

How do they figure?

Donna Hawkins, a prosecutor and spokeswoman for the Harris County District Attorney's Office, stressed that all the shootings are reviewed by her office and presented to grand juries to consider charges. Sgt. Jeffrey Cotton, of Bellaire, was indicted last April by a grand jury and is awaiting trial in the shooting of an unarmed resident last year, she noted...

...“I don't want to blame the Legislature, but the laws have become quite a bit more flexible about a person's ability to carry a weapon,� she said. “If more people have the access and it becomes easier to carry them, there tends to be more shooting and more situations involving police officers.�

How "the shooting of an unarmed resident"--factors into more citizens exercising their right to keep and bear arms is left unsaid. Perhaps if we explored what happened...?

Bellaire police officers pulled Tolan over after they mistakenly identified him as driving a stolen car.

He was ordered onto the ground, while his family members tried to intervene.

The family says one officer pushed Tolan's mother against the house, causing Tolan to rise up in protest.

At that point, Sgt. Jeffrey Cotton fired multiple shots. One struck Tolan in the chest and traveled down, hitting his lung and liver.

I see. Not only unarmed but falsely accused. And with the temerity to react to his mother being assaulted.

So, Donna: We know that Texas law regulates the possession and carrying of firearms. We know that both Texas and federal edicts define certain classifications of people as "prohibited persons," ineligible by law to even touch a gun.

What's this new flexibility you speak of? Are concealed carry permit holders getting into more and more violent encounters with the cops? How many have been shot, and were they the ones initiating force? Perhaps you could clarify and explain to the public you ostensibly serve just why you think their ability to defend themselves puts them at greater risk from government employees they presumably pay to protect them?

You "don't want to blame the Legislature," Donna, so what (or who) are you blaming?

Is our choice to put ourselves in more danger from criminals if we don't arm vs. putting ourselves in more danger from the "Only Ones" if we do?

Donna?

[Thanks to L. Lane]
http://www.examiner.com/x-1417-Gun-...olice-shootings

???????????? That incident has nothing to do with gun rights does it?? Am I missing something?? Or is this a failed attempt by a reader/writer to oppose someone else's view. If I was going to advocate for gun rights.. A cop shooting a unarmed man, and being indicted isn't going to be my first choice.

How would that not figure into cowards shooting people? You tend to miss a whole lot of things, intentionally if you ask my opinion, since the perps wear bages!

It might be a stretch but, I think he may be trying to get at the fact that since so many people are carrying guns, officers don't know who has one and who doesn't, and they may be quicker to respond with deadly force because of the unknown circumstances.

"Donna Hawkins"


More like a she that is blaming it on the laws! Aside from the sex of the person pointing the finger, I think you and I see it the same way!

off friendly: that's what i was thinking but it's convoluted logic and makes no sense with regard to this case.

if cops are worried about being shot, maybe they should stop assaulting the mothers of law-abiding citizens. i've had experience with less-than-courageous cops on emotional override. it's a dangerous situation if the article is factual,the cop should be fricasseed.

I don't think there is anyone to blame. What we're seeing is just a evolution of the times.

i disagree. the cop here is totally at fault. he shoots an unarmed man for protesting the mistreatment of his mother after being wrongly pulled over. this cop was WAY to quick to shoot. how he made Sergeant is anyone's guess....

lessgov wrote:

QUOTE:
i disagree. the cop here is totally at fault. he shoots an unarmed man for protesting the mistreatment of his mother after being wrongly pulled over. this cop was WAY to quick to shoot. how he made Sergeant is anyone's guess....

There is alot of blame to go around..as far as the shooting though, most falls back on the cops in this case. can't tell you how many stupid calls tunr into gigantic clusterfucks because people who are not involved, become involved. I've had a simple speeding violation turn into an all out brawl, and 4 people in jail...over speeding..which I was only going to give a warning for. Oh.. and of the 4 who went to jail, non were the driver....

Now that is funny!

SPD wrote:

QUOTE:
lessgov wrote:

QUOTE:
i disagree. the cop here is totally at fault. he shoots an unarmed man for protesting the mistreatment of his mother after being wrongly pulled over. this cop was WAY to quick to shoot. how he made Sergeant is anyone's guess....

There is alot of blame to go around..as far as the shooting though, most falls back on the cops in this case. can't tell you how many stupid calls tunr into gigantic clusterfucks because people who are not involved, become involved. I've had a simple speeding violation turn into an all out brawl, and 4 people in jail...over speeding..which I was only going to give a warning for. Oh.. and of the 4 who went to jail, non were the driver....

SPD, you have the same morons there too, huh? They certainly get around. Had similar occurrences over the years too.

For those cops scared of the public having guns, maybe they could transfer to the public works dept. Pay is good, retirement and all. Of course with an attitude they could be shot reading a gas meter.

Big Red wrote:

QUOTE:
For those cops scared of the public having guns, maybe they could transfer to the public works dept. Pay is good, retirement and all. Of course with an attitude they could be shot reading a gas meter.

I loved armed, law abiding citizens. Made the job much easier when they caught a bad guy and held them for us. It's the ones that would do you, me and grandma without batting an eyelash I was concerned about.

homer, how do you tell the difference when you first encounter them?