In Cleveland Saturday, police shot and killed twelve year old Tamir Rice as the boy reached for an air gun on his waist. Chief Police Calvin Williams said the air pistol looked like a real firearm, and "an orange tip indicating the gun was not a real firearm had been removed".
Police were summoned to a recreation center when someone called 911, concerned that a man was "pointing a pistol" at people. The caller said "it's probably fake...he's probably a juvenile", but it's not clear if this information was passed to the responding officers. When the two officers arrived at the center, the boy did not threaten them, but the police ordered the boy to stop and show his hands. Rice instead went to his waistband and pulled out the "weapon", and that is when he was shot. Rice died early Sunday at a Cleveland hospital.
Both officers have been placed on leave, but the police union defends the quick decision actions of the officers. Residents of the community reacted angrily; Rice's family has not yet commented on the event.
The actions of law enforcement are currently being scrutinized by the public, especially where racial connotations may be involved. Widespread protests have erupted over police violence against African Americans, especially with the Ferguson decision and debate. And it is shocking events like these that make us wonder if we've truly overcome racial discrepencies, or if there is still a racist undertone engrained in our society. The Civil Rights Movement occurred over 100 years after the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation were issued: will it take another 100 years or so before we reach true equality for all?
Source: http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/24/justice/cleveland-police-shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_t3
I can see where the officer thought that shooting was necessary, but whether it was an accident or not, the fact remains that he killed the 12 year old.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Hannah. It is the officer's job to keep people safe, but at the same time it was just a kid and not even a real gun.
ReplyDeleteWhile I think it is tragic that this child lost his life, I feel like the police officer reacted in a reasonable way.
ReplyDeleteThis directly proves the need for gun control. I believe that even officers can misuse guns, just as this particular policeman did, and therefore; the Second Amendment is causing more issues than it is protecting citizens. It's not just about the police officer's decisions, it's about America's need for control on weaponry and the laws related to it. Elizabeth Muscari p6
ReplyDeleteThis is a tragedy, I don't believe that the child had to be shot in order for the police to be in control of the situation. Im sure all they had to do was yell drop the gun and that child would have been terrified and dropped it immediately.
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