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posted by takyon on Friday July 08 2016, @03:22PM   Printer-friendly
from the "All-lives-matter."-President-Obama dept.

Snipers in Dallas: [5] Cops Dead; [6] More Cops Wounded

The Atlantic reports:

Two gunmen shot eleven police officers in Dallas, Texas [at 8:58 PM July 7], killing at least four of them.

[...] At a Thursday night press conference, Dallas Police Department Chief David Brown said [...] officers had one of the suspects "cornered", but did not offer further details.

"Tonight, it appears that two snipers shot ten police officers from elevated positions during the protest/rally", Brown said in an initial statement. "Three officers are deceased, two are in surgery, and three are in critical condition. An intensive search for suspect is currently underway." The police department later said an eleventh officer had also been injured and a fourth officer had been killed.

[...] The shootings occurred during a protest against police killings earlier this week in Louisiana and Minnesota. Hundreds rallied in downtown Dallas, near the corner of Main Street and Lamar Street. Local news footage captured what sounds like several gunshots being fired, and the crowd scattering.

[...] No motive has yet been established and it's unclear whether the shooting was related to the protest.

The New York Times just broke the story about the latest in the police killings of black men. It seems the tide has been turned. [Five] Dallas police officers were killed tonight at a protest in that city over these shootings.

I am not surprised, nor am I particularly shocked. No doubt there will be more to come on this topic as the evening progresses. Hopefully something good comes out of this, but I am inclined to doubt it.

takyon: Some more details: One suspect was killed by an explosion intentionally caused by a police robot. He reportedly told a negotiator that he was upset about Black Lives Matter, the recent police shootings, and wanted to kill white people, especially police officers. He said he was not affiliated with any groups and acted alone. Other suspects have been arrested, and a "person of interest" (often identified as a suspect by the news media) was arrested early in the night after he was photographed with his unloaded AR-15. He handed his weapon to an officer shortly after the shootings, and later turned himself into the police for questioning.

President Obama spoke about the shootings shortly after arriving in Poland for a NATO conference. In part, he mentioned that, "When people say 'black lives matter,' that doesn't mean blue lives don't matter, it just means all lives matter — but right now the big concern is the fact that the data shows black folks are more vulnerable to these kinds of incidents [...] This isn't a matter of us comparing the value of lives. This is recognizing that there is a particular burden that is being placed on a group of our fellow citizens. And we should care about that. And we can't dismiss it. We can't dismiss it."


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 08 2016, @03:25PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 08 2016, @03:25PM (#371825)

    I heard that there was just one sniper.

  • (Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 08 2016, @03:26PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 08 2016, @03:26PM (#371827)

    #grassyknoll

  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by Runaway1956 on Friday July 08 2016, @03:27PM

    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Friday July 08 2016, @03:27PM (#371828) Journal

    No one knows for certain. The shooter they killed claimed to be acting alone. However, a woman was involved in a shootout with police, around the same time. They arrested another person for having a weapon. Lotsa crap seems to have happened, in proximity to this one shooter. Maybe some of it was connected, maybe not.

    • (Score: -1, Insightful) by Ethanol-fueled on Friday July 08 2016, @03:44PM

      by Ethanol-fueled (2792) on Friday July 08 2016, @03:44PM (#371841) Homepage

      Hillary needed a public distraction from the fact that SAP/ORCON [c-span.org] information was on some of her e-mails, and some or all of those e-mails were pilfered by foreign governments.

      As a windfall, emperor Baraq Hussein Soetoro can further push his gun-grabbing agenda.

      • (Score: 2) by takyon on Friday July 08 2016, @03:48PM

        by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Friday July 08 2016, @03:48PM (#371848) Journal

        The guy open carrying at the rally was the one without bullets or the intent to kill. His performance should help stall any efforts to repeal open carry in Texas.

        If Obama/successor's agenda involves banning AR-15s, it won't be very effective since they can be milled from 80% lowers and Cody Wilson of Defense Distributed released a product to make that dead simple.

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      • (Score: 0, Redundant) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 08 2016, @04:04PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 08 2016, @04:04PM (#371861)

        Conspiracy theories abound...

        • (Score: 0, Troll) by Ethanol-fueled on Friday July 08 2016, @04:10PM

          by Ethanol-fueled (2792) on Friday July 08 2016, @04:10PM (#371865) Homepage

          You're gonna have to try harder than that, buddy. Might as well shout, "Sexist!"

          Watch the video. Look how much those uncomfortable bastards are squirming.

      • (Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 08 2016, @04:38PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 08 2016, @04:38PM (#371889)

        > As a windfall, emperor Baraq Hussein Soetoro can further push his gun-grabbing agenda.

        Ah, Americans and their gun-humping...

        • (Score: 2) by bob_super on Friday July 08 2016, @05:38PM

          by bob_super (1357) on Friday July 08 2016, @05:38PM (#371929)

          "If the victims had been armed, because the cops are always so slow to react, this tragedy wouldn't have happened, once again emphasizing the need of all Americans to carry weapons at all times"
            ... hmmm, the usual copy/paste NRA press release might not quite work

          I'm waiting to see how the pro-gun are gonna spin this one...

          • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday July 08 2016, @08:21PM

            There's no need to spin anything. Even in Texas, most people do not carry a firearm. There's little need. Crazy people shooting up the place aren't common enough.

            --
            My rights don't end where your fear begins.
            • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 09 2016, @03:03PM

              by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 09 2016, @03:03PM (#372373)

              But the sniper just wanted to be on equal footing with the cops.

              That just begs the question though, how did he go 11 v 1, starting from equal footing and all.

              Maybe also, now everyone in America now needs permission to carry a robo-bomb, to regain their equal footing. I sense a new amendment coming.

              • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Sunday July 10 2016, @10:39AM

                Yes, the ancient art of the sucker punch had nothing to do with it. His gun must have been much more lethal than theirs.

                --
                My rights don't end where your fear begins.
                • (Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 10 2016, @11:33AM

                  by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 10 2016, @11:33AM (#372655)

                  It's good to see you finally waking up to the fact that your gun doesn't give you equal footing with anyone who has intent.

                  That wasn't so hard, was it?? Maybe you are just a little slow.

                  • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Sunday July 10 2016, @12:22PM

                    You're really dense, you know? Equal footing never meant the same exact circumstances in every situation. Pedantic, much?

                    --
                    My rights don't end where your fear begins.
                    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 13 2016, @09:54AM

                      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 13 2016, @09:54AM (#374019)

                      Trying to weasel your way out of your own silly arguments much?

                      Your gun isn't for defense. It's for equal footing.

                      And when it's pointed out that it doesn't even give you equal footing, any time you would actually need that equal footing, what's your response? To claim you never wanted equal footing in the first place. You just like gun humping or something.

                      • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Wednesday July 13 2016, @08:21PM

                        by The Mighty Buzzard (18) Subscriber Badge <themightybuzzard@proton.me> on Wednesday July 13 2016, @08:21PM (#374179) Homepage Journal

                        My guns aren't for equal footing. That's just a perk they provide. They're for overthrowing tyrannical a government, as they were meant to be.

                        --
                        My rights don't end where your fear begins.
                        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 14 2016, @11:44PM

                          by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 14 2016, @11:44PM (#374567)

                          LOL. Your excuses are getting less and less plausible.

                          And you seem to have forgotten the part where you dont have equal footing anyway.

                          • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday July 15 2016, @09:36AM

                            Your trolls are weak. Equal footing never meant everything under the sun is equal. It meant we both have the same ability to kill each other by dint of having the same access to the same weapons. Go play in the yard now. It's good for you. Generates vitamin D.

                            --
                            My rights don't end where your fear begins.
          • (Score: 2) by tibman on Friday July 08 2016, @08:40PM

            by tibman (134) Subscriber Badge on Friday July 08 2016, @08:40PM (#372039)

            I don't think there is any argument here. The shooter was killed by other people (cops) with guns.

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            • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 08 2016, @11:49PM

              by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 08 2016, @11:49PM (#372115)

              Note, however, that they didn't use their guns to kill him: they used a bomb.

              A society in which everyone has guns and remote-controlled bombs is a polite society.

              • (Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 09 2016, @05:11AM

                by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 09 2016, @05:11AM (#372234)

                Dumbass sniper. Brought a gun to a bomb fight.

                • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 09 2016, @05:37PM

                  by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 09 2016, @05:37PM (#372416)

                  So many hours of my life lost to bomb fights [wikipedia.org]. Makes me want to plug in the Wii again.

          • (Score: 2, Disagree) by Runaway1956 on Saturday July 09 2016, @12:57AM

            by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Saturday July 09 2016, @12:57AM (#372144) Journal

            He was targeting armed cops. He got 11 people, and was cornered, then killed. Sounds to me like the NRA's position is the correct position. Armed people took the shooter out.

            • (Score: 2) by dry on Saturday July 09 2016, @04:26AM

              by dry (223) on Saturday July 09 2016, @04:26AM (#372218) Journal

              I understood that a robot took him out.

              • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 09 2016, @06:20AM

                by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 09 2016, @06:20AM (#372263)

                Uh, "arms" includes bombs. It also includes knives, missiles, artillery, rockets, lasers, sticks, large rocks, and as thr Founders put it:

                Tenche Coxe: “Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves? Is it feared, then, that we shall turn our arms each man against his own bosom. Congress have no power to disarm the militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birthright of an American

                Every other terrible implement of the soldier. Put that in your law books and smoke it.

                • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 09 2016, @04:26PM

                  by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 09 2016, @04:26PM (#372399)

                  Not saying you're wrong, but it would certainly be an interesting world if every other house on the block had a tactical nuke :)

                  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 09 2016, @06:07PM

                    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 09 2016, @06:07PM (#372420)

                    Why need strategic weapons to defend ourselves.

                  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 10 2016, @10:08AM

                    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 10 2016, @10:08AM (#372637)

                    it would certainly be an interesting world if every other house on the block had a tactical nuke

                    Agreed, it would be. However, there are many limiting factors that render such a concern to near-zero levels even in a theoretical society where the rule of law was truly respected. Nukes are expensive to build and maintain, and if they're not kept shielded, can cause the owner to be guilty of tresspass via emission of radiation in the same way that the owner of a sewage plant would be if he pointed the end of a discharge pipe at your lawn.

                    I'd be more concerned about someone's closet full of RP7 grenades, and is why I am ever-more interested in living outside cities on my own plot of land with some "elbow room". Once I figure out how to actually own land in the USA (since "property tax" is just perpetual illegal rent charged by government), I'll get to it.

                • (Score: 2) by dry on Saturday July 09 2016, @06:37PM

                  by dry (223) on Saturday July 09 2016, @06:37PM (#372424) Journal

                  The point was that it was the Police, a para-military organization run by the government who directed the robot to summarily blow up the suspect, not the militia or as the NRA goes on about, armed citizens acting as militia.