Police shoot innocent man for holding a gun, after arriving at wrong home

It's more complex than that. The question is: Is police responding to a suspected crime and shooting someone at the scene who is holding a gun murder? Or should this reasonably be expected for police to be able to protect themselves from the risk of getting shot?
If it is not "murder", then it suggests an obligation on the other party to avoid holding a gun, in certain situations. Of course it's also probable there may exist situations where no one is to blame, even where two people could shoot at each other and neither would be to blame and it should not be considered a legal crime.

 

this is true, only takes one to hang a jury, takes 12 to get a guilty verdict

 

I dont think we can or should 'make up our minds' about how split second decisions in life or death situations should be handled until afterward. Its easy to say whoever initiates violence is wrong, but often the most effective self defense occurs in the prevention of an impending attack rather than as a response to an attack. That of course opens up the situation to the subjective nature of human perception and its tendency to not be 100% accurate in stressful situations like impending violent death. These things can only be judged on a case-by-case basis after the fact. That's as far as I'm prepared to make up my mind about it.

 

I should've said 'wrongful killing' or something, not 'murder'. Its impossible, of course, to commit legal murder, thats a contradiction in terminology. But certainly someone who shoots a person merely defending their own property should have to present their case to a jury, whether they're a cop or not.

 

Let's try: The training of police officers is very, very poor.

 

I vehemently disagree. I'm not an ethical relativist. There are some situations where it might be possible to commit a murder that is completely legal, or on the other hand a killing that is ethically justified but illegal. The law doesn't always completely overlap with ethics and morality.
Maybe what you actually intended to mean was something else.

 

Lots of people expect perfection out of law enforcement in these situations, but most people have no good ideas that would always prevent these mistakes (while being practical and fair to all involved).

It's sort of like complaining about something and blaming people, but not even knowing what the solution is.

 

Unfortunately it's not that simple, and lots of people would disagree with you.

You're an idealist, which I admire and appreciate. But at the same time, idealists can be naive about actual realities, because you assume things work according to what you see as obviously right.

You can read this thread: Georgia passes "hate crime" law, and revokes "citizen's arrest" law (posted in Gun Control section, March 15, 2022)

 

I mean 'murder' is a legal term that is only objective in a court of law. If you kill someone, its not 'murder' until you're found guilty of 'murder'. Til then, its just killing. And even if you're not found guilty, it could still have been wrongful, just not illegal. And if you are found guilty, it could still have been necessary, its just that 12 other people dont agree.

 

In what situation do you think it would be unreasonable to charge and subject to a jury decision the shooter/killer of a resident in their own home?

 

You realize, do you not, that people can be held for several years in prison before their trial? (Sometimes if your life is on the line, better to spend some time in prison if it can allow time to prepare the case and better the odds)
I find it annoying that you keep saying things like that, when they are unnecessary to the discussion we are having.

 

Mistakes can be made. It's not always fair or right to press charges and subject someone to trial.

Here's another story about a law enforcement officer who shot someone who opened their front door, and did not end up facing any charges.
young man sentenced to 20 years for false emergency phone call (posted in Law & Justice, Apr 6, 2019 )

Couple held in handcuffs, house raided/searched because of hibiscus plants (in Drugs, Alcohol & Tobacco section, Mar 4, 2020 )

 

What should the proper protocol be? The concept of self-defense (in Gun Control, Oct 7, 2020 )

police raid wrong home, man defends home, sleeping girlfriend killed by police (in Law & Justice, Apr 1, 2020 )

 

Saying things like what? I suspect you're missing the point, rather than the point not being relevent to the discussion... I can try to explain if you specify.

I dont think anyone should spend years in prison awaiting trial. One of the biggest problems in our legal system is the backlog due to the immensity of the bureaucracy involved. Its not very 'just.'

 

Except mere possession of a gun isn't cause to plug someone, even if you're a cop responding to a domestic.
He didn't point it or start to, they don't have the right to simply scream "DIE FETCHER" and open fire.

FFS.

 

100% agree, that was my point, but it happens, thus is a valid risk