The Noel Palanco Shooting

 The New York Times reports

The driver, Noel Polanco, 22, did not comply with Detective Hamdy’s orders to put his hands up, instead reaching “down in a quick motion, down on the floor of the car,” said the lawyer representing the detective, Philip Karasyk.

A front-seat passenger in Mr. Polanco’s car, however, has disputed Mr. Karasyk’s account, told to him by the detective. The passenger, Diane Deferrari, told investigators that Mr. Polanco had no time to comply with orders to put his hands up. He still had his hands on the steering wheel when he was shot in the abdomen area, said Ms. Deferrari, who characterized the shooting as police road rage.

Somebody's lying. How about if we just don't accept any more shootings of unarmed people by the police? Wouldn't that simplify matters?

What do you think?  Please leave a comment.

California Gun Owner Arrested for Having the Gun in his Car

Local news reports

A Vallejo man was arrested early Saturday for keeping a loaded gun in his car.

An officer stopped the vehicle at about 1:25 a.m. for a traffic violation, then called emergency backup after seeing a gun in plain view in the car's seat pocket, police said.

Responding officers detained the man and discovered the gun was loaded, police said.

Officers subsequently arrested Joshua Duke, 24, of Vallejo. The gun was registered to him, police said.

If I were the judge and the "one strike you're out" rule were in effect, I might suspend the sentence and let the guy off with a warning.

His crime was not as bad as the man who fails to safely store his weapon at home and thereby makes its theft easier.  This gun was in the control of its owner.

I'd recommend leniency.

What's your opinion?  Please leave a comment.

Alabama Policeman Shoots and Kills a Naked Unarmed Student

The Boston Herald reports

A police officer at the University of South Alabama has fatally shot a naked student whom authorities said repeatedly charged the officer.

University officials said the confrontation happened early Saturday morning when the officer went outside a police station to investigate a banging noise at a window.

Once outside, the officer was confronted by a naked man acting erratically.

Authorities said the man repeatedly charged the officer, who pulled his gun and retreated several times in an attempt to defuse the situation. When the man made a final charge, the officer shot him once in the chest.

The student has been identified as 18-year-old Gilbert Thomas Collar of Wetumpka.

This can never be justified. A naked, unarmed man should never be gunned down by anyone, it doesn't matter what he's doing.

What's your opinion?  Please leave a comment.

Is Georgia's Stand Your Ground Only for Whites?

 USA Today reports

Georgia has a so-called stand your ground law on the books that allows people to use deadly force if their lives are in danger. But John McNeil was charged anyway, nine months after the shooting. The case has since prompted calls from the NAACP and other groups for such laws to apply to all citizens, regardless of race. McNeil is black, and the man he shot was white. But white neighbors also testified about being intimidated by the man, who built their houses.

A Georgia judge ruled last month in favor of a request to release John McNeil, who's serving a life sentence for the 2005 killing of Brian Epp, who had built what the McNeils believed was their dream home.

John McNeil, now 46, wasn't charged immediately. Police said he was defending himself, his home and his son, La'Ron, who called his father after seeing Epp in the backyard. The Cobb County prosecutor eventually pursued charges, leading to McNeil's conviction.

McNeil never denied shooting Epp. He told police in Kennesaw, Ga., that Epp was belligerent and had threatened his son with a knife just before the shooting. A witness testified that Epp came onto McNeil's driveway, ignored a warning shot and charged at McNeil, who then fired a fatal shot. McNeil's attorney says the men were so close at that point that Epp's body touched McNeil's as he fell.

Threatening one's son with a knife is a crime that the police should be allowed to handle, so is trespassing. The concept of "stand your ground" encourages people to aggressively attempt to handle these things themselves. That's where it often goes wrong.

The funny part is of course that in Georgia they're so racist that they charged and convicted this guy. Now they look like the redneck, hypocrites that they are.

What's your opinion?  Please leave a comment.

Road Rage Cop in California

Local news reports

Following the initial road rage incident, both drivers exited the 71 and stopped inside the Shoppes' parking lot between California Pizza Kitchen and Dripp. 

The off-duty officer reported that the four men exited their vehicle and approached him. The officer said he saw objects in the hands of two of the four men.

The officer reported he armed himself with a gun and fired several shots, striking two of the men. It was unclear if he ever identified himself as an off-duty officer prior to firing.

No one has been arrested, leaving some people puzzled and concerned about the outcome of the incident.

"If it was anyone other than a cop, they would be in jail for at the minimum assault with a deadly weapon," said Phung Li, Chino Hills resident and business owner.

I don't know if I agree with that. Often a civilian gun owner who acts badly is not arrested. But, in this case it certainly could be because he is a cop.

The problem is both LEO and civilian gun owners are too often unfit to safely handle guns.  The only solution I can think of is a stricter enforcing of the laws.  One strike you're out would ensure that these trigger happy guys only get one chance to act out their frustrations. In this case, for example, does anyone believe this was the very first time this cop acted badly?  I don't.

What's your opinion?  Please leave  a comment.

South Carolina Supreme Court To Make Gun-Rights Decisions

Islandpacket.com reports on some of the controversial decisions facing the South Carolina Supreme Court.

Why they are controversial or even being considered is beyond me.  Of the three examples given, one is a shooting after the fact, Jerome Ersland style, or even worse.  The other two are shootings in the back, for crying out loud.

The fact that gun-rights folks argue these types of incidents trying to justify them indicates that they aren't interested in the truth or what's right.  They're only interested in expanding and extending gun rights.

The castle doctrine they want would allow for anyone who feels threatened to shoot and kill. Do they really think that will be used properly more times than it will be abused?  I certainly don't. And I don't think they believe that either.  I think they don't care how often it would be abused.  They just want the rights expanded, regardless of the cost. 

What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.

Accidental Shooting of Southern Illinois 14-Year-old - She's Dead - No Arrests

Local news reports

KFVS12 News You know what Southern Illinois is, right?  It's hillbilly country where everyone has a gun because it's their right.