It's Trayvon Martin All Over Again.
In the early hours of this morning I finally got to see snippets of the Ahmaud Arbery video.
https://us.cnn.com/2020/05/08/us/ahmaud-arbery-mcmichael-arrests-friday/index.html
It must be said that there's nothing there which immediately indicates that a crime has been committed.
If you start laying hands on someone. Particularly if you are trying to snatch a firearm then you are causing them to reasonably fear for their safety.
They are therefore allowed to use reasonable force. To protect themselves or others.
One thing that would make the use of lethal force reasonable would be the firing of warning shots.
So the initial decision not to prosecute seems to be the correct one.
People might feel happier though if a Grand Jury is convened to look at the wider context. Particularly the deceased state of mind.
They too have a right to defend themselves if they feel threatened. What you can not do is force someone into a corner. Then complain when they try to fight their way out.
However even that argument seems thin.
Every person has the right to use reasonable force to detain someone. If they have a reasonable belief that person has committed an indictable crime.
Such a reasonable belief would certainly exist if you are a former police officer. Who has previously and successfully prosecuted the individual for a similar crime to the one they are suspected of.
https://us.cnn.com/2020/05/08/us/ahmaud-arbery-mcmichael-arrests-friday/index.html
It must be said that there's nothing there which immediately indicates that a crime has been committed.
If you start laying hands on someone. Particularly if you are trying to snatch a firearm then you are causing them to reasonably fear for their safety.
They are therefore allowed to use reasonable force. To protect themselves or others.
One thing that would make the use of lethal force reasonable would be the firing of warning shots.
So the initial decision not to prosecute seems to be the correct one.
People might feel happier though if a Grand Jury is convened to look at the wider context. Particularly the deceased state of mind.
They too have a right to defend themselves if they feel threatened. What you can not do is force someone into a corner. Then complain when they try to fight their way out.
However even that argument seems thin.
Every person has the right to use reasonable force to detain someone. If they have a reasonable belief that person has committed an indictable crime.
Such a reasonable belief would certainly exist if you are a former police officer. Who has previously and successfully prosecuted the individual for a similar crime to the one they are suspected of.
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