Not even in theory is this bill a good idea, it only works in Hollywood. Dubbed the “minimum force” bill, Assembly Bill A02952 is masked with a reasonable sounding title but is extremely misguided.
Annette Robinson of Bedford Stuyvesant and Darryl Towns of East New York, both Democratic members of the Assembly represent high crime areas in Brooklyn and introduced the bill.
The bill requires police officers when confronted with an armed suspect to shoot him or her in the arm or leg and if the intent is to kill the officer will be charged with murder.
The NYPD is trained to shoot center mass, the stopping zone, of an armed perpetrator. The intent is always to stop the threat. Using a firearm is deadly physical force and the result may be death, but that is not the intent or purpose, it never was.
For the members of the Brooklyn Assembly to assert otherwise is extremely misleading and irresponsible. The misinformed and those unaware of police procedure may cite the rejection of their bill as a cause to stoke the flames of resentment.
The NYPD trained in combat shooting are fully aware of the dangers of attempting to shoot a flailing arm or leg of a suspect. It is nearly impossible and poses a grave risk to innocent bystanders, including those miles away, when an errant round misses the small target.
For an officer to hit a suspect’s center mass, as currently trained, during a firefight is very challenging as the adrenalin, fear and concern for the safety of others course through the officers body.
To compel that same officer to strike the subject's arm or leg is extremely irresponsible and only serves to heighten the danger to the officers and the community, the only one that bill protects is the armed bad guy.
Why would the Brooklyn Democrats ignore such facts and introduce such an irresponsible bill? Perhaps, this excerpt of Assembly Bill A02952 will help shed some light on the mind set:
JUSTIFICATION: In recent years, the killing of criminal suspects by police has focused the public attention on how police respond when the suspect is a member of an ethnic minority.
The Brooklyn Democrats do not address the issue of armed ethnic minority suspects shooting police officers or members of the community. Nor does the bill direct armed suspects to aim for the arm or leg of those they are shooting at.
Source:
NYPD
Assembly Bill A02952
Comments
Maybe they forgot real life situations call for real reactions.
Another great idea by those who have never been in touch with reality.
Are these people smoking crack? Anyone who has ever been a cop, and I have, can tell you how hard it is to shoot a person even center mass when your blood is pumping, you're scared for your life, your anxiety is high and your hand is shaking... it is not a stupid Hollywood movie where we shoot the gun out of their hand. A law like this is too moronic to ever get passed because all the cops would quit when they realized their lives didn't mean squat to these idiot pencil pushers who do not know a danged thing about having to shoot someone. Argh.
I agree with the fact that this consideration will only be more dangerous for the officer. A person who is touting a gun and messing with the law is a serious offender, otherwise he would not have a gun.
Excellent article - spread the word! Very interesting and I agree, to shoot the limbs causes serious potential risks outside of the situation itself.
Just when you think you've heard everything...........
I read somewhere on facebook that the liberal supporters were asked to stand behind the armed subjects while the NYPD attempts to shoot the armed suspects in the arm or leg, now that would be a fine show of support for this bill
80% firearms proficiency (shooting range environment) requires a heart rate of no more than 80 beats per minute. Skill level alone would not help a situation that was physically impossible. My two cents.
What next? Nerf bullets!
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