Forum Topic

Shooting rioters?

Whoever dreamed this one up needs sectioning, if we want the streets of London to resemble the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral this seems to be the right way of doing it. My suggestion would be to stop the cuts to the Police - we need more not less, that seems to have been a big part of the problem during the trouble, and then shoot the bankers, first to go I nominate Sir Fred Goodwin. On top of that finally having woken up to the big companies that are evading their tax ,the government should look at the legislation and close all the loopholes there are and make then these sh**s pay back what they owe.  

Vanessa Smith ● 4980d12 Comments

Guns must not be brought into everyday life by the Police, unfortunately once a gun is shot the bullet does not stop,and as we know accidents can and do happen. All guns should be banned!

Dawn Hardy ● 4972d

My family and I were away on a canal boat holiday in Wales the week of the riots and knew nothing of them until we returned our boat and the hirer informed us.When we left the subject on most of our minds was the very very dodgy arrangements between police, newspapers and at times Government; the extent and depth of which was just beginning to become both apparent and worrying for anyone with a belief in democracy and its future in the UK.This came on top of the MP expenses scandal, the Big Bank Rip off  of investors and taxpayers and the student riots (Independent film footage posted on face book of undercover police officers and their actions suggest the violence was encouraged and to some extent coursed by the action of these officers) When we came back all of this had disappeared from the TV and newspapers and seemingly the minds of the public!I personally found that incredible.  The resulting suspension of due process by the courts, the trails conducted without any reports or assessments allowed to go ahead with hardly a murmur of discontent by Magistrate and prosecution/ defence barristers was / is worrying; these people were not punished because of those riots but because of the fears over those to come! and come I fear they will.Some people seem not only to have forgotten the months before but not noticed how standing back and watching the rioters (being powerless)as U tube footage of Ealing showed highlighted the proposed cuts to the police force and gave credence to the Police Force claim of needing yet more officers not less!It is obvious that the initial riots where a direct consequence of Mark Duggan's Murder and off hand treatment of his family and friends, the planting off evidence the removal of his car and the return of his car to the scene.  The rest of the riots seem to be a result of the Police Policy at the time and the reality that the top half of society seem to be on the thieve so why shouldn't the scum be.  I am not trying to defend the rioters just remind everyone of the preceding months and 'where' our thoughts were then.  Apparently its all OK now; the Police force at the centre of the Phone scandal and other dodgy 'arrangements' has investigated itself and found itself not guilty, the young who are to inherit what's left of the UK's 'democracy' have been alienated and discredited, the student who get to pay through the nose for the education many of our generation got for free are ungrateful and deserve prison and as for the poor and decisioned who took to the streets, well lets support using rubber bullets on them.... As I said before it's about the riots to come !!

Philip Walsh ● 4975d

You're right Alan.Of course prevention is better than cure.It is a bit like trying to hold back a tidal wave with a tea tray though when it starts I would imagine.

Keith Iddon ● 4978d

At last, we've noticed that the context of lethal force was with regard to a situation where someone is threatening the lives of others - such as torching a building with residents. Its not about randomly shooting rioters. It could be argued that the lesser evil is to shoot the person who is willing to endanger others.It could also be argued that stopping or preventing the rioting in the first place might be even better.

Alan Clark ● 4979d

That's easy for you to say. Objectively it does seem wrong to shoot an arsonist,but if the building they are torching is full of people,then there is a decision to be made,isn't there?Subjectively,for instance,if my house was about to be torched with my loved ones in it,I wouldn't hesitate.What about the rest of you folks?

Keith Iddon ● 4979d

yes when you being burnt alive i think shoot then why not or do we think killing people ok

Robert A Field ● 4979d

Daft though the suggestion is, it has a sinister element too.  Once any such draconian powers are introduced they will gradually begin to be used not just against rioters but also student protestors, strikers, anti-capitalist demonstrators, eco warriors and anyone else who dares to challenge those in power.  The public becomes accustomed to these things and the goalposts quietly move, it happens every time.

Phil Andrews ● 4980d

I'll bet if you had have asked all the rioters who Mark Duggan was they would have answered "Who?".

Keith Iddon ● 4980d

Is that shot in front of their families I wonder?

Keith Iddon ● 4980d

Quite, that's why it's so stupid to suggest giving the Police even more guns. No-one would condone the rioting but sledgehammers and nuts come to mind. The Police messed up big time.

Vanessa Smith ● 4980d

Perhaps if the police had not shot and killed Mark Duggan, who we now know was unarmed at the time, there might not have been rioting in the first place?

John Connelly ● 4980d

Shooting is of course too extreme but I would happily like to see the Police use rubber bullets,tear gas and water cannon to teach the rioting scum a lesson

Paul Fisher ● 4980d