Here in Philly our Commissioner actually asked the feds to step in because of all the police involved shootings taking place of late.
"With shootings by Philadelphia police rising to the highest level in over a decade, Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey has asked the Department of Justice to review the department's use of deadly force.
The request follows a Philly.com story published May 14 documenting a 50-percent increase in the number of police shootings in 2012.
Police in Philadelphia shot 52 suspects last year. Of those, 15 people died. In 2011, police wounded or killed 35 people.
"When you have as many as we've had, it gets people wondering if they were all justified," Ramsey said. "We've been looking at this issue since December. The Civil Rights Division of the DOJ knows and agrees this is a good course of action." [Source]
Well at least Philly's finest is being proactive, which is more than we can say for other police departments.
Take, for instance, the city of St. Louis.
"Protesters rallied in St. Louis, MO on Wednesday over the death of 25-year-old Cary Ball Jr, who was shot 25 times by police officers last month. Police say Ball refused to pull over for a traffic stop, eventually crashed into a parked car, and started running. According to police, Ball pointed a semi-automatic handgun at the officers, prompting them to open fire.
Several witnesses who spoke to the family, however, say Ball threw his gun on the ground and was walking toward police with his hands up to surrender when he was shot. Some unverified reports say 7 of the 25 shots hit him in the back. Police say there was no surveillance video in the area to verify exactly what happened.
Ball was an honor student with a 3.86 GPA, majoring in human services at Forest Park Community College, where he had been celebrated as an “emerging scholar.” According to family and friends, Ball was working to reform his life after being convicted of armed robbery when he was 17. His older brother, Carlos Ball, said Cary probably ran from the police because, as an ex-convict, it was illegal for him to possess a gun.
The two officers have been placed on administrative leave as homicide detectives investigate the shooting, but this is hardly the first time questions have been raised over the St. Louis Police Department’s conduct. In February, a city cop was accused of choking a man in a wheelchair, who was then arrested immediately after testifying at the officer’s disciplinary hearing. A video showing a cop beating and pepper-spraying a man went viral in 2011, revealing that the cop had stayed on the force despite multiple lawsuits alleging brutality." [Source]
I know what some of you are thinking, so let me say it for you: What was he doing with a gun? It's a fair question. But is it a crime punishable by death to be in possession of an illegal firearm?
Well, it might be, if you are poor or a Negro in America.
How about a knife?
"STERLING, Va. (AP) — A female worker at a northern Virginia Costco store who authorities say went at two sheriff’s deputies with a knife and scissors has been fatally shot.
The shooting occurred about 3 p.m. Wednesday. Two Loudoun County deputies had been called to respond to a disorderly conduct complaint at the Sterling-area Costco. Police said the woman was threatening store employees.
Officials say the deputies ordered the woman to drop the weapons, but she advanced on them. Authorities say one deputy used a stun gun on the woman, but it was ineffective.
Police say the second deputy fired several shots, killing the woman. She was identified as 38-year-old Mhai Scott of Sterling.
Authorities say Scott worked for Club Demonstration Services, which provides services to Costco. The Washington Post reports Scott had been serving pizza.
One deputy was injured. He was treated and released at a local hospital." [Source]
Injured? From what? Slipping on a loose pepperoni?
Finally, it seems as if male wingnuts really don't like women that much.
Let's start with that loud mouth and mentally challenged FOX News host, Eric Bolling.
"Following the release of a Pew study that states 40% of women are now the sole breadwinner for their family, and Fox contributor Erick Erickson‘s subsequent controversial comments on the matter, another Fox personality named Eric said something on The Five today that may raise some eyebrows among those who view more women in the workplace as a good thing.
During a discussion about the study and its implications for American society, Eric Bolling said that if you dig into the research done by Pew, you find out that the reason 4 out of 10 women are the primary provider for their families is “the breakdown of the American family.” He continued, saying, “Women are forced to go out and be the breadwinners for the families and that is why the numbers are higher now — single moms.”
But it was the question Bolling asked next that really made a leap to new territory. “If you are a single mom, breadwinner of the family, and you get pregnant, aren’t we pushing towards more abortions? It seems like we are.”
Ok Mr. Bolling, I am sure that your barefoot wife who spends all of her days in the kitchen will appreciate those comments.
And then there is the other Erick.
The conservative commentator was reacting to a recent Pew study that claims mothers are now the primary source of income in 40 percent of American households, when he went off on a tangent, suggesting it’s “anti-science” for liberals to reject the idea that men should take on the “dominant” role in the household.
In his defiant response today, titled “The Truth May Hurt, But Is Not Mean,” Erickson reiterated his point that “more women being the primary or sole breadwinners in families is harmful to raising children.” He also used the opportunity to express his disapproval of gay parents..." [Source]
It got so bad that their fellow FOX colleague had to chastise the wingnut boys club.
She wanted to know if they have "lost their minds". Yes Greta, they have. But they are winguts; their minds were not all there to begin with.
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