By Chris Nicholson
I am troubled by the recent “mistaken identity” shootings by cops involved in the manhunt for Chris Dorner in Southern California. But I was in shocked disbelief to hear, on the same day (though not in reaction to the shootings), that the policy of at least one local police force is to use their guns offensively and not defensively.
While visiting Sacramento to advocate for a fresh batch of gun control laws to ensure that California is not one-upped by New York, Emeryville Chief of Police Ken James said that the notion that guns were useful as defensive weapons was a “myth.” He went on to say that police officers do not use guns defensively to protect themselves or others, but rather to “face any opposition that we may come upon.” See the attached video at 6 minutes 30 seconds.
Do we really want a regime where citizens cannot use modern guns to defend themselves, yet police can employ deadly force with guns for reasons other than self defense or defense of others?
Chris Nicholson is a resident of Orinda.
