Sunday, December 4, 2011

Detroit Cop Suspended for Pointing His Gun

The Det News reports on the off-duty cop who resorted to using his gun during a fight at a party.
In Mexican culture, a Quinceañera is a coming-of-age party held for girls when they turn 15. The festivities at the Knights of Columbus hall turned violent and a brawl broke out, and Fox allegedly pointed his pistol at a 27-year-old man, Godbee said in a Nov. 11 letter recommending Fox's suspension without pay.

"A review of the incident revealed that Lincoln Park Police officers were dispatched to a location regarding a large fight," Godbee wrote. "The complainant alleged that he was assaulted by Officer Fox. The (Lincoln Park) officers also spoke with a witness, who said while the bathroom door was open, she observed Officer Fox standing over the complainant, pointing a black pistol at him."
Maybe the so-called victim was really the offender and if not for Officer Fox's timely intervention, people would have been hurt. I know that's what the gun-rights folks will say, they always find a way to excuse the actions of the gun owner, as long as he's a lawful and legitimate gun owner like a cop obvioulsy is.

I don't buy it. I think gun owners need to be held to a high standard and part of that is they need to be held accountable for their actions. Suspended and facing serious felony charges sounds about right in this case.

One thing this story proves is the futility of carrying a concealed weapon. The likelihood that you'll need it to save your life is minimal. But, if an argument or fight erupts, how are you going to not use your gun. How are you not going to do what Officer Fox did? The perceptive and circumspect gun owner will quickly see lethal threat in any confrontation. He'd be obligated to act with force himself.

It's a loser for everybody.

What's your opinion?  Please leave a comment.

2 comments:

  1. Why doesn't this case lead you to believe that no one should carry a gun? You've said that the police are among the only groups who have any reason to, and yet you take great pleasure in showing us cases in which an officer allegedly screws up. The only intellectually honest position for you to hold is that no one should have a gun. Period. Unless you really believe that the state should have power that we aren't allowed to possess or control.

    I don't hold your position, and in the case of this officer, I don't know what actually happened. There was no information given on the fight or the events that led the officer to draw his weapon. The fact that he's been arrested tells me nothing, since that's what cops do. They don't go around trying to show how people are innocent.

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  2. I had to chuckle when I read this. A quincenera is a brawl waiting to happen. Those crazy Mexicans just don't have fun unless they're fighting with each other.

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