Shoot first, question later

Let me preface this with my statement that I have a respect for most law enforcement and realize they have a dangerous and difficult job. I have many friends who are officers in the Sheriff’s Department as well as Cheney, Medical Lake and Airway Heights, and spent several years in the S.C.O.P.E. program.

The recent shooting in Cheney, as well as many other shootings across this nation, has prompted this letter.

Many years ago I was dating a state patrolman and he gave me words that everyone should try to live by.

1) Learn and practice gun safety; 2) If someone is advancing towards you in a threatening manner, blow their kneecap off to stop a further advance; 3) If the person continues to advance, “shoot to kill,” but always the first order is to stop the assailant by wounding them.

Believe me they (law enforcement) didn’t have the utensils in their arsenal then that they do now. They didn’t have tasers, shotguns with bean bags as projectiles, etc., and we certainly did not hear of an “everybody, (not just one officer) shoot now to incapacitate, but multiple officers shooting to kill.” Especially if armed only with a knife. Last time I checked, a bullet does not equal three officers or more all feeling in imminent danger. As a law-abiding citizen, to me, this is what is called overkill.

I seriously do not understand the mentality of “shoot to kill and ask questions later” rationale. A dead person is dead, and can’t be asked questions later. One officer’s bullet (shot to maim) and stop the assailant with a knife would have been plenty.

Terry Munro

Spokane