The Thing I don’t understand about the shooting in Miami

[The Whiskey Priest]

The guy was come in on a foreign flight….I seem to remember that when I arrived from some other country, I had to clear security again before boarding a domestic flight. Maybe I am not remembering correctly, however, if he did go through security what this incident seems to say to me is that the Federal Air Marshals are not very confident in the baggage screening, that is if they felt a bomb in a backpack had gotten through.

[Larissa238]

1. He boarded the plane in Miami

He didnt come from somewhere else

[Imalittleteapot]

5. Doesn't matter. He had to go through security in Miami.

[The Whiskey Priest]

8. I misunderstood, it was the plane that had arrived from out of country

that makes it worse because the guy would have had to have gone through security for sure.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

2. Here's what I think........

it's a distraction. :shrug: Anything to keep the public's attention away from a) the invasion of Iraq (it's not a war in my opinion), b) the dismantling of the American economy (disguised as 'global maarketplace' etc) c) the media' own lack of focus and attention on anything of real substance...........

[RagingInMiami]

3. That they intentionally stole this guy's meds so he would freak out

And give them an excuse to shoot and kill him. This is a news story. The runaway bride, that was a distraction.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

9. What I meant was

the endless replay we will be subjected to as result of this unfortunate incident........

[SPKrazy]

15. Yes, it was a well thought out plan

they took his meds, knowing he'd go crazy, so they could shoot him. <sarcasm>

[imagine1989]

17. I don't think so

OK, this might be taking it a step too far. The government stole someone's medications so they could shoot them? What would they have done if he had cooperated? This is a totally unsubstantiated conspiracy theory, and it doesn't belong in an intelligent discussion such as this thread.

[Cleita]

4. Not only that. Who is screening the Federal Air Marshals?

It seems this guy was sorely lacking in training. Apparently the guy was bi-polar and had missed some of his meds. Surely, they should be trained to make a distinction for mental problems.

[NYC Liberal]

11. How can they possibly tell that if all they know is that he's screaming

"I HAVE A BOMB!"?

[Cleita]

14. Well, they wouldn't if they didn't know how to negotiate

with the guy. Training, would help. I mean I have no idea how bi-polar people act because I don't think I have ever known one, or if I did they were under control of their meds.

However, people like police, firefighters, ambulance paramedics and others who have to deal with the public when they aren't at their best should get training for it, even for their own protection.

I know social workers, who deal with homeless and other marginal demographics of people are trained to recognize certain conditions for their own safety.

[Merrick]

6. Granted,

and it certainly stands to reason that a sober analysis of the incident, taking into consideration also his wife's screaming that he was psychologically afflicted, would reasonably suggest a 95% chance that he wasnt armed, I can't find fault with a Marshal taking down someone who says he has a bomb in a bag, doesn't comply with orders, then reaches into said bag in an air terminal filled with people.

[napi21]

10. All you said is right! It doesn't matter if the chance is 99%,

The Marshal cannot and should not takc the chance.

I keep hearing that the bi-polar story has NOT been confirmed either. CNN & MSNBC have BOTH said they have heard this story as a rumor, but there has been NO confirmation!

None of that matters. The Marshal has to asssume that any risk is too much.

[greenisin]

13. Good point

> a 95% chance that he wasnt armed

Exactly! It's not legal for them to buy a gun, so chances are very slim they'll have one.

[SPKrazy]

16. The Air Marshal was 100% right

the guy, crazy or not, didn't obey the orders of armed Marshals who had a larger responsibility than for his life.

[izzie]

7. Crazy world we live in. I am not flying any more.

I think people going crazy on planes is some thing like foot ball games. It all sounds a little sad and shot to soon if he had gone through the machines. I feel a lot of people with guns shot and then ask whats up. I know in Maine some women who was drunk and had a knife was shot dead by the police. Seemed a little over board to me as she had a history of such stuff. It seemed to me the police were just sick of her.

[MissMarple]

12. In Denver they shot a woman who was holding a candlestick.

Also a developmentally handicapped, vision impaired, 15 year old boy who was standing in his home at the screen door (holding a knife, yes). The officer approached the boy, screamed at him, then because he didn't do what was screamed at him, the guy shot him...dead. The kid didn't approach the man, he just didn't do what he was yelled at to do. The cop had to cross the yard and go up the porch steps.

It was sad. The family called the police sometimes when the boy got out of control. It usually worked out for the better.

I don't know about you all, but when someone yells at me...I freeze. If it was one of those cop raid, home invasion things, I'd have heart lurch.