We lost a police officer here in Philly today...

[PCIntern]

shot dead breaking up a robbery...left three children and a wife. A Sargeant who had just been promoted and was a few days short of his 40th birthday.

It appears as though he was shot with an AK-47...

According to witnesses, his dying words were to tell his wife that he'd miss her.

A long time ago, a buddy of mine who practiced dentistry up in central PA told me that in his depressed area, if someone ran for office and promised jobs for everyone, new infrastructure (which is badly needed), schools, roads, and the like, BUT WANTED TO BAN BAZOOKAS FROM PRIVATE OWNERSHIP, he or she would lose in a landslide.

WTF are these weapons doing on the street?

http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20080503_Phila__officer_shot_to_death.html

[thunder rising]

1. I suppose he's one of the good cops in Philly? Not one that tazered the demonstrators?

So I should feel sorry for him. GI's died today, got a word for them?

[Cerridwen]

3. Dead?

Seriously, though. What is the standard by which you judge one death to be more horrific than another?

A cop was killed in the line of duty. A trooper was killed in the line of duty. Whose death is more a shame/crime?

Do Iraqis count? What are the standards you use?

[PCIntern]

12. ...and people say I'm cynical.

I do not believe that I need to answer your post in the manner in which I would like. Rather, let me say that each man's death diminishes me, OK?

[Cerridwen]

13. Did you intend to respond to me?

Did you read my whole post or just the subject line?

[PCIntern]

15. Sorry...

I was trying to respond to the other post...not you. my apologies.

Actually, upon re-reading...you too, but kindly...

As I said, every person's death diminishes me. That's my standard.

[Cerridwen]

16. I kinda figured. No worries. Post happens, ya know? :D n/t

[Mz Pip]

6. I think there is

more than enough grief and compassion to go around. It's not a mutually exclusive thing. Too bad your capacity for compassion is so limited.

[Duke Newcombe]

8. Damn. Not even enough time to post "wait for it"

You're very quick--unfortunately.

Duke

[PCIntern]

10. You know...

I treat many cops here in my office, my staff member is married to a high-ranking officer and I've been assisted by many police over the years, black and white, male and female, in their roles as police officers. I'm not going to make excuses for the bad cops, but I dare you to think that you could exist in this environment withour effective law enforcement. The fact that three miscreants could kill a cop means that no one is safe from these criminals.

[Cerridwen]

2. Priorities. The right to destroy trumps the right to build.

Always has. We learn nothing, so, I presume, it always will.

BTW, I'm not pro-gun-control as usually understood by the left. But I put a much higher value on people than on keeping a gun around the house. I'm weird that way.

[The Straight Story]

4. WTF are people doing killing others?

Don't we as a species know how much that affects the lives of others?

Guns and weapons are not the problem - we are.

[Ghost in the Machine]

5. R.I.P. Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski

Liczbinski, 39, of Northeast Philadelphia, was a 12-year police veteran assigned to the 24th District in Port Richmond. He only recently had been promoted to sergeant, and would have turned 40 on Tuesday.

His wife, Michelle, and their children - Matt, Steven and Amber - were escorted into the hospital by police officials.

[jody]

7. AK-47 assault rifles may only be legally possessed under 26 USC chapter 53. I doubt the gun in

question was legal but laws banning firearms are never effective for criminals.

See 26 USC 52 at http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode26/usc_sup_01_26_10_E_20_53.html

[uppityperson]

9. rip, k&r

[Postman]

11. I'm surprised more of this isn't happening.

Economic dire straits coupled with a country awash in guns doesn't equate to singing koombaya.

[PCIntern]

14. It's the awash in guns part...

that is germane.

someone's importing guns into this environment and there is no hope if automatic weapons are used in the street and that killing a policeman becomes OK with the 'cognoscenti' b/c Iraqis are being killed as well, as evidenced by other posts I've read.

No one would be safe around a crine scene like this...no one.

[unkachuck]

self-delete, double post

[unkachuck]

17. I'm sorry to hear....

....about Sgt. Liczbinski, he might have been one of the 'good' ones, I don't know....it's a tough job and someone has to do it, but when you put on a uniform and draw a paycheck from the system, you become the system, good and bad....

"...BUT WANTED TO BAN BAZOOKAS FROM PRIVATE OWNERSHIP, he or she would lose in a landslide."

....guns are power, guns are self-defense, guns are your friend in a lawless environment....how many criminals and trigger-happy cops have killed innocent people with quick and excessive force in Philly this year?

....we're crumbling as a society due to corporate power and greed....it's only going to get worse....