Hong Kong: Britain's 22-year shame

[Montmorency]

Or it ends, depending on your perspective. Odd that Policeman is in Green as opposed to Black - I wonder if they've been quietly bussing in Police from Mainland China.

Why is he pointing a revolver at people to begin with?

According to the NYT the protester had just been involved in beating a fallen officer with a group, and in the videos you can see him swinging a pipe or some other object at the officer before the officer fires.

Gotta love reciprocal escalation.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

I will never understand the concept of Police carrying guns.

[CrossLOPER]

I will never understand the concept of Police carrying guns.

In the US, at least in Atlanta where i live, it is not uncommon in cases of crime for criminals to smash open windows for spare change or shoot people before trying to mug them. Back in December, a young police officer was killed chasing a suspect, after he turned around and fired into a group of officers trying to arrest him. I think they ended up unloading into him.

Basically, it's really easy to buy a gun and enough ammunition to depopulate a state.

[Beskar]

I will never understand the concept of Police carrying guns.

An old but interesting article about the Free Syrian Police being unarmed.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-39458062

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Fear? Anger in the moment? Standing in the middle of a riot as the visible agent of the "oppressor" cannot be a low-stress undertaking.

Possible it was done methodically as a calculated scare tactic, but I think that unlikely. A single pistoling cannot have the quelling effect of Napoleon's "whiff of grapeshot."

[Pannonian]

Fear? Anger in the moment? Standing in the middle of a riot as the visible agent of the "oppressor" cannot be a low-stress undertaking.

Possible it was done methodically as a calculated scare tactic, but I think that unlikely. A single pistoling cannot have the quelling effect of Napoleon's "whiff of grapeshot."

According to the article, in that particular case, an officer was being beaten by a mob, with the gunman going in gun drawn, possibly to break it up and let the other officer go. One of said mob aimed a bar at the gunman (this bit I've seen), and the gunman shot him. There may well have been police brutality elsewhere, but in this particular case, I wouldn't describe it as that. Idiocy, bordering on attempted suicide by cop, possibly not expecting a police officer to actually open fire if there was any thought at all. A firebomb was thrown shortly afterwards, and the shot protester was wearing a mask, so given the HK populace isn't generally armed, I'd say the protesters were as prepared as they could be for a violent demonstration (peaceful demonstrators don't tend to carry or prepare firebombs).

[Montmorency]

Fear? Anger in the moment? Standing in the middle of a riot as the visible agent of the "oppressor" cannot be a low-stress undertaking.

Possible it was done methodically as a calculated scare tactic, but I think that unlikely. A single pistoling cannot have the quelling effect of Napoleon's "whiff of grapeshot."

If you watch the video, it's plausible that it could be just that. Of course police in other countries are more deliberate with gun fire than the American Rambo wannabes, so the single targeted discharge is not dispositive, but without studying the Hong Kong situation or the usual operations of the Hong Kong police more carefully I could easily believe that police leadership either wanted someone, anyone, made an example of, or else authorized the brandishing of firearms to the point that it was inevitable someone would be shot. (Shooter wasn't the only cop with sidearm out that day).

[Pannonian]

If you watch the video, it's plausible that it could be just that. Of course police in other countries are more deliberate with gun fire than the American Rambo wannabes, so the single targeted discharge is not dispositive, but without studying the Hong Kong situation or the usual operations of the Hong Kong police more carefully I could easily believe that police leadership either wanted someone, anyone, made an example of, or else authorized the brandishing of firearms to the point that it was inevitable someone would be shot. (Shooter wasn't the only cop with sidearm out that day).

All police in HK are armed. They even carry them home. Even if the gun wasn't drawn, anyone swinging a bar at a police officer is an idiot.

[Beskar]

I miss Frags. He would be say something (paraphrased) like: "NBA, Apple, Blizzard and others kowtowing to the Chinese Pooh Bear."

[Seamus Fermanagh]

I will never understand the concept of Police carrying guns.

Depends where you live. In the USA, without one, they'd be bringing a club to a gunfight.

[Pannonian]

According to the NYT the protester had just been involved in beating a fallen officer with a group, and in the videos you can see him swinging a pipe or some other object at the officer before the officer fires.

Gotta love reciprocal escalation.

If the description in the article is accurate, and I can confirm that last bit from seeing the video, then I doubt the officer will be in much trouble.