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The problem is that "I mistook gun for taser" is even an option. Why do you need to bring a gun to a discussion about missing tags? Leave it in the car. Why are cops handling basic welfare/fix-it issues at all? Parking enforcement gets by with pepper spray. Let them handle it.

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The New York Times

@nytimes

· Apr 13, 2021

Tasers look and feel different from pistols, and most police forces have protocols to prevent a mix-up. So how could the officer who shot Daunte Wright in Minnesota on Sunday grab her gun instead of her Taser, as the police chief said? nyti.ms/3uLVpEj

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Jesse Powell

@jespow

Apr 14, 2021

Fully agree. Cops bring a high threat level to every interaction though, which automatically raises the stakes. If the person pulled over knows you have the ability to arrest them or kill them, things are more likely to escalate. Cops anticipate the worst and respond out of fear.

Prashant Pawar

@wlogqed

Apr 14, 2021

It's primarily because the person who is stopped might be someone who is clearly breaking the law and a vehicle search might result in them going back to jail, which means they have an incentive to use the firearm at the cop. Sol: Fewer traffic stops, end the war on drugs.

Jesse Powell

@jespow

Apr 14, 2021

Yeah, that's the problem -- that any minor stop for a $25 issue could turn in to a chance discovery of a larger crime. IMO we should just issue a ticket to the license plate, don't identify the driver, don't look for other crimes. Lower chance of violence at traffic stops.

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Would be great to have stats on how many murder suspects who are actually on the run and turned out to be guilty were apprehended in a stop for random traffic infraction. Doubt it’s enough to justify the identification and escalation threat of the stops for all sides.

3:28 AM · Apr 14, 2021Twitter for iPhone

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Jesse Powell

@jespow

Apr 14, 2021

McVeigh seems like a random chance, miraculous case, handled by an extremely exceptional officer. Someone wins the lottery every week while millions lose. We need more data. Unlike with TSA, you don't get the same deterrence benefit. In fact, more checks means more death.

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and

Problematic framing of the argument which you're bound to lose. When the other side is just throwing a fishing net, obviously they can show *things* for the outcome. The point should be, don't these traffic stop jeopardize the lives of civilians and cops alike without delivering.