Baltimore Calmer; 6 Officers Indicted

[Yumyumsuppertime]

"Helps" in what way? It's a way of striking out, of expressing anger. It's rarely constructive, but it's not like a riot is a logical and reasonable expression of grievances.

No Looting is not striking out, looting is "Law and order has collapsed time for me to get a New TV"

Don't even pretend to give looters a moral high ground because they have none.

I'm not sure where I stated or implied a moral high ground. I simply stated the likely motivations for many without giving any moral judgment one way or the other. I'm also sure that some did use the riots as cover for basic acquisition, but I'm not going to assume that everyone out there had the exact same motivations for being there.

[The Lone Alliance]

No Looting is not striking out, looting is "Law and order has collapsed time for me to get a New TV"

Don't even pretend to give looters a moral high ground because they have none.

I'm not sure where I stated or implied a moral high ground. I simply stated the likely motivations for many without giving any moral judgment one way or the other. I'm also sure that some did use the riots as cover for basic acquisition, but I'm not going to assume that everyone out there had the exact same motivations for being there.

There are always people who show up to these things to take advantage of the chaos, there are some people there who go to protests just to cause riots, and there are some people who go to riots just so they can steal to their heart's content, that's because some people are assholes.

[Galloism]

You know what's sad about this whole thing.

People have complained about police brutality, particularly against ethnic minorities, especially those of color for years, and nothing much has changed. Finally, the frustration has boiled over to the point that people are setting cars on fire to demonstrate their anger.

It didn't have to come to this. It didnt. We have riots tearing cities apart, because of a failure to listen.

That's just sad.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

You know what's sad about this whole thing.

People have complained about police brutality, particularly against ethnic minorities, especially those of color for years, and nothing much has changed. Finally, the frustration has boiled over to the point that people are setting cars on fire to demonstrate their anger.

It didn't have to come to this. It didnt. We have riots tearing cities apart, because of a failure to listen.

That's just sad.

Eloquently stated.

[Novorobo]

By prioritizing deterrence against protesters' violence toward innocents over deterrence against cops who were at least only violent toward suspects in crimes? Yes.

Yes, and as we all know, suspects in custody don't have Constitutional rights that must be protected.

Seriously, in attempting to show your disdain for the mob, you have instead, ironically, shown a disdain and disregard for the rule of law.

Of course they have constitutional rights that must be protected. But meanwhile, the rights of people who had no part in any of this to be protected from being caught in it must take priority, and teaching people that rioting works puts those rights at risk by encouraging rioting.

[Prussia-Steinbach]

So, Freddie Gray's death has officially been ruled a homicide. They've got warrants out for the cops involved.

[United Marxist Nations]

So, Freddie Gray's death has officially been ruled a homicide. They've got warrants out for the cops involved.

I heard this information some time ago, did they not already know where they are? Or have they already been arrested?

[Yumyumsuppertime]

Yes, and as we all know, suspects in custody don't have Constitutional rights that must be protected.

Seriously, in attempting to show your disdain for the mob, you have instead, ironically, shown a disdain and disregard for the rule of law.

Of course they have constitutional rights that must be protected. But meanwhile, the rights of people who had no part in any of this to be protected from being caught in it must take priority, and teaching people that rioting works puts those rights at risk by encouraging rioting.

No. No one person's rights take priority over the rights of another. That's the entire point of a rule of law. Yes, those who engaged in looting, destruction of public and private property, and vandalism should be arrested and tried. However, you don't suspend the rule of law to "teach a lesson". Again, your disregard for the most basic founding principle of this nation is disturbing.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

So, Freddie Gray's death has officially been ruled a homicide. They've got warrants out for the cops involved.

Not to be "that guy", but I believe that we've been discussing this already.

[Uxupox]

After the arrests of the cops who were involved in this homicide, what happens then?

[Mavorpen]

Yes, and as we all know, suspects in custody don't have Constitutional rights that must be protected.

Seriously, in attempting to show your disdain for the mob, you have instead, ironically, shown a disdain and disregard for the rule of law.

Of course they have constitutional rights that must be protected. But meanwhile, the rights of people who had no part in any of this to be protected from being caught in it must take priority, and teaching people that rioting works puts those rights at risk by encouraging rioting.

Under what legitimate system of law do we have citizens whose rights take "priority" over others?

[Ifreann]

Would refusing to charge them despite the evidence in order to show that rioting doesn't work have served the cause of justice?

By prioritizing deterrence against protesters' violence toward innocents over deterrence against cops who were at least only violent toward suspects in crimes? Yes.

You're saying it's more important to deter riots, which primarily damage property, than to deter police brutality, which primarily damages people.

Maybe you should stop posting and think about the implications of that.

---

After the arrests of the cops who were involved in this homicide, what happens then?

Based on what TV has taught me, a bail hearing.

[Russels Orbiting Teapot]

Of course they have constitutional rights that must be protected. But meanwhile, the rights of people who had no part in any of this to be protected from being caught in it must take priority, and teaching people that rioting works puts those rights at risk by encouraging rioting.

Either Gray was in fact murdered, or he was not. Ideally, the riots should have no effect on the manner in which this is investigated, and if the facts of the case back up a charge of homicide then that charge should absolutely be brought.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

After the arrests of the cops who were involved in this homicide, what happens then?

A trial, presumably.

[United Marxist Nations]

After the arrests of the cops who were involved in this homicide, what happens then?

A trial, presumably.

Wow, it's almost like our country has a process to enforce laws.

[Uxupox]

After the arrests of the cops who were involved in this homicide, what happens then?

A trial, presumably.

No I mean after the conviction.

[Novorobo]

You're saying it's more important to deter riots, which primarily damage property, than to deter police brutality, which primarily damages people.

If those fires had spread, that could have resulted in deaths.

[United Marxist Nations]

A trial, presumably.

No I mean after the conviction.

Sentencing and the carrying out of said sentencing. Really, basic criminal law isn't that hard.

Or do you mean in terms of repairing race relations in the city and the country in-general? That is a much harder question to answer, and, to tell the truth, I don't know the answer to it myself.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

A trial, presumably.

No I mean after the conviction.

Provided there's a conviction, they'll likely be sent to prison for some time. Hopefully we'll see the issues surrounding police culture addressed not just in Baltimore, but nationwide.

[Pope Joan]

There is probable cause to support a charge of unpremeditated murder, with malice. The driver, who faces the most serious charges, could get 63 years.

Well, it's a lot better than how the DA Handled things in Ferguson.

[Ifreann]

You're saying it's more important to deter riots, which primarily damage property, than to deter police brutality, which primarily damages people.

If those fires had spread, that could have resulted in deaths.

Freddie Gray is dead, no "if".

[Yumyumsuppertime]

You're saying it's more important to deter riots, which primarily damage property, than to deter police brutality, which primarily damages people.

If those fires had spread, that could have resulted in deaths.

And the people who set them should be charged with arson. This doesn't mean that those responsible for the death of Freddie Gray, (who, I should note, was unable to defend himself at the time of the injury that resulted in his death) should not face charges.

Seriously, what part of "All men are created equal" do you not understand?

[Novorobo]

If those fires had spread, that could have resulted in deaths.

And the people who set them should be charged with arson. This doesn't mean that those responsible for the death of Freddie Gray, (who, I should note, was unable to defend himself at the time of the injury that resulted in his death) should not face charges.

Seriously, what part of "All men are created equal" do you not understand?

Well, the issue with that is charging people with arson still hasn't been enough to deter people from starting fires.

I suppose there's room for toughening the penalties for arson before we resort to anything more drastic, though. It's just that in the face of all this rioting these days one cannot help but doubt whether or not America's legal traditions were adequate to deal with the circumstances it has now.

[Mavorpen]

And the people who set them should be charged with arson. This doesn't mean that those responsible for the death of Freddie Gray, (who, I should note, was unable to defend himself at the time of the injury that resulted in his death) should not face charges.

Seriously, what part of "All men are created equal" do you not understand?

Well, the issue with that is charging people with arson still hasn't been enough to deter people from starting fires.

I suppose there's room for toughening the penalties for arson before we resort to anything more drastic, though. It's just that in the face of all this rioting these days one cannot help but doubt whether or not America's legal traditions were adequate to deal with the circumstances it has now.

Toughening penalties won't deter these things more than they currently do. Such actions rarely result in intended results.

[Galloism]

You know what's sad about this whole thing.

People have complained about police brutality, particularly against ethnic minorities, especially those of color for years, and nothing much has changed. Finally, the frustration has boiled over to the point that people are setting cars on fire to demonstrate their anger.

It didn't have to come to this. It didnt. We have riots tearing cities apart, because of a failure to listen.

That's just sad.

Eloquently stated.

What worries me is that the Baltimore police will take this less as "Justice Comes to Baltimore" and more "Sacrificial Lamb Given to the Masses."

IE, we all move on and go back to the status quo.