We are told the Brooklyn Center shooting of Daunte Wright was accidental. Ok. In order to assess that, we need to examine a few physical elements of the case. First, we know that the officer’s sex was female. This is relevant in a moment. Second, a taser weighs about eight ounces.
Eight ounces is a large bag of chips, two thirds of a soda, a bowl of cereal with milk. In physical terms, picking up a weapon that weighs eight ounces, would take 3.57 newtons of force.
A standard police issue 9mm semi-automatic pistol with a full magazine, weighs about 2.6 pounds. A loaded Glock .22 about the same. This takes 11.57 newtons, or a bit over three times the amount of force.
As mentioned earlier, the officer is identified as a female, at least physically according to statements. Assuming she possesses the average grip strength of a female of 29kg, vs. 46kg for a male, not only would the more than five times greater weight be more noticeable, she would likely have had more time to think about it if she is moving it slower.
So then I am expected to believe that this officer accidentally picked up an item weighing more than five times a taser, aimed, and pulled the trigger believing this to be a taser.
Let’s try frozen food terms. If a burrito weighs eight ounces, and the largest frozen pizza you can find is 42 ounces, would you notice the weight in the bag. Depending on your physical characteristics, would you feel the weight on your forearm picking it up from the self checkout lane?
Is it realistic to believe, with no immediate threat, that her adrenaline was so amped she simply forgot which side of her holster the taser was on, completely lost track of the weight difference, did not notice the sight on the weapon, undid the safety (if applicable) and pulled the trigger, “tragically”?
Look I will give you those standard disclaimers: Was not there, not been in that situation, context, blah blah. But I know the difference between a Starbuck’s Doubleshot can and a baseball bat the weight of Babe Ruth’s.
Even so, as an accident, this reads as a potential manslaughter charge, but I have my doubts a jury will be able to get past the physics and buy that.
And even after all this, maybe after the trial I accept that story. Say I do. What number of excuse is this? 1,009? There is always some excuse when a person of color is executed by a cop. “I was scared,” “I thought he was armed,” “I thought it was a taser,” “He ran,” “She was lying in bed suspiciously.” “He was jaywalking,” “She was playing video games in her own bedroom past midnight,” and on and on it goes.
This 20 year-old young man had a son. He had a right to be detained, arrested, charged for fleeing, convicted if the evidence warranted it, pay his dues, and mature.
Rarely does even a week go by without a police involved killing of a black person.
And yet every sporting event we are asked to stand for a song.
Here is a song for ya-make this the National Anthem. At least it would be more honest.
(Yes I have released a single, but this one is more appropriate for my point.)
Attn fellow Kossacks: My friend Robert has been living in abject poverty for some time, and has no food even for his pooties or wuzzles. Now Tito, his dog, is having seizures. On top of this the insurance company is threatening to drop coverage on his home if repairs are not made.
If you can find it in your heart to help, his story and how to help can be found here:
gofundme.com/...?
To send him immediate assistance www.paypal.com/...
I am still matching.
In any case thanks for reading and be well.
-ROC