Commentary on the Latest Shooting in South Carolina

The officer who killed an unarmed black man in the latest police shooting in Charleston, South Carolina, has stated that he felt threatened. 

Penal codes all across America have provided an umbrella for law enforcement officers to use as a shield. This is why our primary focus locally and nationally is to 1) amend penal codes 2) force district attorney's to conduct independence investigations 3) ensure that local police departments are only allowed to use the amount of force based on the opposition they are encountering. 

The case in Charleston is a clear example of why all law enforcement officers should be required to abide by "Tennessee vs. Garner." Also the camera issue is a no brainier. All departments should be mandated to provide video cameras.

Finally, nothing works as well as an enlightened public that provides its own eyes and ears.

-Nelson Linder
President of the Austin NAACP

 Tennessee v. Garner states that when a law enforcement officer is pursuing a fleeing suspect, he or she may not use deadly force to prevent escape unless the officer has probable cause to believe that the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or others. More info can be found here.

Graham v. Connor states that an objective reasonableness standard should apply to a free citizen's claim that law enforcement officials used excessive force in the course of making an arrest, investigatory stop, or other "seizure" of his person. More info can be found here.