Even if less-lethal ammunition were risk free, that should still be a crime. Even in the ideal risk-free case, how is this any different from assault, if the cop came up behind a reporter swinging his baton. There was clearly no justifiable reason, it was clearly assault for fun or intimidation, and any reasonable person would know that.
There’s a distance at which they stop being “less-lethal”. At 10 meters/30 feet they’re considered extremely dangerous. The “effective range” at which they’re generally considered less likely to penetrate is 20 to 30 meters (65 to 100 feet).
Lenses make estimating distance tricky, but based on the lines in the road, I don’t think she’s 20 meters away from that cop.
These journalists need body armor and helmets if they’re going to be that close to American Police. Back in 2011 an Iraq War vet named Scott Olsen was head shot at a distance of a few feet fracturing his skull and when some protestors tried to rescue him they flashbanged the rescue effort. It’s extremely unsafe to be that close to these guys.
A good time to remind everybody that while rubber bullets are considered “non-lethal,” they can kill.
Back in 2004 a college student in Boston died from a bullet that missed its intended target, hit the ground and ricocheted into her eye.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Victoria_Snelgrove
So, while the shot certainly wasn’t warranted, IMO its worse because of what could have happened because this officer was taking a shot for fun.
Even if less-lethal ammunition were risk free, that should still be a crime. Even in the ideal risk-free case, how is this any different from assault, if the cop came up behind a reporter swinging his baton. There was clearly no justifiable reason, it was clearly assault for fun or intimidation, and any reasonable person would know that.
It is a crime. Cops are effectively above the law.
That and the fact it’s directly attacking your civil rights to free speech and an unprovoked attack. So it’s definitely unconstitutional.
There’s a distance at which they stop being “less-lethal”. At 10 meters/30 feet they’re considered extremely dangerous. The “effective range” at which they’re generally considered less likely to penetrate is 20 to 30 meters (65 to 100 feet).
Lenses make estimating distance tricky, but based on the lines in the road, I don’t think she’s 20 meters away from that cop.
These journalists need body armor and helmets if they’re going to be that close to American Police. Back in 2011 an Iraq War vet named Scott Olsen was head shot at a distance of a few feet fracturing his skull and when some protestors tried to rescue him they flashbanged the rescue effort. It’s extremely unsafe to be that close to these guys.