Pulled into the Principal's office (HR)...

[billt]

Point I was making wasn't about "feeling" but about a CC non-cop having the same justification for the use of force as the police.

I was told by the last CCW instructor I had the police are, "held to a higher standard" because they receive more training than a civilian CCW holder. Now, how true is that? I have no idea. Better to ask a criminal lawyer. And like Jaybet pointed out, the area of the country is important. Highland Park, Illinois is a notorious socialist, overtaxed, high priced, liberal $h!t hole. Not the same as Arizona. Especially with anything involving guns.

[Solus]

I was told by the last CCW instructor I had the police are, "held to a higher standard" because they receive more training than a civilian CCW holder. Now, how true is that? I have no idea. Better to ask a criminal lawyer. And like Jaybet pointed out, the area of the country is important. Highland Park, Illinois is a notorious socialist, overtaxed, high priced, liberal $h!t hole. Not the same as Arizona. Especially with anything involving guns.

From many examples I have seen, it is not true. 

There are some differences...It is acceptable for police to get involved in circumstances a non-police officer should avoid...like suspicious activity in a known drug selling area.  Police can stop and question, others cannot and should not.

Read a report where an officer pulled a car over on the highway for a minor infraction...tail light out or something.  As the officer was approaching the vehicle the drivers door opened and the driver started getting out.  The officer yelled for him to remain in the car, but he kept getting out.  The officer saw what he "believed" was a long gun and shot the man dead.   

Turned out to be a 71 year old getting out of the car with his cane.

Now, I cannot pull cars over, but say I was pulled over changing a flat and that same car pulled in ahead of me, probably to offer assistance...but me being paranoid, yell for him to stay in the car..but he continues to get out....the same 71 year old with  his cane.

What would happen to me if I shot him dead because I thought the cane was a long gun?

Believe me, I am not anti-Police.  but I do see a problem that seems to be growing...an  "Us" vs "Them" attitude ...with the "Us" being police and the "them" being everyone else....among too many officers.  Years ago I stopped watching the Cop shows on TV because  that attitude was evident even when being filmed.

[billt]

From many examples I have seen, it is not true. 

There are some differences...It is acceptable for police to get involved in circumstances a non-police officer should avoid...like suspicious activity in a known drug selling area.  Police can stop and question, others cannot and should not.

Read a report where an officer pulled a car over on the highway for a minor infraction...tail light out or something.  As the officer was approaching the vehicle the drivers door opened and the driver started getting out.  The officer yelled for him to remain in the car, but he kept getting out.  The officer saw what he "believed" was a long gun and shot the man dead.   

Turned out to be a 71 year old getting out of the car with his cane.

Now, I cannot pull cars over, but say I was pulled over changing a flat and that same car pulled in ahead of me, probably to offer assistance...but me being paranoid, yell for him to stay in the car..but he continues to get out....the same 71 year old with  his cane.

What would happen to me if I shot him dead because I thought the cane was a long gun?

Believe me, I am not anti-Police.  but I do see a problem that seems to be growing...an  "Us" vs "Them" attitude ...with the "Us" being police and the "them" being everyone else....among too many officers.  Years ago I stopped watching the Cop shows on TV because  that attitude was evident even when being filmed.

For the most part I agree because you are applying common sense. I would say that in many parts of the country, not all, if a cop makes a mistake, for the most part he's got the department behind him. The citizen has no such support. He has to buy it through legal channels. And that can financially ruin lives.