re: #303 lawhawk

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This is yet another shooting that involved an unarmed black man. He was, in fact, naked. There may have been drugs and/or mental health issues involved. Yet the man is dead.

Law enforcement simply refuses to recognize that there’s a huge problem with excessive force and officer involved shootings, especially when it comes to dealing with the mentally ill.

It goes to training, legal protections for use of deadly force, and a system that allows officers to use deadly force even though circumstances would seem to indicate that deadly force is not warranted.

This person was a threat to themselves and needed medical care and treatment. Not to be shot to death.

Speaking as someone mentally ill people generally have little problem with the mentally ill being shot to death or otherwise mistreated. Because they don’t really believe in mental illness. They believe in mental weakness.

They honestly think that if the mentally ill just applied themselves, grew a backbone, toughened up, they’d get better. Since ours is a society that worships strength, whatever the fuck that is, there isn’t a lot of pity spent on the mentally ill.

Been on the receiving end of that attitude most of my life.

Occasionally I try to get through to them with this cartoon, but it rarely works.