Sad Day!

[tanzanos]

Tomorrow I am going to the funeral of the 15 year old boy shot to death by the police here in Athens. He was my son's classmate; and was on his way to a party with friends. My son was supposed to be with them but remained with us due to St Nicholas day celebration.

Apparently the boys saw a patrol car pass on its way to the riots (anarchists protest) and one of the boys threw a plastic water bottle at the car. The policemen came out and one of them shot the boy dead.

Nothing will bring that boy back. He paid with his life a gesture common with adolescents; a mere prank.

It is immoral to use guns to kill; even more so against unarmed children.

I can only hope that all Guns will someday be silenced forever as was the boys life silenced!

 

[cantata]

That's so awful! I'm sorry.

 

[lawtonfogle]

Tomorrow I am going to the funeral of the 15 year old boy shot to death by the police here in Athens. He was my son's classmate; and was on his way to a party with friends. My son was supposed to be with them but remained with us due to St Nicholas day celebration.

Apparently the boys saw a patrol car pass on its way to the riots (anarchists protest) and one of the boys threw a plastic water bottle at the car. The policemen came out and one of them shot the boy dead.

Nothing will bring that boy back. He paid with his life a gesture common with adolescents; a mere prank.

It is immoral to use guns to kill; even more so against unarmed children.

I can only hope that all Guns will someday be silenced forever as was the boys life silenced!

Umm... what is now happening to the policeman? And really, this wasn't the fault of a gun, but of the policeman. I think the true problem here is they have policmen who will act like that. That is the problem we need to fix. If the policeman didn't have a gun, he may just have killed the person the other way around.

You don't need to direct your anger at guns, even though inanimate objects are so easy to beat up on. You need to find out who allowed such a guy the power of a policeman and see if there is anything that can be done to prevent it. Direct your anger at stopping it again.

 

[TheBear]

bump

 

[Verv]

A woman was raped yesterday. I can only hope that one day there will be no penises in the world.

Right? Penises to be silenced forever!

What percentage of police shoot children?

What percentage of gun owners shoot children?

What percentage of men are rapists? Etc.

Just as a note: I respect and admire the Police and i tis unfortunate that once in a while these terrible incidences happen and then irrational people protest violently against the Police who protect them.

 

[Jane_the_Bane]

I've seen the pictures on the news. Did you know that something very similar happened in Germany, roughly 40 years ago? The murder of Benno Ohnesorg at the hands of a policeman sparked riots not quite unlike those that are now engulfing Athens and Thessaloniki.

 

[Jane_the_Bane]

A woman was raped yesterday. I can only hope that one day there will be no penises in the world.

Right? Penises to be silenced forever!

Right! Guns are such a natural part of Man's anatomy and so vital to his very being that asking him to relinquish them is like asking him to cut off parts of his body.

Naturally, people have always killed each other, and always found instruments that made this a whole lot easier. A simple stone, if used correctly, can fell a man twice your size. So can a kitchen knife. Or you may strangulate a person with a shoestring, club him to death with a tennis racket, run him over with a car - the list is virtually endless, and involves almost every implement found in the average household.

There is a notable difference, though: guns are designed as weapons, built with the explicit purpose of wounding and killing. Tanzano's objection to guns most likely reflects his outrage at a world in which ever new and more effective means of killing each other are marketed, a world where people make a living by selling others the means to butcher each other. A world where practical constraints may force policemen to carry arms in order to protect themselves against criminals using similar weapons.

 

[HighwayMan]

yeah, the police are pretty much scum all over eastern Europe, and most of the world really. Back in Bulgaria mostly people with intelligence somewhere between a horse and a pig become cops, and their only function is to get drunk in bars and take out their lives' frustrations on women, children and defenseless people.

having said that, I'm sorry for the boy, but that's a very stupid thing to do. If you tug on a lion's tail, expect him to bite back.

 

[Verv]

Uh, so your son's friend was with 30 other youths accosting two police officers?

That is the story that the Police give.

I do not think it is as black and white as you think.

Right! Guns are such a natural part of Man's anatomy and so vital to his very being that asking him to relinquish them is like asking him to cut off parts of his body.

Naturally, people have always killed each other, and always found instruments that made this a whole lot easier. A simple stone, if used correctly, can fell a man twice your size. So can a kitchen knife. Or you may strangulate a person with a shoestring, club him to death with a tennis racket, run him over with a car - the list is virtually endless, and involves almost every implement found in the average household.

There is a notable difference, though: guns are designed as weapons, built with the explicit purpose of wounding and killing. Tanzano's objection to guns most likely reflects his outrage at a world in which ever new and more effective means of killing each other are marketed, a world where people make a living by selling others the means to butcher each other. A world where practical constraints may force policemen to carry arms in order to protect themselves against criminals using similar weapons.

Guns are also designed to be tools for hunting animals, which is good.

Tell me, does owning a gun make someone potentially a killer?

How much crime would there be in Greece if everyone knew that the police did not carry guns? How much crime could be stopped, etc., if it were a 'no gun zone?'

Do you think we have somehow gotten to a point where we do not need protection?

yeah, the police are pretty much scum all over eastern Europe, and most of the world really. Back in Bulgaria mostly people with intelligence somewhere between a horse and a pig become cops, and their only function is to get drunk in bars and take out their lives' frustrations on women, children and defenseless people.

having said that, I'm sorry for the boy, but that's a very stupid thing to do. If you tug on a lion's tail, expect him to bite back.

Do they at least get the gypsies? OK, Haha, just kidding.

It is insulting to hear police spoken of that way, but I am not a Bulgarian so I do not know if this is just hut-sori or if it is true or not.

 

[jcook922]

Tomorrow I am going to the funeral of the 15 year old boy shot to death by the police here in Athens. He was my son's classmate; and was on his way to a party with friends. My son was supposed to be with them but remained with us due to St Nicholas day celebration.

Apparently the boys saw a patrol car pass on its way to the riots (anarchists protest) and one of the boys threw a plastic water bottle at the car. The policemen came out and one of them shot the boy dead.

Nothing will bring that boy back. He paid with his life a gesture common with adolescents; a mere prank.

It is immoral to use guns to kill; even more so against unarmed children.

I can only hope that all Guns will someday be silenced forever as was the boys life silenced!

Don't blame the gun, blame it's wielder. The fact that I've been overseas and am trained in the profession of arms doesn't make me a babykiller, nor does it make all cops evil. The kid did do something pretty retarded though, and while shooting a teenager for something like that would never fly in the USA, on the same note I don't have much sympathy if he did it out of support for the anarchists.

I fragging hate protestors.

 

[tanzanos]

Uh, so your son's friend was with 30 other youths accosting two police officers?

That is the story that the Police give.

I do not think it is as black and white as you think.

Correction.

The boy was with friends on their way to ST Nicholas party.
They were 4 altogether.
A patrol car on its way to the riots passed and told the kids to F..... off or else!
one of the kids threw a 1/2 litre empty plastic water bottle at the patrol car.
The patrol car stopped 100 metres away and the two cops came out. One of them started threatening while walking towards them.
Meanwhile dispatch called the cops to another scene where riots were in progress.
The cops ignored this call.
At approximately 50 metres the cop (known in his circle as Rambo) pointed his 9mm and let off 3 rounds at the kids.
My sons friend died from a fatal shot in the heart.
The cop calmly walked away.
A child lay dead!

 

[Jane_the_Bane]

Guns are also designed to be tools for hunting animals, which is good.

Correction: some guns are intended for the purpose of hunting. Most, however, aren't.

Tell me, does owning a gun make someone potentially a killer?

Owning a simple kitchen knife makes someone a potential killer, too. Every single one of us is a potential killer. But there is still a difference between owning an appliance that serves a very different purpose in general, and owning a tool that is specifically intended to inflict grievous wounds and potentially kill.

How much crime would there be in Greece if everyone knew that the police did not carry guns? How much crime could be stopped, etc., if it were a 'no gun zone?'

Do you think we have somehow gotten to a point where we do not need protection?

Did you even read my post? I covered pretty much all of this in my previous response.

Do they at least get the gypsies? OK, Haha, just kidding.

Racist jokes? Your sympathy points are deteriorating quickly.

 

[Verv]

Correction.

The boy was with friends on their way to ST Nicholas party.
They were 4 altogether.
A patrol car on its way to the riots passed and told the kids to F..... off or else!
one of the kids threw a 1/2 litre empty plastic water bottle at the patrol car.
The patrol car stopped 100 metres away and the two cops came out. One of them started threatening while walking towards them.
Meanwhile dispatch called the cops to another scene where riots were in progress.
The cops ignored this call.
At approximately 50 metres the cop (known in his circle as Rambo) pointed his 9mm and let off 3 rounds at the kids.
My sons friend died from a fatal shot in the heart.
The cop calmly walked away.
A child lay dead!

He had a Sex Pistols shirt -- cool.

I am not sure if your story is true. If it is, then I feel like the police officer should be punished extensively.

Correction: some guns are intended for the purpose of hunting. Most, however, aren't.


Owning a simple kitchen knife makes someone a potential killer, too. Every single one of us is a potential killer. But there is still a difference between owning an appliance that serves a very different purpose in general, and owning a tool that is specifically intended to inflict grievous wounds and potentially kill.

Until the police's response time is less than 10 seconds, I think owning guns is sometimes necessary for self-defense.

Gun possession should not even be an issue here unless you are arguing the 15 year old should have had a gun to protect himself.

Racist jokes? Your sympathy points are deteriorating quickly.

It is not a joke. I was just wondering.

Any 'race' that defines itself through existing as illegal immigrants and committing crimes is really not much of a race, but rather... A gang? A group of criminals? I do not know.

 

[tanzanos]

He had a Sex Pistols shirt -- cool.

I am not sure if your story is true. If it is, then I feel like the police officer should be punished extensively.

There is video evidence. Plus witnesses. Also The public prosecutor ruled that it was wanton murder.

This particular cop (Also known as Rambo amongst his colleagues) has in the past shown extremely bad conduct yet was allowed to continue his career in the force.

Since the Public is not armed in this country, then Riot police should not be armed with lethal weapons.

 

[Verv]

There is video evidence. Plus witnesses. Also The public prosecutor ruled that it was wanton murder.

This particular cop (Also known as Rambo amongst his colleagues) has in the past shown extremely bad conduct yet was allowed to continue his career in the force.

Since the Public is not armed in this country, then Riot police should not be armed with lethal weapons.

Then the cop should go to jail. He really messed up.

The public is rioting about the terrible antics of one cop, now, eh?

That is illogical, especially since now they are destroying banks and shops, etc.

I think that the police should be empowered to stop these reckless mobs destroying private property and costing businesses lots of money.

Curfews should probably go into effect in select areas.

 

[Verv]

Here is some more:

DOZENS of rioters have rampaged through central Athens after police shot dead a boy who tried to throw a petrol bomb at a patrol car, officals said.
The youths smashed shop windows and set fire to refuse containers after the shooting, which took place in the traditionally left-wing Exarchia district of the Greek capital.
"Hundreds of them hit the streets, probably for revenge ... Dozens of police units are gathering to try to control the situation," said a police official, who declined to be named.
Tear gas filled the narrow streets of the busy neighbourhood and restaurants closed their shutters, witnesses said.
Police said there were no arrests or reports of injuries so far.
The shooting took place after a group of around six youths started pelting a police vehicle with stones. When one tried to throw a petrol bomb, a policeman shot him in the stomach, said the official.

(source)


Some believe it is related to a bunch of Asylum seekers:

Hundreds of migrants waiting to submit asylum applications rioted in central Athens, setting fire to rubbish bins and attacking passing cars.
Protesters said the riot began when one man fell into a nearby canal after authorities told the crowd that no more applications could be submitted. Only a small number of applications can be submitted each week.
It was not immediately clear how the man fell into the canal. Police said he was injured and was taken by ambulance to a hospital. They said they were investigating the incident.
Outraged asylum-seekers began setting fire to rubbish bins and throwing them into the street, and ripped branches off trees to set them alight. A smaller group threw rocks at passing cars, stopping some vehicles and banging on them with their hands. There were no reports of any passers-by being injured.

(source)

 

[tanzanos]

Here is some more:

Your source is wrong. Firstly the riots are not due to the shooting. It just added oil to the fire. Secondly your source on the boy throwing fire-bombs is not only wrong but goes contrary to contemporary police records.

I fail to understand why you are taking such a stance against the boy?

I live here and in fact just came back from the funeral. Everyone was shouting "Cops-Pigs-Murderers"

Even the prime minister and president agreed that the Cop committed a heinous crime.

Show some decency. My OP was not against Cops. Just their lack of good training!

 

[Oneofthediaspora]

I think the police officer has been arrested and charged hasn't he?
I'm sorry to hear that this has affected you directly Tanzanos. I hope your own son is not too traumatised.

Mike

 

[Gremlins]

This Greek thing is terrible . British policemen (generally) don't carry guns. I'd quite like to keep it this way. However, a mentally handicapped person was shot outside of Guildford Cathedral the other day, adn the Police seem pretty loathe to reveal all the information (as always). There's been no protests or riots about it. We need more riots. The last really big demonstration was when 2-3 million people marched peacefully on Parliament against the Iraq war. The last really big riots were in 1990 against the Poll Tax, effectively getting rid of Margaret Thatcher (who, incidentally, essentially turned the police into a politicised attack force).

 

[Oneofthediaspora]

... effectively getting rid of Margaret Thatcher (who, incidentally, essentially turned the police into a politicised attack force).

Yes she did!!
You know your history Gremlins.
Nice one.

Mike.