But since you mention that, cops do not have to be heavy handed. Training around handling mental health helps. Training around de-escalation helps. Not being a murdering racist helps. Body cameras work.
If the guns were the main reason, we'd see similar reactions every time a group of open-carry white protesters show up on the streets. They're not treated the same way though.
Well, multiple people have been fired and imprisoned. And investigations are on the way to probably arrest and imprison more cops.
Mental health is probably a small part of the picture of civilian-on-police violence, unless you consider anyone who considers it a good idea to kill a police officer as intrinsically mentally unhealthy.
> If the guns were so scary, we'd see similar reactions every time a group of open-carry white protesters show up on the streets
Cops aren't generally worried about open carry nuts, because they are mostly a known quantity. I'd imagine getting shot at a routine traffic stop or doing a domestic violence call is much more on the mind of your average officer than getting attacked by someone open carrying.
1 out of 4 initially involved people has been charged. People who did the initial coverup are still untouched. One chief of police was fired by a mayor. Firing someone for helping with murder or current attack on unarmed civilians is a joke and bringing that up will only make people more angry. (Fired cops often go straight into security jobs)
Re. mental illness issues, have a read: https://health.usnews.com/wellness/articles/2016-12-07/how-c...
> Cops aren't generally worried about open carry nuts
Yeah. Turns out it's not about just any people having guns. Black Panthers and all...
Yes, apparently the likelihood of someone actually using the gun factors into their fear of guns. They aren't afraid of the mere idea of a gun, they are afraid of being shot by a gun. Not all people who carry guns are equally as likely to shoot you.