I think it's a bit of a problem that the police in the United States are so out of control violent that they're considered by some a reliable weapon for attempted murder. - ThreadSky

johnrogers.bsky.social • 413 days ago

I think it's a bit of a problem that the police in the United States are so out of control violent that they're considered by some a reliable weapon for attempted murder.

Reposted from Domestic Enemy Hat

Rick Wilson got SWATTed. Hardly a surprise these days.

It’s been going on to people on both Left and Right for a long time — I remember it happening to Patrick Frey back in 2011.

www.laweekly.com/swatting-a-d...

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phuata.bsky.social•413 days ago

People try this in Canada, too, though I'm not sure if it's been fatal, yet. For some, the guaranteed physical assault and destruction of property is enough motivation.

crookedknight.bsky.social•413 days ago

Wilson's blog post says lying to police so they'll kill someone for you shows "the lie of the MAGA’s “Back the Blue” obsession" but IMO it's all of a piece -- the whole point of "Back the Blue" is to encourage police to be as violent and lethal as possible so they'll hurt people you don't like.

coriolusn.bsky.social•413 days ago

Of course. People who support the police, as they currently exist, do so not because the police don't commit horrific violence, but because those supporters believe themselves to be in the in group the violence will be committed on behalf of, not the out group that will be the victims.

johnrogers.bsky.social•413 days ago

Protected but not bound, bound but not protected, etc.

johnrogers.bsky.social•413 days ago

I'd note that 16 years ago -- sixteen! -- I considered a plot point where Hardison swatted a corrupt judge (this was very early days, remember) and after just five minutes of research I realized that this was too sadistic and murderous for our criminals to consider.

clockworkcanary.bsky.social•413 days ago

Yeah. Hardison would have known better. Glad you realized in time.
:)

I knew about swatting from when it was done to a game streamer while he was streaming.
Ages ago, it seems? My first husband was still alive so def 2009 or before. Probably earlier, but my memory for dates is not good.

canray.bsky.social•413 days ago

For your criminals, certainly, but it'd make for one Hell of a good villain. Perhaps someone also running a chain of burner phones for people who cheat on their spouses, various criminal groups from street gangs to organized crime, and outright spy organizations?

canray.bsky.social•413 days ago

With possibly a statement from the crew themselves, "We use burner phones. I mean, we burn through them like crazy. Are, we the baddies too?" "We're thieves." "Yeah, but, you know what I mean."

cmykavenger.bsky.social•413 days ago

It quickly became apparent for those of us involved in teen gamer culture that SWATing people for arguments on XBOX Live was not actually funny, to a great many people's unnatural surprise.

johnrogers.bsky.social•413 days ago

Hoo yeah. I'd heard of it, checked it out, and recoiled in horror.

cmykavenger.bsky.social•413 days ago

One thing Hardison would have absolutely done as a teenager though: boxed people. It used to be so much worse, but it's still an option today! I can't find the early 'cookie bitch' story where a woman got mad at two teenagers for leaving free cookies and received truckloads of boxes, but...

cmykavenger.bsky.social•413 days ago

It's not a victimless crime, but it is a crime where no one should for any reason have a gun. And is almost unimaginably difficult when a hundred people (or spoofs thereof) decide to get involved.

wishda.bsky.social•413 days ago

This has been an issue for a long, long time. The Mississippi Three were not an anomaly.

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