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Richard Stallman response to Boston Police efforts

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Re: Richard Stallman response to Boston Police efforts

#81

Post by bane »

ivanca wrote: post #46
sergiotapia wrote: post #3

>4 people killed in a week is not a lot compared with the background level of deaths in the US. It's not as many as in the Texas explosion. Car accidents in the US kill around 100 people a day, and surely grievously injure hundreds more. ============================ Difference being of course, one was a deliberate attack on human life, and the other a very _very_ unfortunate accident. Stupid comparison to make for th…

I would downvote you if I could because the comparison is certainly not stupid; just because you fear more the will of the others over accidents does not make it stupid. If for example cars were allowed (mechanically and legally) to only accelerate to maximum 50mph many of those accidents would never happen, but people are not willing to loose their freedom to drive at crazy speeds but somehow they are willing to loo…

I have to drive to work, lunch and home every single day, I have to deal with an ongoing terrorist attack almost never.

Re: Richard Stallman response to Boston Police efforts

#82

Post by rdouble »

InclinedPlane wrote: post #80
tolmasky wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is killing a police officer worse than killing a "normal" person?

The death of a police officer is no more tragic, necessarily, than the death of anyone else. However, an attacker who is brazen enough and well-prepared enough to attack and kill a police officer is more of a threat to the public. Ordinary citizens are generally not as well armed, armored, or trained as police officers, nor are they in near constant contact with police dispatch. Someone capable of and willing to kill…

Ordinary citizens are generally not as well armed

Not sure how accurate that statement is in America.

Re: Richard Stallman response to Boston Police efforts

#83

Post by fnordfnordfnord »

ck2 wrote: post #58
mindcrime wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh and while this huge distraction was going on - no background checks or database for guns. Background checks are already required for almost all gun sales, including ones at gun-shows. This whole discussion is a red-herring. And what the f%!# good do you think a "database for guns" is going to do? You think the terrorists buy their guns over the counter, with legit IDs and happily register them with the authorities…

Why do we bother to have laws at all if people are going to break them? I mean look at all the silencers people have to get away with murder - oh wait, they don't - because they are illegal and highly regulated.

I mean look at all the silencers people have to get away with murder - oh wait, they don't - because they are illegal and highly regulated.

Murderers rarely use such things

A silencer is cheap and trivial to manufacture from common materials.

I think you overestimate the deterrence of an additional felony charge. "Q. What are you in for? A. Murder... and an unlicensed weapon accessory."

Re: Richard Stallman response to Boston Police efforts

#84

Post by kevincennis »

marknutter wrote: post #65
tkahn6 wrote: post #35

> 4 people killed in a week is not a lot compared with the background level of deaths in the US It's not every day that people have their legs blown off while enjoying a public social event. There's an expectation of danger while driving a car. There is no expectation of danger while spectating at the Boston Marathon. It's not complicated.

> There is no expectation of danger while spectating at the Boston Marathon. There also is no expectation of getting struck by lightning while spectating at the Boston Marathon, yet that is much more likely to happen than getting hit by a terrorist's bomb.

There might be some level of expectation of getting hit by lightning during a lightning storm at the Boston Marathon.

Re: Richard Stallman response to Boston Police efforts

#85

Post by tedks »

bane wrote: post #39
acabal wrote: post #29

As unfeeling as his statement might sound, he's entirely correct. I told a family member today that the saddest thing about this whole Boston incident isn't the (still very sad and senseless) loss of life and limb, but that it's undoubtedly going to be used as an excuse to further degrade civil rights nationwide in the coming years, to continue to justify state-sponsored human suffering like Guantanamo, and to furthe…

going to be used as an excuse to further degrade civil rights nationwide in the coming years I don't necessarily disagree, but I look forward to RMS's anti-terrorism proposal.

You can read his political notes and get a pretty good grasp.

But to use a metaphor, it's possible to find a bug without knowing what the patch is.

Re: Richard Stallman response to Boston Police efforts

#86

Post by ihsw »

grinich wrote: post #62
ck2 wrote: post #4

It took hundreds of police and probably millions of dollars to catch a teenager who didn't even bother to leave the area or go into hiding - and even TWEETED after the event. If we were attacked by real, organized terrorists, we are screwed. I really do not get all the celebration and back-patting, it's disturbing. Oh and while this huge distraction was going on - no background checks for guns, the most basic bill fa…

> I really do not get all the celebration and back-patting, it's disturbing. This is way less about a real accomplishment, and more about what people need to feel. After the bombings, people felt vulnerable and scared. And for the police, I'm sure also embarrassed and angry. Catching this kid is the vindication they all needed emotionally. I'm just glad they didn't get overzealous and kill him, as most manhunts end.…

I think it's an odd coincidence this happens immediately following my comment six days ago:

> Law enforcement agencies are being lambasted time and again (whether it's valid criticism or not is irrelevant), and they continue to ignore claims of how ineffectual they are. Someone needs to stand up and say "We are here for you and we support you" otherwise it stands to reason that there are dangerous undertones forming.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5544924

It's exactly what that younger gentleman demonstrated -- the police will go above and beyond for you, even to the point of actively impeding normal functions of society.

Re: Richard Stallman response to Boston Police efforts

#87

Post by PetrolMan »

platz wrote: post #42
acabal wrote: post #29

As unfeeling as his statement might sound, he's entirely correct. I told a family member today that the saddest thing about this whole Boston incident isn't the (still very sad and senseless) loss of life and limb, but that it's undoubtedly going to be used as an excuse to further degrade civil rights nationwide in the coming years, to continue to justify state-sponsored human suffering like Guantanamo, and to furthe…

You're wrong. The saddest thing is the loss of life and limb.

I'm torn. I absolutely understand what you are saying and I agree but the problem is that this whole sequence of events cannot be separated from the larger cultural and historical sequence. The saddest thing is absolutely the loss of life but there is a huge part of me that is almost as greatly saddened by the fact that as advanced as we are as a species that we still act like complete and utter idiots when we get together in large enough groups.

Re: Richard Stallman response to Boston Police efforts

#88

Post by declan »

rdouble wrote: post #70
ck2 wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do we bother to have laws at all if people are going to break them? I mean look at all the silencers people have to get away with murder - oh wait, they don't - because they are illegal and highly regulated.

Suppressors are legal in all but 11 states if you fill out the paperwork.

Please don't interject facts into this discussion! This is Hacker News, where we should just say what we THINK might be correct, or should be correct, without having any actual knowledge of the subject. That's what real hackers do, right?

BTW it's worth pointing out that some countries like Finland do not regulate silencers/sound suppressors on the grounds that they reduce noise pollution and benefit public health by reducing the risk of hearing damage: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politics_in_Finland#Related...

Re: Richard Stallman response to Boston Police efforts

#89

Post by cdash »

ryanhuff wrote: post #10
ck2 wrote: post #4

It took hundreds of police and probably millions of dollars to catch a teenager who didn't even bother to leave the area or go into hiding - and even TWEETED after the event. If we were attacked by real, organized terrorists, we are screwed. I really do not get all the celebration and back-patting, it's disturbing. Oh and while this huge distraction was going on - no background checks for guns, the most basic bill fa…

How about celebration for the simple matter that a couple of murderers are off the street, and people can stop hiding in their houses?

Why was it necessary for so many people to be hiding in their houses? I certainly have never seen an entire city shut down and hiding at home because a couple of murders were out there.

Re: Richard Stallman response to Boston Police efforts

#90

Post by cynicalkane »

emily37 wrote: post #28
subsystem wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They were actually about to abort the "bruteforce" operation before they got a call that someone had found the suspect in their boat, outside the perimeter. I really hope they evalute the operation properly. A good outcome doesn't necessarily validate the process.

I thought it was really odd that they told people they could go about their business after completing the Watertown search without finding him. It seemed to me at that point the probability of us being injured had just gone up. However, lifting the stay-indoors request turned out to be crucial, because a man spotted the blood on the boat only after going outside for the first time all day. On the other hand, if they…

I thought it was really odd that they told people they could go about their business after completing the Watertown search without finding him.

You find it really odd we don't live in a police state?

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