Cop shoots litter of kittens in front of screaming children

[Gravekeeper]

Gravedigger, if it were me I wouldn't shoot the kittens.

I am not a monster truck >.>

But that's not what this topic is about. Your version of common sense is very dependent on where your from (it's also an irrelevant appeal, but ...)

I would be curious as to what area's common sense dictates its okay to open fire without warning next to a residence in a suburban neighbourhood. Nevermind in front of children.

This is the house.

He opened fire into the woodpile. Note how close it is to the house.

This is not some farm or ranch in the middle of no where.

Officers of the peace discharge firearms near homes all the time.

No they don't actually. Cops don't get to discharge a weapon without assessing the safety of the surrounding environment. They certainly don't get to discharge a weapon without a very very good reason.

Most animal control officers have the ability to euthanize with firearms to the point that most have guidelines for it because adequate veterinary facilities may not be nearby.

Most animal control officers do not use a firearm unless the animal is rabid or otherwise an immediate aggressive threat. That's why its called a control officer, not an exterminator. In my city, they don't even have firearms to begin with only tranq rifles, and the officers here have to deal with bears and cougars. Which they manage to control just fine without having to gun them down left right and center.

The children I'll grant you, but again that's highly dependent on where you're from. There's a Louis CK routine about the amount of privilege we have when it comes to how we get to "choose" when our kids get exposed to things and there are places where kids see this stuff.

Its not a privilege to be able to decide your 2 year old won't get to see an authority figure blowing away a kitten.

But, But, But, the disagreement you're getting from me is a procedural one. Regardless of what the SPCA thinks, these were the guidlines established which the officer followed. They would be firing him from following the rules.

Procedural is irrelevant. Just because something is technically within guildelines does not mean it is moral or humane or even legal. Seeing as the Ohio SPCA wants to bring charges against the officer for animal cruelty.

What I'm not a big fan of is lack of community accountability which is what this smacks of. You need not agree with me. But these are the communities rules for dealing with a problem the community is responsible for creating. And the internet is attacking the officer, not the community.

Irrelevant. The issue is not who is responsible for the problem but how the problem was addressed. Trying to blame the community is a misdirection that relies on circumstantial evidence at best. The extent of which you have currently amounts too "Feral cats exist in this town".

Every town/city has some feral animals and most have much more humane methods of dealing with it aside from blowing them away in front of children on private property. Spay & release programs for example. Those methods are on the shoulders of the local animal control.

[Panacea]

That petition link may not work.. I signed it before getting the url and it's saying "signed" for me.

It's working now

The problem with the petition is going to hinge on whether or not what the officer did was illegal or against policy.

According to the mayor, he didn't violate a policy.

It was still immoral, however. It's animal abuse. There is nothing humane about shooting a kitten.

Even if you could disregard the animal cruelty, he discharged a weapon right next to a residence without any warning.

Yeah, this really bothers me as well. The guy has 30 years experience as a police officer. Of all people he should have understood the dangers of discharging a firearm in such proximity to an occupied dwelling. No matter how you spin it, it was dangerous and stupid.

[Peppergirl]

Gravedigger, if it were me I wouldn't shoot the kittens.

His moniker is 'Gravekeeper'. I'll assume you weren't intentionally being disrespectful here, but in the future, please address members by their chosen screen name or use the quote button.

Thanks.

[Aethian]

His moniker is 'Gravekeeper'. I'll assume you weren't intentionally being disrespectful here, but in the future, please address members by their chosen screen name or use the quote button.

Thanks.

If they were using a smart phone Gravekeeper keeps changing to Grave digger on mine.

[Peppergirl]

If they were using a smart phone Gravekeeper keeps changing to Grave digger on mine.

Thank you for that. As I stated, Im sure Yeti meant no disrespect. I'd ask we either use the quote feature to direct posts toward one another, or double check phones to be sure it enters correctly.

Thanks all for your cooperation.