This is how stochastic terrorism plays out.

The people who spew hateful rhetoric at every turn, both right-wing politicians and the #rwnj media, incite violence.

I agree about the gravity of this proliferation of anonymous law enforcement deployments.

And also:

#ACAB

With Law enforcement lying for confession and for entry into private domiciles, presenting administrative warrants as judicial warrants, detaining people illegally, using the military to handle overflow, not identifying themselves, performing illegal searches, hiding from cameras, etc.

This was bound to happen. It is their own fault. Citizens do not know if anyone has authority to do anything.

Playing in the gray area has endangered everyone, including law enforcement themselves.

I would argue that this also reinforces the ubiquity of the problems caused when people automatically believe that cops == friends. A very great chunk of the US and Canada have been functionally brainwashed into believing this, intrinsically if not intellectually, and in turn we see not only ostensible impersonations like this, but untold abuses by uniformed cops wielding both the social and the institutional power they've been given.

If the person is, as many of us suspect, an actual cop, will that change things? Will that contribute further to a justifiable distrust of what they so risibly claim is law enforcement? Or will it be handwaved away as another bad apple, neglecting to mention the rest of the parable?

@mattblaze@federate.

Noted yesterday:

mastodon.social/@mmalc/1146766…

Maybe now augment: There should be some additional electronic protocol that citizens can use for verification in situations like this

@redoak I didn’t say or imply that all or most mentally ill people are dangerous. But somone trying to harm strangers while dressed up as a cop may quite well be mentally ill, behaving irrationally.

One wonders what scolding people for using ordinary language in good faith is trying to achieve.

@redoak @RiaResists "Hi there total stranger. I don't know you, but let me interpret your common use of words in the most adversarial way possible, in a way that lets me impute lack of empathy and poor character on your part. Then I'll congratulate myself for how sensitive to the needs of others I am!"

Fuck off.

@RiaResists
my complaint is not about whether we can know if the shooter is mentally ill. i actually don't think that question is relevant to much except for how to handle them if caught and found guilty.

On the other hand, if we're trying to discuss how this relates to What's Going On and What To Do About It, being clear about what matters is crucial.

and beyond that, considering that speech is an act within and upon the world, it's important to be mindful of the impacts.

I mean if they don't have a valid judicial warrant, then they're an invader trying to illegally enter your home.. The badge is kind of irrelevant.

Like, slide that shit under the door, officer. Please and thank you.