Bots, bombs, and use of force.

[Jamisjockey]

http://antiwar.com/blog/2016/07/10/why-it-matters-the-dallas-police-used-a-drone-to-kill-someone-in-america/

From the comments

There was no reason to kill the suspect by robot, by drone or by sniper. The suspect was contained. There were no hostages. The suspect was alone, barricaded in the building surrounded by cops. The robot could have delivered tear gas, knock out gas or the cops could have simply waited him out behind a safe perimeter. He would eventually have to come out. If he came out armed, lethal force would have been justified.
We need to remind ourselves that the job of a solider is to kill the enemy. The job of a cop is to arrest a suspect and deliver the arrestee to the judicial system. A cop may only use lethal force to prevent imminent harm, not to punish a criminal.

IMHO police were eager to exact revenge and end the standoff. 

The precedent this sets is unsettling.

[lupinus]

What he said ^


Sent from my iPhone. Freaking autocorrect.

[MechAg94]

IMO, the police wanted to stop the guy without exposing themselves the fire.  They used what was there.  I really doubt they were thinking of precedents.  Maybe they should have.  If they had brought in a 50 cal rifle and shot through the barrier, I am not sure if the precedent wouldn't be the same. 

I just don't think this event is quite as significant as you think.  The general use of explosives would require someone to decide that collateral damage is okay as long as the target is stopped which sometimes happens already.  I just don't see it carrying over to explosives and armed drones just because of this event.  If we are heading down that slippery slope, that ride already started and this didn't add anything significant.  The criminal courts punishing police officers and civil suits punishing the administration are the two things that might hold law enforcement in check.  I think the first has been eroded already.  I don't know about the second. 

[TechMan]

Graphic photo of supposed Dallas shoot surfaces online