Brilliant idea - gun-shaped phone case

[vaskidmark]

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/pistol-grip-iphone-cases-banned-nyc-advocate-article-1.2276450

[TechMan]

Hopefully it will weed out some people that lack common sense. 

[BlueStarLizzard]

.  His friend, Ka Ren Liu, 17, said, “And the NYPD would, of course, take action first without waiting for you to explain.” 

That's the money line.

Yes, it's stupid, but the tone of the article and the responses from the officers is definitely over the top.

The bit about seeing it sticking out of a back pocket and needing to draw and "defend myself"

[HankB]

Since when does something have to be shaped like a gun to provoke an NYPD shooting? Recall the case of Amadeau Diallo, who, when accosted by a gang of plainclothes NYPD officers, pulled out an ordinary wallet, provoking a 41-round fusillade by NYPD's finest.

And . . . they all got away with it.   

[Hawkmoon]

Since when does something have to be shaped like a gun to provoke an NYPD shooting? Recall the case of Amadeau Diallo, who, when accosted by a gang of plainclothes NYPD officers, pulled out an ordinary wallet, provoking a 41-round fusillade by NYPD's finest.

And . . . they all got away with it.   

Of course -- they fulfilled the Prime Directive: They all went home at the end of their shift. Sucks to be Diallo, but ...

[Boomhauer]

This is going to get morons killed, and honestly, the world is going to be a better place without anybody this *expletive deleted*ing stupid.

[dogmush]

Honestly, I fail to see what all the vapors are about.

We, America that is, managed to have all kinds of gun shaped things (lighters, toys, statues, bric a brac) for literally decades (at least) before cops got too stupid to tell the difference.

I can kinda see the issue with airsoft guns, as they are photo realistic.  But this does not look like a gun.  It looks like a toy, or a weird pistol gripped thingy.  Even a Hi-Point's slide is not as blocky as an iPhone.  I would not have one of these because it's tacky.  But to say that officers will shoot at this reveals a need for better training, better officers, or both.

Get positive target ID before you shoot.  If that takes a sec, suck it the *expletive deleted*ck up, Officer.  That's your job.

[HeroHog]

Ya mean like this moron I ran into in a bar just before Halloween a year or so ago? She had a VERY real looking gun shoved in the back of her pants with it showing. Said it was "her costume." Real rocket surgeon there! (Open carry, hell, ANY carry at the time was quite illegal in a place that served alcohol for consumption on the premises)

[lupinus]

Honestly, I fail to see what all the vapors are about.

We, America that is, managed to have all kinds of gun shaped things (lighters, toys, statues, bric a brac) for literally decades (at least) before cops got too stupid to tell the difference.

I can kinda see the issue with airsoft guns, as they are photo realistic.  But this does not look like a gun.  It looks like a toy, or a weird pistol gripped thingy.  Even a Hi-Point's slide is not as blocky as an iPhone.  I would not have one of these because it's tacky.  But to say that officers will shoot at this reveals a need for better training, better officers, or both.

Get positive target ID before you shoot.  If that takes a sec, suck it the *expletive deleted*ck up, Officer.  That's your job.

While this is generally true, I will also note that people generally weren't stupid enough to whip it out and point it at police. And if they did everyone accepted they were an idiot who brought it on themselves and it didn't get 24/7 news coverage.

[BlueStarLizzard]

While this is generally true, I will also note that people generally weren't stupid enough to whip it out and point it at police. And if they did everyone accepted they were an idiot who brought it on themselves and it didn't get 24/7 news coverage.

The issue isn't people pointing it at police.

The police are openly acknowledging that if they see one, even in a pocket, they will likely draw weapons and engage.

In other words, shoot first and ask questions later is the official line on the subject of fake (even obviously fake) guns regardless of what the person is (or is not) doing with them.
Because, you know, "professionals".

[zxcvbob]

The issue isn't people pointing it at police.

The police are openly acknowledging that if they see one, even in a pocket, they will likely draw weapons and engage.

In other words, shoot first and ask questions later is the official line on the subject of fake (even obviously fake) guns regardless of what the person is (or is not) doing with them.
Because, you know, "professionals".

The police these days will shoot anyone they damn well please, because "officer safety".  And they usually get away with it; if they didn't have a plausible reason, they will make one up.  So I try very hard to be the "gray man" that nobody even notices.  Hard to do when you're 2 meters tall and weigh about 20 stone (I had to look that up) but it helps that I'm white and middle-aged.

[Boomhauer]

The police are openly acknowledging that if they see one, even in a pocket, they will likely draw weapons and engage.

No they aren't. Not a single line in that article says that.

The quote in your first post

"“If I were a cop and it was dark and I saw this (case) on a person, my first thought would be to pull my gun and defuse the threat,"

Is from a community activist, not a cop or LE agency.

[BlueStarLizzard]

No they aren't. Not a single line in that article says that.

The quote in your first post

"“If I were a cop and it was dark and I saw this (case) on a person, my first thought would be to pull my gun and defuse the threat,"

Is from a community activist, not a cop or LE agency.

I stand corrected.

I still think that's what the police in NYC are probably doing about it.