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Comment by AnIdiotOnTheNet | Hacker News Reader

Let me ask you something: It is perfectly legal for me, an ordinary civilian, to use a firearm in defense of my own life. In this respect my rights are no different than those of a member of the police force. If I shot a man in the street on the grounds that he was reaching for his wasteband, what do you think is the likely outcome?

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Well since you're asking cops are in a position of authority. If they tell you not to move, then don't move. If you reach for your waistband while they have guns drawn and pointing at you then you're gonna have a bad time.

There are definitely cases when there are multiple officers shouting different instructions at you. If I was in a situation like this I would keep my hands up and slowly get on the ground face down with my hands on my head and hope I'm not shot at....it's pretty sad when it comes to that

Have you seen a felony police stop? Civilians caught up in them make a massive number of mistakes for the simple reason they aren't exactly used to someone pointing a gun at them and yelling. LivePD is rather illuminating because unlike COPS not all encounters end in an arrest so you see how innocents react with police encounters.

Its easy to say they should follow directions when you are safe and comfortable at home. Quite another when you don't know why angry police are pointing their guns at you and any false move could mean death.

> If you reach for your waistband while they have guns drawn and pointing at you then you're gonna have a bad time.

And if you had a bad time, well, they can always claim you reached for your waistband.

There was that case a while back where the guy did exactly that, just kept kneeling down on the floor sobbing. He reached for his pants that were falling and got shot with several assault rifles.

I'm in mobile, but there is body cam footage of the cop who shot him.

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