The issue in the Minneapolis police shooting [View all]

[MineralMan]

of a woman who had called 911 to report a possible crime has nothing to do with race, religion, national origin or anything else except one stunning question that is at the core of increased police violence:

Why are police officers so quick to shoot people who are not police officers?

That's the real question here. When such shootings happen, they generally happen very quickly, with a police officer firing at and often killing someone who actually poses no threat to the shooter. A man sitting in his car after being stopped for a taillight out. A woman walking up to a police car after calling 911 to report a crime. A young boy at a park with a BB gun. A boy in a car with three others driving AWAY from somewhere. A troubled person who needs mental health care when police respond to a call from a parent or loved one. BANG! BANG! You're dead.

The problem isn't race. The problem is that police see civilians as a threat, whether or not any threat is present. The problem is that police officers are almost never charged and convicted when they shoot a civilian. The problem is that the police can, and do, act out of fear and loathing of anyone who is not a police officer. Shoot first and then ask questions seems to be SOP.

That is what needs to be addressed and redressed. We need our police to stop and think before pulling the trigger on their weapons. We need our police to stop seeing everyone not in a uniform as a potential threat. That's what we need to be talking about.