Police pull guns on, arrest boy, 12

[The Straight Story]

POLICE pulled their guns on a 12-year-old boy playing in a yard in the Northern Territory because they thought he was hiding behind a fence with a rifle.

The "weapon" was a broken 1m-long curtain pole with black duct tape, the Northern Territory News reports.

Tom had to be treated for shock at hospital as a result of the incident.

His mother Terry Mahoney said she was devastated.

"He was just a normal kid playing with a fake rifle," she said.

...

The incident happened only days after the small family was made homeless.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/national/police-pull-gun-on-boy-12/story-e6frfkxr-1225973058056#ixzz18U80IpKc

[stray cat]

1. but only the US ever have police who make mistakes...

[TBF]

4. I have yet to see a response from you that is anti-authoritarian. nt

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[whistler162]

12. You do realize that they didn't overreact!

[Vickers]

13. Name-calling, EstimatedProphet?

Tsk, tsk.

[sailor65]

14. Did you even read the link?

"They said police guns were drawn but dropped instantly when it was clear there was no threat. Reports of the boy having been handcuffed were not confirmed."

Some crazy overreaction there, you betcha!

[midnight]

2. K&R Poor family can't seem to shake a break....

[sailor65]

3. No injuries yet "Treated" for shock?

Sounds like somebody's looking for a payday.

[Hannah Bell]

6. another member of the bash-the-poor contingent heard from

[sailor65]

8. Hilarious

After all the intelligence I've read from you in the past; didn't you eat your Wheaties this morning?

The point is, the rules of anatomy and physiology apply to rich and poor alike. And that's the only point.

Does it make any difference whatsoever in the "Goodness" or "Badness" of the situation with a poor kid versus one who isn't?

[Hannah Bell]

15. i stand by what i said. you lept immediately to "looking for paycheck" on the basis

of 3 words.

[sailor65]

16. I'd be disappointed if you didn't.

And since this is Australia, we're not likely to be able to follow the story easily. But I'll wager that in 6 months or less this thing will be in court or the family will take a payoff out of court. Which is a shame, considering:

"They said police guns were drawn but dropped instantly when it was clear there was no threat. Reports of the boy having been handcuffed were not confirmed"

It happens all the time. And in this case the police actually acted quite well. Shock? No way.

[Hannah Bell]

17. lots of stupid things "happen all the time". & just because the news report says "treated for shock"

doesn't mean he was treated for *medical* shock, i.e. blood/o2 etc. loss.

but you kneejerked from those 3 words to "looking for paycheck".

[knitter4democracy]

9. Shock is a complicated condition.

The mind alone can create it, especially in children. PTSD can create it. You don't need to have a physical ailment to go into shock.

[blueamy66]

7. Gotta love our American police force

idiots

[sailor65]

10. Even worse are those idiots

that think out American Police Force is currently operating in Australia.

[blueamy66]

18. Sorry bud

I didn't read the article.

So police all over the world are dumb asses.

Thanks for proving my point.

And I'm not an idiot, "sailor 65".

[whistler162]

11. Minor points.

1 - Australian police

2 - Proper procedure.

[blueamy66]

19. whatever

as I roll my eyes