Poll: Would You shoot at Protestors?

[heyheysg]

Let's say you joined the Police/Army and called out to face the mob of the day.

Some are protesting War, corrupt Governments, Workers rights.

So they're basically sitting there jamming up traffic, reducing tourism.

Your commanding officer orders you to start throwing tear gas and shoot rubber bullets and those hippies.

What do you do and why?

OK, Here's where I'm coming from by the way.

Thailand right now is having a tough time as the rural people known as the 'Red Shirts' (I know...) are protesting their government as being illegal (coup d'tat in '06) and they want a election immediately.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1265325/Thailand-riots-Latest-travel-advice-tourists-Bangkok.html

Also, there was this scene in the beginning of Watchmen based on the true story of protestors in the Vietnam War. For some reason, the Iraq war wasn't as heavily protested, had less media coverage and probably less violence inflicted.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_State_shootings

Finally, the issue is, why would you shoot your own countrymen? Who are you protecting in the end? Are those not involved, in power, poor, rich more deserving of protection?

 

[SimuLord]

Start throwing tear gas and shooting rubber bullets (and then only if they wouldn't let me shoot lead bullets.)

Where's the fun in joining law enforcement if you don't get to ruin people's shit? I'm Chaotic Neutral. I sure as fuck don't care about being all Boy Scout about it. I probably joined something like an army purely for my own sociopathic ends.

 

[Pimppeter2]

Probably, I mean, it would be fun and non lethal.

Or if they were "Tea Party"ers

 

[Deviltongue]

If they were hippies, most likely.

 

[jmoore4ska]

I don't think that's exactly legal if they aren't doing anything violent, you know.

 

[Neonbob]

Probably, I mean, it would be fun and non lethal.

I'm surprised you didn't call godzilla on them. Or is that too much overkill?

Myself? Hell yes I'd shoot at them the instant I was given the order. I don't like hippies.
So the chance to shoot at them would be a dream come true XD

 

[Blatherscythe]

If he orders me to do it, then I'll do it (unless he orders me to kill an innocent).

 

[Wildrow12]

No.

I would--CLOTHESLINE ALL OF THEM,AND LEAVE THEM BROKEN ON THE STREET WHICH IS NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT I WILL DO TO YOU AT WRESTLEMANIA, HULK HOGAN!

 

[Novania]

Only if they were holding Pro-Justin Bieber signs....Ima go kill his ass

 

[Shjade]

Depends. What country's police force did I join? If the options are shoot the protestors or get shot myself, yeah, I'm unloading.

 

[Cody211282]

Why only tear gas and shooting rubber bullets, whats wrong with grenades and real bullets? Or did the army run out when I wasn't looking?

 

[Pimppeter2]

Probably, I mean, it would be fun and non lethal.

I'm surprised you didn't call godzilla on them. Or is that too much overkill?

Myself? Hell yes I'd shoot at them the instant I was given the order. I don't like hippies.
So the chance to shoot at them would be a dream come true XD

Well they're not French Hippies.

Now I must go wash my brains.

 

[Kollega]

It depends entirely on the situation the fuss is about. If the conditions really are bad, shooting them would be a crime against my own moral standards [footnote]The underlined word combination is probably unfamiliar to most of you.[/footnote]. If they are just protesting peacefuly but seemingly for no reason, then it would still be a bit too much. And if they're just using the "protest" as an excuse for vandalism, ATTACK! The only person here allowed vandalism is me!

***
By the way, poll is too unspecific. There's a whole crapload of added conditions. Such as: "Is protest violent?" "Do i agree with protestors?" "Does a superior officer threaten me?". And so on. The world isn't that simple, you see.

[small]Can't believe i'm saying that in an idealistic context.[/small]

***
I predict that most posters on this thread will say something along the lines of "hell yes, i don't care for anyone and hippies suck! Why can't i have real ammunition?!" in an attempt to be kewl and edgy.

 

[Chicago Ted]

Yes, I would assume that by the time the command has been given, the protest would be turning closer to a riot. Besides, you've been ordered to do it, you should carry through with your duty. If it were lethal rounds though, then I would probably not fire however unless all hell had broken loose.

 

[RJ Dalton]

It is illegal and unconstitutional to attack non-violent protesters. I would not support any order to do so.

 

[NeutralDrow]

Let's say you joined the Police/Army and called out to face the mob of the day.

Some are protesting War, corrupt Governments, Workers rights.

So they're basically sitting there jamming up traffic, reducing tourism.

Your commanding officer orders you to start throwing tear gas and shoot rubber bullets and those hippies.

What do you do and why?

I'd refuse, and depending on how insistent they are, maybe even threaten arrest. Obeying a superior officer doesn't take precedent over the law, and not only does the law prohibit firing on nonviolent protesters, but there's a whole crapload of justifications you need as a police officer to resort to violence at all.

 

[Neonbob]

Probably, I mean, it would be fun and non lethal.

I'm surprised you didn't call godzilla on them. Or is that too much overkill?

Myself? Hell yes I'd shoot at them the instant I was given the order. I don't like hippies.
So the chance to shoot at them would be a dream come true XD

Well they're not French Hippies.

Now I must go wash my brains.

MY GOD MAN. The horror!
You just combined two things of badness to make...awfulness! Get the damn giant lizard out!

 

[Irony's Acolyte]

It depends on why there protesting. If I don't agree with their protest reason, I'd have some fun busting some hippies head! If I do agree with their reasons... then I'd turn treasonous in a second and turn on the rest of the police (only if it was a violent protest/riot).

 

[jthm]

sure, job is a job.