UPDATE: Ahmaud Arbery's 3 murderers all found guilty. Sentenced to LIFE in prison.

If Arbery's family decides to proceed with a citizen's arrest of these 3 guys, are they allowed to chase them around with guns? If any of the guys resists they can just shoot them, right? Obviously, I don't believe that they would legally be allowed to do that but it is the logic being used to justify his murder.

 

I think we may have "they all look the same here" situation

Cellphone video shows a Georgia jogger allegedly ambushed by 2 gunmen

 

No doubt - for many the first reaction to a story like this is to assign blame.

I get that. And am fine with it.

There are others though who go right past the "blame" commentary and onto "how can this be prevented or mitigated?"

Or "what could have been done - by one side or the other - to de-escalate?"

When those questions are asked - it's not because the person asking is trying to avoid the blame commentary - it's because he is wondering how to change how people sometimes process situations - perhaps in a more constructive manner.

That's the basis for my question(s) I posted:

Let's assume you are the father of a young black person. How do you prepare him/her for a situation like this?

What advice do you give your son or daughter that would help mitigate in a situation like this?

 

Can’t argue with that. Lessons should be learned. Unfortunately, in the heat of the moment, the lesson “I need to stay cool” is overcome by “I don’t have to put up with this crap”. I’ve never been confronted up close by a gun. I suspect if I was, I’d freeze and try to talk my way out of it. I don’t know that I’d have much other choice. Based purely on what I saw and the police report, I’m loath at this point to blame the victim for how he reacted.

 

Agree. Let's not blame the victim here.

How about putting a little blame on those who are not being solution-oriented?

Those who are perhaps more concerned with blaming - than offering potential solutions?

Those who may have some influence on a young person's life.

Doesn't mean we can stop these kinds of things - but at least we can try....

 

Blaming, prosecution & punishment of killers seems like the foundation of a solution to me. To not start there is more than a bit revealing

 

You really think people that play vigilante and essentially hunt down humans missed a lesson somewhere in life? If racism play a role in this you can bet the farm that their parents were the same way. Unfortunately "don't be racist" doesn't seem like a teachable lesson.

As for what you would teach your children if you were black? Don't jog near white people? That seems like a pretty dumb lesson being a minority. There is absolutely no way to prepare your children from being hunted down by racists. The guy was afraid for his life and was pushed to the edge where he felt the need to fight for it.

 

Reactive vs. proactive, then?

 

If that's the case, why even try?

Tell that to parents and teachers......and mentors of young people who need role models and life instructors....

 

it’s both, of course. Just like being solution oriented & blaming are not mutually exclusive. You can put a spoonful of sugar in a cup of piss, but I’m not going to drink it

 

@Bazza the solution is: How to teach our children not to be racist, how not to profile, why possessing fire arms of that caliber (though I think any firearm in general) is unnecessary, and why acting like you’re a police officer/army solider when you’re not is not acceptable behavior.

 

Has to be manslaughter. Minimum. Poor guy. Poor family.

 

Now I’m as solution oriented as the next fellow. How about a live stream of the fat racists squealing like pigs in their jail cells played as a PSA during NASCAR, Dukes of Hazard, etc?

 

OK that was poorly worded. I was thinking more along the lines of racist parents that succeed in grooming their kids to be the same way. Outside sources should absolutely try to teach these kids to shun this despicable way of thinking (and often succeed). Sorry about that.

 

Criminal Justice, is by its very nature, a reactive process and we need for justice to be done first before we look at teachable moments in this horrible killing.

 

Do we know if Ahmaud Arbery was "covered in tattoos"?

edit: I can see a tattoo on one of his arms in the pic in that article.

 

Uhh, these guys apparently murdered someone in broad daylight and haven't been arrested. That's a bit more immediate of a concern than figuring out whatever "teachable moments" can come from a tragedy like this.

 

Right now the teachable moment is that you can kill someone in cold blood and not get arrested for it