A call made by computer descends sheriff's helicopter at home

http://www.polygon.com/2014/11/7/7172827/destiny-swatting

by monsterix • 12 years ago

3 1 12 years ago

You notice so called "SWATTING" hasn't taken off in other parts of the world, and that certainly isn't down to those parts having less internet trolls or crazies online.

In most other places they will send a normal unit around to check out the report unless they have a credible reason for believing it is legitimate. For example in the UK they will do a drive-by via an unarmed unit, if the lights are off, they will go knock on the door and politely ask the occupant about the call.

In the US they send in ultra-militarized units holding automatic weapons in what can only be described as a tank, break down doors, rustle up whoever is inside regardless of if they did anything and in general make a huge spectacle out of the entire thing.

US police forces have no proportionality. Heck they have no common sense. Plus the general public in the US seems to approve of the "just in case" OTT reaction. For example in the recent White House wall jump the Secret Service got criticised for showing restraint, a US senator asked (paraphrasing) "Why didn't you just shoot him? Your job isn't to show restraint it is to protect the White House!" That's a US senator!

The US is like the wild west sometimes...

A call made by computer descends sheriff's helicopter at home

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