It got a lot of attention this morning when I tweeted, “You’re Eight Times More Likely to be Killed by a Police Officer than a Terrorist.” It’s been quickly retweeted dozens of times, indicating that the idea is interesting to many people. So let’s discuss it in more than 140 characters.
In case it needs saying: Police officers are unlike terrorists in almost all respects. Crucially, the goal of the former, in their vastest majority, is to have a stable, peaceful, safe, law-abiding society, which is a goal we all share. The goal of the latter is … well, it’s complicated. I’ve cited my favorite expert on that, Audrey Kurth Cronin, here and here and here. Needless to say, the goal of terrorists is not that peaceful, safe, stable society.
I picked up the statistic from a blog post called: “Fear of Terror Makes People Stupid,” which in turn cites the National Safety Council for this and lots of other numbers reflecting likelihoods of dying from various causes. So dispute the number(s) with them, if you care to.
You’re Eight Times More Likely to be Killed by a Police Officer than a Terrorist – 12160.
Filed under: Police State, Terrorism
Reblogged this on The Grey Enigma.
where is the rational thought of people who ‘excuse’ and minimize the actions of ‘islamic’ terrorists intentional killing ‘according’ to their stated mission by pointing to police who kill dangerous criminals in the line of duty or by accident unintentionally, or who if they DO kill intentionally or illegally are Always held accountable for going ‘Counter’ to their stated mission.
we must stop excusing islamic jihad and call it wehat it is… MURDER in the name of Allah.
-mike