re: All these "libertarians"

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And how do "libertarians" think that the legitimacy of these circumstances should be determined?

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How about the "Reasonable man standard", Sam?

A reasonable person in the place of Officer Darren Wilson is likely to have reacted the same way to an attack and attempt to disarm him. I found no violation of protocol or statute in my, albeit limited, review of the available evidence. Strong arm robber, attacks and attempts to disarm police officer and gets shot for his troubles is not a libertarian issue.

On the other hand, Garner was a victim of over-policing. Yes, a chronic lawbreaker, but not a danger to anyone. This is an economic crime against the state, akin to tax evasion. I neither condone lawbreaking, nor think de facto capital punishment for tax evasion is an appropriate response.

Do I think that cop needs to go to jail? Not necessarily - but he breached protocol and once cops put their hands on someone, they're responsible and have to answer for what happens to that person. Depending on the total facts and evidence, perhaps some charge, up to and including manslaughter might be appropriate for the choking officer and perhaps others on scene (particularly whoever was in charge of that mess).

The man said he couldn't breathe - over and over until he died. For selling untaxed cigarettes, and, essentially, for being a scary looking 400 pound behemouth. While I do not think race was an issue, over-policing is over-policing. Everyone from the chief on down needs to review what happened and take steps to avoid similar occurances in the future.

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for resisting arrest.

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Fair enough, but resisting arrest without the use of weapons or other lethal force shouldn't result in death, either.

Not condoning what he did, but he shouldn't have died for it.

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but is it possible that a reasonable cop in that moment would have thought that amount of force was necessary?

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Shouldn't have choked him, period. They have 50,000 options now with the pepper spray, mace, bean bags, (have a K-9 unit just roll up), taser, etc. - should have talked him down, calmed him down or subdued him without killing him.

I don't know what to tell some of y'all - I'm a cop supporter generally. I used to defer to the cop, but I can't any longer. I still respect that they put themselves in harm's way for the greater good. If the cop was alone - giving up 2 bills or better to this guy - maybe I give him more deference.

But with that crew on site, for untaxed cigarettes? Write him a ticket. If you have a warrant serve it. If he's too big, bring more people. Don't choke him. Don't kill him. A life is not worth enforcing an untaxed cigarette law, just as a life is not worth a no seatbelt law (roughly equivalent, in public risk and physical threat, IMHO.)

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rejoicing at government employees killing unarmed citizens sure is amusing.

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Or we could be rejoicing that Big Government didn't prosecute an innocent man.

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Bayou Sam

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Are you from South Lousianne and do you, in fact, have gambling in your veins?

Libertarian=Republican

Oh they huff and puff then vote republican.

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rejoicing at government employees killing unarmed citizens sure is amusing.

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What the frick are you talking about?

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rejoicing at government employees killing unarmed citizens sure is amusing.

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Who is rejoicing? And what do you mean citizens? When did Garner become plural?

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rejoicing at government employees killing unarmed citizens sure is amusing.

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No. We're not anarchists that don't believe in necessary and legitimate functions of the state.

I as a libertarian recognize that the Michael Brown case had the correct outcome and there was no basis for the outrage over the case. The officer was in the right here.

However, the Eric Garner case was a clear miscarriage of justice and should've proceeded to trial. I'm afraid this is just another symptom of an out of control NYPD that has no accountability demanded of its officers.

We're just calling a spade a spade.

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Libertarian=Republican

Oh they huff and puff then vote republican.

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So communist = Democrat?

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That was pretty easy, huh?

I live in a heavily blue area of CA and I hear that argument (L=R) all the time. I have just learned to laugh about it instead of trying to explain the large difference.