Most of the rest of the world has quite a common notion that the police in the United States is extremely militarized (which is certainly true in some places, although not all) and really trigger-happy. In other words, the police will very easily, with the slightest of provocations (and sometimes without any provocation at all) draw their guns to intimidate suspects, and shoot at the slightest of signs that the subject might attack, or even flee the scene.
It is true that the police does use firearms more often in the United States than in many other western countries, at least if we look at the raw numbers. For example in Finland, in 2013 there were only 27 cases where firearms were involved in any way, shape or form. 4 people were wounded by police shootings, and 0 people were killed. If we look at all the statistics between 2003 and 2013, only 2 people have been killed by police in total during all that time.
In the United States, in 2015 alone, 963 people were killed by police officers.
This does sound like a rather large number (even taking into account population size). However, is the police in the United States so "trigger-happy" as people think?
Consider, however, that according to FBI statistics, during that year there were over 50 thousand assaults on police officers. (And that number may be smaller than the actual amount, since not all assaults might be reported, especially if they are minor.)
Those are indeed people physically assaulting a police officer, not just threatening them or making some kind of suspicious move. Actual physical assaults, with the person hitting or trying to hit the police officer, or using some weapon to do so.
Over 50 thousand assaults against police officers, but only 963 people killed. Yes, the number of people killed is quite high, but it just doesn't sound like the police is so "trigger-happy" as people seem to think.
It is true that the police does use firearms more often in the United States than in many other western countries, at least if we look at the raw numbers. For example in Finland, in 2013 there were only 27 cases where firearms were involved in any way, shape or form. 4 people were wounded by police shootings, and 0 people were killed. If we look at all the statistics between 2003 and 2013, only 2 people have been killed by police in total during all that time.
In the United States, in 2015 alone, 963 people were killed by police officers.
This does sound like a rather large number (even taking into account population size). However, is the police in the United States so "trigger-happy" as people think?
Consider, however, that according to FBI statistics, during that year there were over 50 thousand assaults on police officers. (And that number may be smaller than the actual amount, since not all assaults might be reported, especially if they are minor.)
Those are indeed people physically assaulting a police officer, not just threatening them or making some kind of suspicious move. Actual physical assaults, with the person hitting or trying to hit the police officer, or using some weapon to do so.
Over 50 thousand assaults against police officers, but only 963 people killed. Yes, the number of people killed is quite high, but it just doesn't sound like the police is so "trigger-happy" as people seem to think.
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