Russian Pedestrian shot by Police as they chase two bag snatchers in Jomtien

[petercool]

^^

Your need a licence and a good reason to own one and there are rules about how, when and where you can carry it,

[lvr181]

The sooner that civilians are allowed to carry arms the better what is needed is a Thai NRA, no more punch ups.

Huh? And Thailand can go down the path of another country of this world where, unfortunately, many children are killed in schools because of the proliferation and lack of control of arms.

[wilcopops]

This is what you expect when poorly trained people are given firearms

[canarysun]

Strangely enough at the same time i was in my room watching " The Equalizer " movie ( i thought the gunfire sounded good......)

[Mooner]

Dear God! Shooting with civilians around. To catch a murderer or bank robbers? No a couple of teenage bag snatchers. Well done boys!

Edited December 15, 2014 by petercool
edited bold type

[kieran2698]

The sooner that civilians are allowed to carry arms the better what is needed is a Thai NRA, no more punch ups.

Yeah right, because untrained civilians with guns are going to cause less of this type of incident than trained police officers. And what would you have suggested exactly in this case? A thief being gunned down by a vigilante? Shame on you.

[petercool]

Flame also off topic post and one using using profanity removed

Also an empty post. Please make a comment when quoting a post and/or ensure comments are outside the quotes

[Tingtau]

I strongly suspect (hope) that Pitrevie had his tongue firmly tucked in his cheek when he made the comment "The sooner that civilians are allowed to carry arms the better what is needed is a Thai NRA, no more punch ups." If anything could make me rethink living in Thailand, the prospect of people running around carrying firearms would do it!!

With respect to the lady being shot in the ankle as the apparent result of a mis-directed or richocheting bullet fired by a police officer at a THEFT suspect, thank the Supreme Being that she wasn't killed....ankle, leg, torso, head, all areas of the body that could have been struck! And what if the area occupied by her ankle, had been a child sitting down, or bending over to pick up a dropped toy? What part of its body would have been struck? Would it have survived the bullet?!! I don't know what training or direction under the laws of Thailand that polce are given with respect to apprehending suspected felons, but....was there any suggestion that those two touts were armed or thought to be a serious threat to the physical safety of the public should they have escaped? Had they used a gun during the theft...or threatened death or serious bodily harm to their victim? I am referring to the "common sense",let alone any "legal" justification for the use of what amounts to "deadly force" in an attempt to prevent their escape (which, in this case, it did in fact accomplsh)! Firing bullets at someone on a moving motorbike in a public venue during evening hours with presumably unknown and difficult to see numbers of the public present in the area, seems to me to be what, in most jurisdictions, would be considered an act of "reckless endangerment" or "criminal negligence". Yes, the police were quick to admit their responsibility and are prepared to pay for all of the lady's medical expensies. And, yes, due to the "accidental" but "fortuitous" path of the bullet, the lady is alive and, hopefully will be able to fully recover. Does that mitigate in any way, shape or form, the officer's responsibility for an action that easily could have resulted in death to an innocent, an action that was carried out in an effort to arrest a thief!! As a retired police officer, I am usually on the side of the police, but in this instance, my mind boggles!!

Edited December 15, 2014 by Tingtau

[pitrevie]

The sooner that civilians are allowed to carry arms the better what is needed is a Thai NRA, no more punch ups.

Is this an attempt of trolling or are you a serious believer that having "ammo" on the Christmas wish list is the solution to all problems? Don't you think that the list of people killed by guns in Thailand and the US is already too high?

We already got fat from your country's fine "cuisine", we do not need importing lunatic institutions like the NRA. More guns on the street is never the answer as any civilized person would argue.

I'll give you a clue, I am not from the USA but a place where people are not allowed to carry guns and I suspect the majority have no wish to do so.

[empireboy]

The sooner that civilians are allowed to carry arms the better what is needed is a Thai NRA, no more punch ups.

It's an interesting view and debate, I'm not sure how legalising more ignorant people to carry guns is a better solution that banning them altogether...

[slipperylobster]

Where or what was the cop aiming at?

Low shots (hit the victim in the ankle). I wonder if they were aiming for the back scooter tire. The robbers did fall off, but evidently, at least one of the shots was not "well aimed".

[Awohalitsiktoli]

The sooner that civilians are allowed to carry arms the better what is needed is a Thai NRA, no more punch ups.

Yeah right, because untrained civilians with guns are going to cause less of this type of incident than trained police officers. And what would you have suggested exactly in this case? A thief being gunned down by a vigilante? Shame on you.

Just an aside: These "punks" are easy to spot. They run around in groups/gangs and all have Moe (Three Stooges) haircuts:

That really is not a joke. I can spot them and the police should be able to spot them and search them for guns/knives. They are becoming increaingly reckless and dangerous.

Avoid them if you can!

[petercool]

A derogatory post removed

And a post using profanity removed

[zaZa9]

"Later the suspects confessed to snatching the bag as they needed money to celebrate the forthcoming New Year."

PLANNING for the New Year ?

Are we sure they are Thai ?

[The manic]

The Cops don't get a lot of practice. Another Thai tourism debacle.

Yes they do get lots of practice on the range where I practice. I was also given additional training by a Thai ex cop.

[arjunadawn]

Jeez, I know this is not the west, but open fire on a few dumb kids for petty larceny. I am not in Kansas anymore. Seems a bit overboard.

Think I recently read a post or thread where the question was asked if Thai police are trigger happy? I think this suggests yes.

Edited December 15, 2014 by arjunadawn

[MikeOwen]

How did the girl get shot ? was she just an innocent bystander ? crazy rules of engagement. if more thieves would think that they maybe shot it could detour some of the crimes.

She was just an innocent bystander as you say , could have been anyone , and maybe 5 more :-(

[gyrosman]

Why did they shoot the Russia and, not the 2 <deleted> who robbed her? Thai police, High School dropouts. Yea, tourist in 2015, in your dreams.

[MikeOwen]

her ankle will never be the same again.

this has changed her life

She was lucky it was her ankle , could have been a lot more serious !

[Mudlover]

Time for a (mostly) unarmed police force, as found in a number of European countries.

[MiKT]

Although I don't agree with shooting at bag snatches (unless armed and shooting back) in a crowded street - was it crowded - what time was it?.

But I do happen to know that many Pattaya police are reasonably good shots and practice a lot

[Mudlover]

So the cops were shooting at 2 teenagers riding away on their motorbike for nicking a handbag,,.. "shooting at them!". Did they pose any immediate threat to the public?

By the look of it they missed the kids and injured this poor woman.

It's the police who posed an immediate threat to the public.

[davidmann]

if it was the USA and the boys where black for sure they would be dead lady lucky she went to thailand on holiday not Orlando

[diehard60]

So the police were chasing the suspects and shot at them and hit the person that was robbed???? Sound like a realy bad shooter.

[petercool]

a post using a derogatory term removed

[KonKorat]

Was it really necessary to shoot at 2 bag snatchers,risking people lives,surely they could have notified on radio and maybe made a few road blocks and stopped them there.

[kinmaew]

More importantly will the RTP be funding the tourists full hospital and rehab costs plus sue them for inconvenience and loss of enjoyment of life?

[Don Aleman]

I was at the " Gunfight At the O. K.Coral ", saw police ducking behind any cover and firing into thin air. Pretty typical I'd say based on gawking pedestrian/vehicle traffic who were used to this sort of thing.

[vogie]

Will I get shot at for littering?

Not if you don't litter!

[smotherb]

Will I get shot at for littering?

Not if you don't litter!

unless you are an innocent bystander next to a litterer