excessive force?

[toby19]

I was thinking about the shooting on the tube train recently. The man was shot 5 times by a undercover police officer. the peson used a handgun and shot the man 5 times in the head, surely FIVE bullets are excessive. i mean think about it BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG. this is a weapons specialist and the man would have been incapasitated (if not already dead) after the first bullet. this was close range and so why would this proffessional need to pull the trigger 5 times.  i understand they thought he might have been a suicide bomber but 1 or 2 shots surely 5 is excessive.

[boobesque]

low velocity bullets increase the chance of the bullet being deflected by the perps skull (one of the thickest bones in the human body). this is to prevent any civillian casualties that may be standing behind the target. firing several shots would have increased the chances of death. firing 1 shot or 20 shots into the brain will not, however, reduce any reflexive nervous actions that may set off an explosive device. firing through the brainstem, which is like aiming for a straw, is the only way to prevent this. though if the 1st shot misses and enters the brain, the 2nd going through the brainstem would be too late. i agree that it was a little excessive but in the heat of the moment i do not blame the shooter for his actions. this is a terrible time to make quick life or death decisions involving terrorists. mistakes are inevitable.

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