I woke up this morning to this breaking news of a suspect Brian Nichols went on a rampage in a Fulton county courthouse. He apparently stole a deputy's handgun, shot that deputy, held the courtroom up, shot the judge/court reporter to death, escaped the building, shot another deputy, carjacked a reporter's car pistol whipping him, and drove off. This is not the first time a defendant has stolen a deputy's gun in the courtroom. So, my question is why don't they just keep the violent defendants handcuffed at all times in the courtroom rather than risk this ever again? I think there should be a law or something that mandates that if you are on trial for a violent offense...that you should be restrained in some fashion rather than free to move risking an attempt for the defendant to steal the deputy's gun. Why even take that chance? We've all seen how these defendants can go out of control in the courtroom. I say shackle them and handcuff them...the bastids. I don't care if they are innocent before proven guilty. Their a potential risk and, as so, need to be restrained. It's not adequate to have a deputy on hand with a gun. It just doesn't work. All these people died because the defendant was free to make that lunge at the deputy's gun. This person should never have that opportunity. The jury just needs to know that the defendant is restrained but this does not indicate the defendant is guilty until found guilty. It's just a safeguard and should in no way taint their decision-making. Damn I hate senseless tragedies and violence like this. Surf
I'm sorry, but how can you NOT be on your guard as a deputy when you are in a courtroom with a violent offender whose probably seeing his last few moments of daylight? They will never make defendants wear shackles (although they should), but the only line of defense between those people and the psycho is the armed law enforcement officer and he let them all down. What a failure he was, and what a tragedy.
I changed my post. Apparently, I'm still holding some subconscious resentment against Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys fame from him winning the best rock instrumental Grammy away from Rush's Neil Peart. LOL
Agreed. If guns are allowed at all in the courthouse, they should be on the hips of officers far away from any civilians, not just defendants. Tasers would be a much better replacement since, without training to reload them, the perpetrator would only be able to disable one person (and not kill them) in their escape attempt.
I would go along with DD's suggestion. One other practice could be to segregate people up for violent crimes from the rest of the courtroom behind a plexiglass enclosure. I've seen this in other countries. While this might raise problems regarding punishment before guilt is proven I think its a reasonable compromise since when you are arrested you are already held but as long as you have access to due process I think its fine. Also in controversial horrific cases this could also protect defendents from angry courthouse audiences.
I mentioned this in the other thread, but I'll suggest it here too: lock a tracking bracelet on defendents. It won't prejudice a jury because they wouldn't be able to see it. It also won't stop someone from escaping, but it will deter them since they'll know they will soon be found again.
I'm guessing for protection. What are tasers going to do if someone does somehow get a gun into the building? You want to be the cop trying to stop someone with a gun with your trusty taser? My issue is how can a suspect take a gun from an officer in the first place? Don't they usually have multiple (2+) officers escorting criminals in and out? What was the other officer(s) doing when the suspect was taking his partners gun?
I would have officers armed with guns both outside the courtroom and inside, but away from prisoners. The guards escorting prisoners should treat it like a prison situation. No guns are allowed in a prison in any area where prisoners are not restrained. That is how the courthouse should be to prevent these types of events.
They are now saying that they have arrested him. I think I heard that an immigration officer was killed. This from background TV.
okay kinda sexist comment here.... the deputy.was a woman..... i am sorry ...if the judge knew this guy would be a problem why would you have a woman alone on this guy????.... it does not take a genious to figure out that this guy will have an advantage against a woman... he was accused of rape so it tells you how he thinks of women in the first place.. just silly i think... i guess this whole women are equal to men comes into play.... though it is a fact men are stronger than women physically.... anyway i did not see anyone mention this
uhmmm .. ok . . like that will work people see u in cuffs you guilty . . just like you they don't care if u innocent until proven guilty or not for alot of people if the cops nabbed you . . you must have done something cause cops get the benefit of the doubt a cuffed and restrained man in a orangejumpsuit does not Rocket River
he was accused of rape so it tells you how he thinks of women in the first place.. there goes innocent until proven guilty look . .what this guys did was horrible no one can deny that but man . . some of you are ready to through the baby out with the bath water ONE GUY does takes advantage of a situation and some of you are ready to roll all defendents in like Hannible Lector It is such KneeJerk reactions like this that are why liberties are slippingaway at record speed Hell more folx were looking for this guy than Bin Laden Rocket River
Rocket River.... Don't know if you read my whole post...but this guy tried to bring a home made knife into court just in his last trip to court....so "ding" "ding" something must ring out there to tell you this guy is a trouble maker.... guilty or not there is something wrong there.... and having a woman with a loaded gun does not help.
What a peice of crap this guy is. Kills 3 (probably 4) people during his escape, gets tracked down and instead of fighting he waves a white flag. Guess he was willing to kill for his freedom when he had an advantage but then when he figured it's his time to take a bullett he gives up.
