The charming practice of "swatting" now has a body count

[ericbarbour]

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2017/12/kan ... ng-attack/
This isn't a result of gamers pranking each other, this is a result of our law-and-order-crazed society sending out tactical squads with armored vehicles and military weapons....to knock on doors in the suburbs. And knowing how Kansas cops are, I suspect no one will be punished for this.

And one of the nerds admits people pay him to do it:

“Bomb threats are more fun and cooler than swats in my opinion and I should have just stuck to that,” he wrote. “But I began making $ doing some swat requests.”

[ericbarbour]

In the comments of the Krebs post, someone named "WilliamZ" claims to be a police officer, and complains that Krebs is "biased" and "off balance".

One of the primary unwritten precepts of American law enforcement: it's always the other guy's fault.

[badmachine]

He's not wrong

[ericbarbour]

(But that doesn't mean he isn't an asshole, to misquote The Dude)

Fear not, the evil monster was nabbed by the magical LAPD. Oh hallelujah, now we are 'safe'.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-m ... story.html

Meanwhile today, a shootout at a Colorado apartment building (triggered by a stupid domestic dispute I gather) resulted in the death of one deputy. Sad story, although a known and calculated risk for anyone in law enforcement. The result was this massive display of public grief and hysteria. Cops today really do think they are "better" than the citizens they pretend to protect; and many of those citizens fall for it. That way lies outright feudalism.
https://www.denverpost.com/2017/12/31/b ... -hospital/

[badmachine]

(But that doesn't mean he isn't an asshole, to misquote The Dude)

Agreed. (: