Texas bans shooting immigrants from helicopters

[The Straight Story]

Texas bans shooting immigrants from helicopters

Officials in Texas announced on Thursday that State Troopers would no longer be allowed to open fire on suspects from helicopters after the recent killing of two immigrants.

While announcing the new policy, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw insisted that the ban on aerial shootings had nothing to do with the October 2012 death of two Guatemalan immigrants, who were gunned down by troopers in helicopter while they were hiding in the back of a speeding pickup truck near La Joya.

“I’m convinced that now, from a helicopter platform, that we shouldn’t shoot unless being shot at, or unless someone is being shot at,” McCraw told the state House Committee on Appropriations. “Last Friday, after a review of the policy and looking at all of the different things, and this is not a reflection of what happened there, I’m a firm believer they did exactly what they thought they needed to do.”

ACLU of Texas Executive Director Terri Burke welcomed the change, but faulted the Texas Legislature for not moving to force the policy earlier.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/02/22/texas-bans-shooting-immigrants-from-helicopters/

[onehandle]

1. They're just scared of the black helicopters that are coming to get their guns. nt

[pampango]

2. Tea party is not going to be happy about this new 'lax border security' with no shooting from

helicopters allowed.

[SummerSnow]

7. They probably had Sarah Palin...

as their poster girl too.

[Fresh_Start]

3. difficult to ascertain legal status from a helicopter.....nt

nt

[Jackpine Radical]

4. Aw, damn.

There goes some entrepreneur's scheme for charging millionaires to hunt illegals from his helicopter for sport.

Ya gotta know that there are rich fucks in this country who are sick enough to do that.

[The Straight Story]

5. Word is they are being labeled terrorists and drones will now be used

[MineralMan]

6. Texas - It's a whole other country.

Or so their tourist bureau advertises. And so it seems from this story.

[central scrutinizer]

13. this is what passes for "progressive" in Texas

nfm

[treestar]

8. Wow, so not necessary

Is entering the country illegally all that bad? No. it's not an immediate danger to anybody. And they are up in a copter, even being shot at, they can easily get away.

[newfie11]

9. Well no shit Sherlock

Better check the small print

[Cali_Democrat]

10. Despicable

Those troopers belong in jail

[backscatter712]

11. I looked at the URL to see if this story was from the Onion... Nope.

[Kalidurga]

14. Me too..

Once again proving The Onion has nothing on reality.

[joeybee12]

12. Good Lord...what assholes to even think this was appropriate at

any time.