General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDamn, they're effectively instituting "voluntary" martial law in Watertown.
Asking shops not to open. Asking people to stay inside and not go to work. Wow. Who signed off on that shit? Holy crap. I've never seen anything like this in my 38 years. Wow.
edit: they shut down the public transport system, incredible... wow. They are really after this dude.
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)When the lifeguard sees a shark and blows the whistle, you don't get out of the water just to make him or her happy. You do it because there may well be a shark in the water.
joshcryer
(62,265 posts)It's just, beyond anything I have ever seen.
They're basically shutting down the towns until they can find this guy.
It is incredible.
MannyGoldstein
(34,589 posts)Safest, calmest area. Until this.
I never thought I'd have to worry about opening the front door. Very, very crazy.
joshcryer
(62,265 posts)Obviously I'd recommend heeding their warning not to open your door, but wow, this is, I am speechless, to be honest.
MannyGoldstein
(34,589 posts)Thanks.
This is crazy.
babylonsister
(170,960 posts)bklyncowgirl
(7,960 posts)myrna minx
(22,772 posts)graham4anything
(11,464 posts)Are_grits_groceries
(17,111 posts)You have a person with unknown weapons who has no compuction about killing anybody. He could show up anywhere and kill gawd knows who.
How would you propose catching him? Locking down the area and going inch by inch is he best way to do it IMO.
I don't support martial law except in extreme cases. This appears to be one.
joshcryer
(62,265 posts)This guy isn't a damn superhero with super powers capable of obliterating whole cities or some crap. It's a human being on the run knowing he's on the run.
aquart
(69,014 posts)joshcryer
(62,265 posts)I don't see the probability of running into him.
dems_rightnow
(1,956 posts)If you're right, what do you gain?
If you're wrong, what might you lose?
aquart
(69,014 posts)And then you can get caught in a crossfire between the police and the other idiot who made himself a target.
Katashi_itto
(10,175 posts)it too. I mean seriously its a nice day. Birds are singing, Snipers are in the trees. You have fun
joshcryer
(62,265 posts)Unbelievable. I am beyond shock. This has never happened before in my life. Wow.
MOTRDemocrat
(87 posts)MannyGoldstein
(34,589 posts)Only a distinct class of moron would open their door.
BainsBane
(53,001 posts)That's ridiculous. If someone is intent on running outside and getting themselves killed, they can.
joshcryer
(62,265 posts)I don't know what the problem is, I accurately stated what they said.
BainsBane
(53,001 posts)Asking people to stay in their homes for their own safety isn't authoritarian. It's sensible.
Hurricane areas are closer to martial Law because those folks can be arrested. There are no arrest threats here.
joshcryer
(62,265 posts)I said it was voluntary. I'm just saying that I never saw anything like this before, that's all.
I've been in hurricanes that were under martial law (basically curfews) but this is entirely, and utterly, different.
eShirl
(18,466 posts)joshcryer
(62,265 posts)pintobean
(18,101 posts)There's a terrorist, heavily armed with firearms and "military grade" explosives, on the loose.
I think martial law is an unfair way to put it.
joshcryer
(62,265 posts)I did not say it was martial law.
Raine
(30,540 posts)TomClash
(11,344 posts)This is war.
This is a small part of what it's like.
JTTF probably "suggested" it. They are after the dude because it's a war and he's helped to kill or injure hundreds of people.
Cal Carpenter
(4,959 posts)If it is 'voluntary' and not military, it isn't martial law at all. That's sorta the point.
joshcryer
(62,265 posts)The plea from government sources was to ask people to stay indoors. I have never heard of that before in the context of an entire city over a suspect.
Cal Carpenter
(4,959 posts)At all?
Is there military on the ground telling people what to do? Is the military in charge of the area? Because that's martial law. Not being asked to stay home/inside. That is not a condition of martial law. Not at all.
People will see your thread title and think that the Army has authority over the area. Because that's what martial law means. It's confusing. And so misleading.
joshcryer
(62,265 posts)The effect is still the same, people are being asked, voluntarily, to follow what would be martial law if it was ordered.
Cal Carpenter
(4,959 posts)Google it, FFS. Just because this is unprecedented and shocking to you does NOT make it martial law. Being asked to stay in your home does not make it martial law. I can't believe how stubborn you are, LOL.
You like your misleading and hyperbolic thread title. Fine. I'm done posting here because I don't want to kick your misleading thread. I don't want people thinking the military has taken over the civilian government in Massachusetts.
joshcryer
(62,265 posts)FFS what do you think "voluntary" means?
sir pball
(4,726 posts)I sure as hell know I would - it's not a good day for a stroll around Boston. As for shutting down traffic, fewer cars on the streets are fewer cars this dude can jack. I despise jackboot authoritarianism, but this makes pretty damn good sense to me.
WilliamPitt
(58,179 posts)Tick tock, asshole.
Dorian Gray
(13,469 posts)for their safety. I haven't seen anything like this before, either. I hope they get him. Soon. And may all the people in those areas be safe. My alma mater, BC, is shut down for the day, too. And they've asked all their students remain indoors until this is over.
dballance
(5,756 posts)Stop your ignorant, inflammatory rhetoric. They are not imposing any kind of marital law. Martial law is imposed when the military suspends civilian law and takes over. That's not what's happening in Boston. The military has not rolled in, suspended civilian laws and started rounding up people to be detained or tried in military courts.
All they are doing is asking people to stay inside for their own safety. If these guys are the bombers then they have already shown they don't give a crap about other people's lives so they're more than likely happy shoot or blow up an innocent civilian on site.
Yes, this may be unprecedented in what we've seen before. But it seems like it is prudent and necessary right now.
joshcryer
(62,265 posts)Other respondents appear to understand what I am saying, even yourself by admitting this is "unprecedented in what we've seen before."
What, I'm not allowed to express my shock?
dballance
(5,756 posts)You are allowed to express your shock. I am allowed to express my opinion that you are wrong in your use of the term "Martial Law." Terms like "martial law" and "terrorist" have meanings and people have perceptions about them. When they are used improperly and indiscriminately they do nothing to serve the conversation. They put fear into people when it is not necessary. We would be lambasting the FAUX News talking heads here on DU for using those terms improperly if they had done so.
Alex Jones' people are probably on his site shouting something like "martial law" has been imposed so that the government can take out and silence their paid operatives who executed the false flag attack Jones was ranting about. That way the evil government can cover up that Obama was behind the attacks.
When dozens of HumVees and troop trucks with military personnel roll into Boston and the generals take over from the civilians then you can use the term "martial law" and I won't disagree with you. Until then it's just the police asking people to stay safe. They do this all the time in single neighborhoods or in multi-unit buildings if they're pursuing a dangerous suspect. They ask everyone to stay inside and out of the way. It's just on a much smaller scale than what's happening today.
Express your shock all you like. Using sensationalist terms like "martial law" is not necessary though.
On Edit: By its very definition martial law can never be voluntary.
joshcryer
(62,265 posts)This is to any rational person "voluntary" with the effects being akin to martial law. Had they demanded the same, and not asked, it would've been.
bklyncowgirl
(7,960 posts)Stand in the street and yell come out, come out, wherever you are?
Give me a break. This is a ruthless, desperate and heavily armed fugitive who'd love to take out a few more innocent civilians along with him.
Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)you need to back out of the "martial law" term in your OP title. Seriously.
joshcryer
(62,265 posts)You need to understand what "voluntary" (replete with double quotes) means. Seriously.
Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)Be a poopie head.
joshcryer
(62,265 posts)Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)as I understand it, I'm a "bootie head," or so sayeth my very-pissed-off-at-me 3-year-old niece.
Freddie Stubbs
(29,853 posts)But at least you didn't call it 'Marshall Law.'
joshcryer
(62,265 posts)You know what I meant.
Freddie Stubbs
(29,853 posts)B2G
(9,766 posts)I'll watch for you on CNN.
NotThisTime
(3,657 posts)don't, you want to go out and get blown up or shot in the crossfire? I sure don't and neither do my friends.The pictures being shown on MSNBC are within a 5-10 minute walk from my spouses new office location when we move.. Sure as hell I wouldn't go out my door until this shit is over.