A different view on the Miami Airport Shooting...
Miami, FL - By now most of us have heard about the Miami Airport shooting. The gist story goes that Rigoberto Alpizar, argued with his wife during the boarding process of an American Airlines plane. He decided to exit the plane and did so telling people in his way that he had a bomb, apparently in order to expedite his passage against the flow of traffic.
Two federal air marshals caught wind of this and confronted the man. He ran from them. They gave chase and again confronted him ordering him to the ground. His response was to reach into the back pack he was carrying.
The two marshals did exactly as they were trained and as I would have done. They punched a number of ultimately fatal holes in torso. Alas it turns out that Alpizar was lacking in explosives or weapons.
Of course all the networks ran the obligatory sound bites from people who were on board the plane when it started, witnesses outside the plane and a couple bites that made me wonder if they were even at the airport. Many complained the air marshals did not have to shoot because there wasn't really a bomb.
Add to the mix that Mrs. Alpizar told USA Today her husband was bi-polar and off his medication.
Okay. I agree with those that speak of this tragedy and note the time frame, just before Christmas. But here's where my telling of the story and most of what I've seen on TV this morning are going to part ways.
None of these reports carried anyone saying, "thank you for placing your life in jeopardy to ensure ours would not be lost" or "we know this shooting is going to weigh heavily on over the next few weeks and we want you to know we support you and are grateful."
Why is it people never think about the officer(s) that are forced to fire the shots? Do all of you think all policemen are yahoo's that can't wait to get into a shooting situation and bag a civilian or two? If you do, you've been watching way too many action shows.
My heart and good thoughts go out to Mrs. Alpizar and family. They have my full sympathy and support. For whatever reason her husband did all the wrong things and died for his actions. She will be without her husband this Christmas and that is a tragedy no one should have to endure. With that said, it is my opinion his actions look very much like a suicide by cop. But none of us will ever know what was in his heart and mind when he did what he did.
My heart and good thoughts also go out to the federal air marshals and their families. Even though from everything we are are hearing the shooting was strictly by the book (and if nothing else comes to light, I agree 100%) these men know they are the reason Mrs. Alpizar will be alone this Christmas. They also know and for the rest of their lives live with the fact that Mr. Alpizar was unarmed when they shot him. The fact they did exactly as they were trained cannot take that away.
Sadly, even in light of the yesterday's tragedy, changing the air marshal's training is out of the question. Recent experience has taught us that many times when a person thought to be carrying an explosive reaches into his or her coat or back pack, the next sound you hear is really loud and possibly your last. Had Mr. Alpizar actually carried an explosive device, everyone agrees he would not have been able to get to it before he died.
And that's the world we live in now.
Mrs. Whack, let's take the rest of the day off.
Two federal air marshals caught wind of this and confronted the man. He ran from them. They gave chase and again confronted him ordering him to the ground. His response was to reach into the back pack he was carrying.
The two marshals did exactly as they were trained and as I would have done. They punched a number of ultimately fatal holes in torso. Alas it turns out that Alpizar was lacking in explosives or weapons.
Of course all the networks ran the obligatory sound bites from people who were on board the plane when it started, witnesses outside the plane and a couple bites that made me wonder if they were even at the airport. Many complained the air marshals did not have to shoot because there wasn't really a bomb.
Add to the mix that Mrs. Alpizar told USA Today her husband was bi-polar and off his medication.
Okay. I agree with those that speak of this tragedy and note the time frame, just before Christmas. But here's where my telling of the story and most of what I've seen on TV this morning are going to part ways.
None of these reports carried anyone saying, "thank you for placing your life in jeopardy to ensure ours would not be lost" or "we know this shooting is going to weigh heavily on over the next few weeks and we want you to know we support you and are grateful."
Why is it people never think about the officer(s) that are forced to fire the shots? Do all of you think all policemen are yahoo's that can't wait to get into a shooting situation and bag a civilian or two? If you do, you've been watching way too many action shows.
My heart and good thoughts go out to Mrs. Alpizar and family. They have my full sympathy and support. For whatever reason her husband did all the wrong things and died for his actions. She will be without her husband this Christmas and that is a tragedy no one should have to endure. With that said, it is my opinion his actions look very much like a suicide by cop. But none of us will ever know what was in his heart and mind when he did what he did.
My heart and good thoughts also go out to the federal air marshals and their families. Even though from everything we are are hearing the shooting was strictly by the book (and if nothing else comes to light, I agree 100%) these men know they are the reason Mrs. Alpizar will be alone this Christmas. They also know and for the rest of their lives live with the fact that Mr. Alpizar was unarmed when they shot him. The fact they did exactly as they were trained cannot take that away.
Sadly, even in light of the yesterday's tragedy, changing the air marshal's training is out of the question. Recent experience has taught us that many times when a person thought to be carrying an explosive reaches into his or her coat or back pack, the next sound you hear is really loud and possibly your last. Had Mr. Alpizar actually carried an explosive device, everyone agrees he would not have been able to get to it before he died.
And that's the world we live in now.
Mrs. Whack, let's take the rest of the day off.