3 cops killed in Pittsburgh...

[BgMc31]

By a man who had fears that the Obama administration will take away his guns...discuss...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090404/...burgh_shooting

PITTSBURGH – A gunman wearing a bulletproof vest and "lying in wait" opened fire on officers responding to a domestic disturbance call Saturday, killing three of them and turning a quiet Pittsburgh street into a battlefield, police said.

Police Chief Nate Harper said the motive for the shooting isn't clear, but friends said the gunman recently had been upset about losing his job and feared the Obama administration was poised to ban guns.

Richard Poplawski, 23, met officers at the doorway and shot two of them in the head immediately, Harper said. An officer who tried to help the two also was killed.

Poplawski, armed with an assault rifle and two other guns, then held police at bay for four hours as the fallen officers were left bleeding nearby, their colleagues unable to reach them, according to police and witnesses. More than 100 rounds were fired by the SWAT teams and Poplawski, Harper said.

The three slain officers were Eric Kelly, Stephen Mayhle and Paul Sciullo III. Kelly had been on the force for 14 years, Mayhle and Sciullo for two years each. Another officer, Timothy McManaway, was shot in the hand and a fifth broke his leg on a fence.

Poplawski had gunshot wounds in his legs but was otherwise unharmed because he was wearing a bulletproof vest, Harper said. He was charged with three counts of homicide, aggravated assault and a weapons violation.

The shooting occurred just two weeks after four police officers were fatally shot in Oakland, Calif., in the deadliest day for U.S. law enforcement since Sept. 11, 2001. The officers were the first Pittsburgh city officers to die in the line of duty in 18 years.

"This is a solemn day and it's a very sad day in the city of Pittsburgh," Harper said. "We've seen this kind of violence happen in California. We never would think this kind of violence would happen in the city of Pittsburgh."

At 7 a.m., Sciullo and Mayhle responded to a 911 call from Poplawski's mother, who remained holed up in the basement during the entire dispute and escaped unharmed, Harper said.

When they arrived at the home, Sciullo was immediately shot in the head. Mayhle, who was right behind him, was also shot in the head.

"It appears he was lying in wait for the officers," Harper said.

Kelly, who was on his way home after completing his overnight shift when he heard the call for help, rushed to the scene and was killed trying to help Sciullo and Mayhle, Harper said. SWAT teams and other officers arrived and were immediately fired on as well.

Don Sand, who lives across the street from Poplawski, said he was woken up by the sound of gunfire. Hunkering down behind a wall in his home, he saw the first two officers go down and then saw Kelly get shot.

"They couldn't get the scene secure enough to get to them. They were just lying there bleeding," Sand said. "By the time they secured the scene enough to get to them it was way too late."

Deputy Chief Paul Donaldson, who lives nearby, was one of the first officers to arrive. He saw Mayhle by a bush to the right of the door; Kelly was in the street and McManaway, his hand injured, was kneeling beside him, yelling that Kelly needed help.

Donaldson suggested using a police van to get them. They draped a bulletproof vest on the window to protect the driver and several officers got into the van to get Kelly and McManaway.

During this time, Poplawski was somehow distracted, Donaldson said.

"We were fortunate that he didn't fire on us. I don't know why he was distracted, but he apparently didn't see us coming down to get them," he said. "It could have been worse."

Poplawski had feared "the Obama gun ban that's on the way" and "didn't like our rights being infringed upon," said Edward Perkovic, his best friend.

Perkovic, 22, said he got a call at work from him in which he said, "Eddie, I am going to die today. ... Tell your family I love them and I love you."

Perkovic said: "I heard gunshots and he hung up. ... He sounded like he was in pain, like he got shot."

Poplawski had once tried to join the Marines, but was kicked out of boot camp after throwing a food tray at a drill sergeant, Perkovic said.

Another longtime friend, Aaron Vire, said Poplawski feared that President Barack Obama was going to take away his rights, though he said he "wasn't violently against Obama."

Vire, 23, said Poplawski once had an Internet talk show but that it wasn't successful. He said Poplawski owned an AK-47 rifle and several powerful handguns, including a .357 Magnum.

Obama has said he respects Americans' constitutional right to bear arms, but that he favors "common sense" gun laws. Gun rights advocates interpret that as meaning he would approve some curbs on assault and concealed weapons.

Poplawski had been laid off from his job at a glass factory earlier this year, said another friend, Joe DiMarco. DiMarco said he didn't know the name of the company, but knew his friend had been upset about it.

The last Pittsburgh police officers killed in the line of duty were Officers Thomas L. Herron and Joseph J. Grill, according to a Web site that tracks police killings. They died after their patrol car collided with another vehicle while chasing a stolen car on March 6, 1991.

In 1995, an off-duty officer was shot with his own gun after he confronted a group of teenagers about graffiti. Tests later showed the officer had been drinking.

According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 133 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty in 2008, a 27 percent decrease from year before and the lowest annual total since 1960.

Poplawski had often fought with neighbors and had even gotten into fist fights with a couple, Sand said.

"This is a relatively really quiet neighborhood except for him," Sand said. "He was just one of those kids that we knew to stay clear from."

Harper confirmed police had responded to calls from the Poplawski house several times but said the incidents were still being investigated.

Rob Gift, 45, who lives a block away, said the well-kept single-family houses with manicured lawns are home to many police officers, firefighters, paramedics and other city workers.

"It's just a very quiet neighborhood," Gift said.

[JiGGaMaN]

perfect example of why allowing gun ownership is retarded.

[BgMc31]

perfect example of why allowing gun ownership is retarded.

I, respectfully, disagree Jiggaman. Gun ownership is a core value here in the states. But responsible gun ownership is the key and I'm definately for more stringent gun control laws. These last couple of gun tradgedies in this country cover the whole spectrum of the argument. The cops killed in Oakland were killed by a fellon who should not have had guns, the jury is still out on how/why the immigrant in the NY massacre got his guns, and this guy in PA was lawfully allowed his weapons. I'm interested to hear from the other members of this forum about these recent gun crimes.

[jimmyinkedup]

Great way to protest gun laws - obviously an unbalanced individual. Gun control - where does it stop? thats my fear.... and i also dont believe it will keep the guns out of criminals hands. This is def an exception to the norm - registered legal firearms used by registered owner to commit an act of senseless violence. Guns dont kill people - people kill people ...and laws will not keep guns out of criminals (or in this case insane) peoples hands.

[Nooomoto]

perfect example of why allowing gun ownership is retarded.

Tell that to one of the members here, The Deuce. His fiance was almost robbed by a gun wielding criminal, he responded with the appropriate violence of action and the criminal went running without doing any physical harm or taking any property.

Had he not had his pistol on him, who knows what might have happened. Maybe that night, the criminal didn't want just monetary possessions, but something more.

Home invasions happen every once in a while here in my neighborhood. It's upper middle class, dark and has quick access to escape routes. Every single time a family here, or any where is victimized by criminals doing these types of things, I'm happy as hell I'm prepared to meet whatever and whoever wants to come into my home without my permission.

What would you do, Jigga? I'm sure you're big and muscly...but when 3-4 guys bust into your house in the middle of the night with guns, tie up your family, and do as they please...what are you going to do? Sure, chances are slim of that happening to you. But it has happened to a few families that I've known personally.

All I know is, if you're coming into my home to my harm my loved ones...you better be wearing better than Level III body armor if you wish to be successful.

Criminals are criminals, and will do what they will do regardless of the laws.

[sloth9]

I feel these are perfect ammunition for the Obama Group to take our guns away, but in all actuality it is exactly what was said before its the reason we need stricter control on stopping the black market, but that will never happen. I agree you take my guns away, I will fight you, there is no way they can take them, I will die first. Now let me tell you why so you dont think I am crazy. I would rather die because once they take our guns away it will be harder for us as Americans to fight against an oppressive government(if it ever got that far). when holding guns we can barely fight against choppers, Mrabs, Tanks, and other weapons that can be used to control us, but we have a small glimpse of hope. I would prefer to Die because I do not want to see America in that situation ever, I know I will be in a better place after wards. Anyway I hope that this never happens and I feel that we will stop all this government control that is rearing its head right now, but I could be wrong. Regardless our guns are our constitutional right, we already saw the gov. trample the constitution over bonuses for AIG that the gov. put in the bill. Anyway this is sad and frustrating and I am tired of all the innocents doing their job, and bettering themselves getting killed because of sick cowardly people. Oh and shotties are the best for home robberies because if you have one nearby it is to hard for most kids to hurt themselves with, and it will hit the robber even if you have your glasses off lol. I keep mine under my bed and I have one more that stays in a closet on the other side of the house loaded and ready. If a robber came into my house there would be no thoughts just hamburger meat, Gears of War style, too bad I dont have a lancer.

[BgMc31]

I feel these are perfect ammunition for the Obama Group to take our guns away, but in all actuality it is exactly what was said before its the reason we need stricter control on stopping the black market, but that will never happen. I agree you take my guns away, I will fight you, there is no way they can take them, I will die first. Now let me tell you why so you dont think I am crazy. I would rather die because once they take our guns away it will be harder for us as Americans to fight against an oppressive government(if it ever got that far). when holding guns we can barely fight against choppers, Mrabs, Tanks, and other weapons that can be used to control us, but we have a small glimpse of hope. I would prefer to Die because I do not want to see America in that situation ever, I know I will be in a better place after wards. Anyway I hope that this never happens and I feel that we will stop all this government control that is rearing its head right now, but I could be wrong. Regardless our guns are our constitutional right, we already saw the gov. trample the constitution over bonuses for AIG that the gov. put in the bill. Anyway this is sad and frustrating and I am tired of all the innocents doing their job, and bettering themselves getting killed because of sick cowardly people. Oh and shotties are the best for home robberies because if you have one nearby it is to hard for most kids to hurt themselves with, and it will hit the robber even if you have your glasses off lol. I keep mine under my bed and I have one more that stays in a closet on the other side of the house loaded and ready. If a robber came into my house there would be no thoughts just hamburger meat, Gears of War style, too bad I dont have a lancer.

While I understand your argument, statistics show that burglars aren't usually armed (http://books.google.com/books?id=qfj...esult&resnum=4). Robbery on the other hand is different but usually doesn't take place with a residence. The fact that if the government decided to become tyrannical, our shotguns, or even our assault weapons, would have little to no affect because of the weaponry the government possesses. Gun control is necessary in my opinion. And by control I mean strictly controlling the ability to obtain a gun. Licensing should be the norm in order to keep guns out of the hands of guys like this, the guy who killed the little girls at the Amish school, the guy who shot up the Jewish school, etc. The list goes on and on. In order to stop the flow of black market weapons, I feel we need to control how guns enter the public to begin with.

[sloth9]

While I understand your argument, statistics show that burglars aren't usually armed (http://books.google.com/books?id=qfj...esult&resnum=4). Robbery on the other hand is different but usually doesn't take place with a residence. The fact that if the government decided to become tyrannical, our shotguns, or even our assault weapons, would have little to no affect because of the weaponry the government possesses. Gun control is necessary in my opinion. And by control I mean strictly controlling the ability to obtain a gun. Licensing should be the norm in order to keep guns out of the hands of guys like this, the guy who killed the little girls at the Amish school, the guy who shot up the Jewish school, etc. The list goes on and on. In order to stop the flow of black market weapons, I feel we need to control how guns enter the public to begin with.

I agree, that is basically what I meant when I was talking about the different weapons in the military, but there is a law that states the military cannot be used on civilians, yes marshal law can be instated, but regardless even with assault rifles we dont stand a chance against some of the weapons in the government hands. Now I do agree with the licensing, me and my wife have concealed hand gun licenses, and of course no felonies, we have insurance to pay for court cost's if we did shoot an intruder or protected someone in public, basically we have to fear death in a legal situation to pull the trigger, and that can be bad period, there is alot of responsibility in owning a gun. We also use them at the gunrange and we are very comfortable with all our guns. I do have a few unregistered guns, nothing illegal, no automatics or anything like that, but I keep them around because the government cant take them from me unless they kick door, you know. But my favorite is a 8 guage, wow it kicks like a donkey, damn, but from 100 yards I could take a wall out on a 2 car garage, it kicks hard but will tear some stuff up, it is old as the hills but works great, and not to mention my 410. Any way enough about that, I am agreeing with you I just dont like more government we dont need it period.

[BgMc31]

I agree, that is basically what I meant when I was talking about the different weapons in the military, but there is a law that states the military cannot be used on civilians, yes marshal law can be instated, but regardless even with assault rifles we dont stand a chance against some of the weapons in the government hands. Now I do agree with the licensing, me and my wife have concealed hand gun licenses, and of course no felonies, we have insurance to pay for court cost's if we did shoot an intruder or protected someone in public, basically we have to fear death in a legal situation to pull the trigger, and that can be bad period, there is alot of responsibility in owning a gun. We also use them at the gunrange and we are very comfortable with all our guns. I do have a few unregistered guns, nothing illegal, no automatics or anything like that, but I keep them around because the government cant take them from me unless they kick door, you know. But my favorite is a 8 guage, wow it kicks like a donkey, damn, but from 100 yards I could take a wall out on a 2 car garage, it kicks hard but will tear some stuff up, it is old as the hills but works great, and not to mention my 410. Any way enough about that, I am agreeing with you I just dont like more government we dont need it period.

We are on the same page brotha!!! I have my CCW as well, after getting laid off from the MGMGrand group recently, I started doing more and more EP (executive protection/bodyguard) work. So the weapon I carry is a 1911 .45. But my favorite is my 10 guage that I keep by the bed. It too kicks like a mule but I love the damage it does with a slug!!! I have a lot of other weapons both registered and otherwise. But I consider myself sane so there is really no worry. But living in Sin City, I know there are many unstable types that have these weapons that shouldn't and therefore should I am all for licensing. I think most people think as you and I do.