When a Law gets in the Way of Justice, that Law isn't Just

   If you would revisit the shooting of Michael Brown, which sparked riots in Ferguson, Missouri, and triggered the concern about police violence that embroils our nation today, then turn to the recent shooting of Patrick Harmon on the streets of Salt Lake City.
  Patrick Harmon is Michael Brown, circa 2017.  Brown's shooting was August of 2014 as he fled a police officer.  Harmon's shooting was August of 2017, also as he fled police. Small protests resulted in Salt Lake City, but nothing at all close to what took place in Ferguson.
   Harmon's shooting did not attract as much national attention as it could have. If it had happened in the wake of the shooting and rioting in Ferguson, it surely would have attracted a bigger spotlight.
  The district attorney cleared Clinton Fox, the officer who shot Harmon, of charges.
   I've watched the video. I agree with those who say the shooting was not justified. He was running away. He was shot in the back.
   But, we have a law that will justify his killing. Our Stand Your Ground law is worded so that if a person says he fears for life, then he is justified in shooting and killing the other person. Harmon reportedly had a knife; reportedly verbally threatened the officers; reportedly was turning to use the knife even as he was gunned down. Officer Fox told investigators that in ten years of law enforcement and two military deployments, it was the scariest situation he has been in.
   Many of you also have seen the video and read the news stories, and believe the shooting was justified. I disagree, strongly. The officer yelled that he was going to shoot him, which appears to have been more of an announcement than a warning to stop. You would need to slow down the jumpy video to see if Harmon reached down in his pocket to pull out a knife while he was fleeing, but, I question that. Here's why: They were in the process of cuffing him when he bolted and it was few seconds later when he was shot. If they became aware he had a knife while he was running, it was a quick exchange and does not change the fact he was not in position to use it without first changing the direction he was headed.
   When killing is unnecessary -- and I do not see it as being necessary in this case -- I believe it wrong. Even when you have a law that says it is just.
   The law doesn't mean the shooting was just, it means the law is unjust.
   I understand the officer's superiors stand behind him, arguing that they are trained to respond quickly in such situations, and that what officer Fox did was in line with the training. You may disagree -- bless you, the same -- but I cannot but believe that if officers are being trained to kill in such a situation, their training is amiss.

(Note: Blog added to and edited for content 10/15/17)