From the Helena Independent Record:

Over the weeks, the 20 men and women who signed on for the Billings Police Department's community liaison program heard harrowing tales about life-and-death encounters from the officers who experienced them. Those in the program were warned that even the most mundane calls turn explosive and were lectured about use-of-force laws, officer restraint and the need to rely on training to control fear.

This was a chance to put training into practice.

The firearms simulator--set up in the Billings Operations Center known as "the Barn"--features live-action confrontations that unfold, like movies, on a large white screen. Some contain empty threats, such as a man in an alley reaching too quickly for a wallet or a beer. In others, the figures come fast with guns or knives.

Trainees carry a real pistol or shotgun modified to shoot lasers instead of bullets. It's their job to determine when, and if, to shoot in self-defense or to protect another character.

"It's nothing like the real thing, but it's the closest thing you can get," Lt. Tim O'Connell said.

More cities should do this kind of thing.

This is an interesting article from the Michigan Northern Express. Too much to excerpt, just read it. Main points, to me, are that 1) beanbags don't work, and 2) a criminal who had just picked up the phone to negotiate was dead seconds later because someone decided to use beanbags on him, and he responded by shooting back with his real gun--which got him shot with real guns instead of beanbags. I think his response to being beanbagged is very telling: "What the hell did you do that for?"

Maybe this is what those Brits were worried about.

What is wrong with these people? Anyone caught commiting a crime while wearing a Santa costume should have something especially nasty inflicted upon them.

I don't know, any law that bans Hilary Duff, Christina Aguilera and Celine Dion can't be all bad.