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Comment by UI_at_80x24 | Hacker News Reader

I'd like to see this codified into law and practice:

As soon as you cover/hide a badge/identification you are no longer acting as law-enforcement and are deemed a terrorist inciting fear & harm on the public.

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I saw an interview with the mayor a couple of days ago. He ended by throwing a Molotov cocktail that the interviewer completely ignored: "It would be really unfortunate if the irregular behavior of these federal agents put them in harm's way." (My memory is not great so this quote may be a bit more explicit than the original?) In general, if an unidentified group of armed and camouflaged ruffians pours out of unmarked vans to menace our neighborhood, we should shoot them.

I've heard stuff like this a lot, but just dont believe it. The people who are more likely to be armed arent being targeted. Plus shooting at federal officers is likely to be a death sentence, both literally and in regards to sympathy / support for yourself and beliefs.

I would never shoot an unarmed person; that would be murder. Gun possession is also not a reason for anyone to be shot. However, by all reports these agents are menacing people with their weapons, bundling people into unmarked vans, etc. Those behaviors threaten lives, and responsible gun owners will intervene to stop them.

If they are not wearing badges and identification of which agency they are operating under the authority of, then the laws should be that they are not legally operating as federal officers. That's the point. I'm allowed (in many jurisdictions) to defend myself with deadly force if necessary against an assailant. Without properly identifying themselves as federal agents, they could be any random person who bought camo and tactical gear at any random gun shop or military surplus store.

Federal agents should be required to clearly identify themselves as such.

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