Blast'm!
You know what else? How 'bout we arm CHP helicopters with small air to surface missiles and institute a policy of taking out with extreme prejudice people who lead police on high-speed chases through our public streets?

Is there anything qualitatively different between a guy driving recklessly at 100 miles per hour through streets filled with families and a guy pointing an automatic weapon at those same families? In the latter case, none of us would have a problem with a sniper taking the guy out. But, for some reason, we continue to let criminals risk the lives of our friends and family while the police make futile efforts to stop them.

Apparently, it makes for high cable news ratings. One fugitive can bring a global news organization to a standstill, while some anchor attempts to fill time endlessly repeating the same tripe in commentary. And, we also apparently understand the danger, as I've heard it suggested that the police call off such pursuits in the interest of public safety. Of course, the public safety to be gained is only temporary, as the action would result in LETTING A DANGEROUS CRIMINAL GO FREE.

Think about it. One Stinger Hellfire missile through the driver's side window, caught on TV news cameras, would not only prevent unnecessary loss of innocent life on the day (via the vaporization of the perp and his car), but would serve as a memorable deterrant to future would-be fugitives. Fox News could bring in Norman Schwarzkopf to revise his Gulf War I performances narrating the elimination from a helicopter-mounted camera.

Sure, once the pursuits stopped, Spike TV would have to replace some of their high speed pursuit footage with some other testosterone-friendly programming. But, I think the net result would be a positive one.
- served up by Nomad @ 1:13 PM