American Government Policy: Throw Rocks, Get Shot

A teenage Mexican was shot multiple times in the back in late 2012 for throwing rocks at the U.S. Border Patrol at the Arizona-Mexico border. After ordering him to stop throwing rocks, when the rocks continued, agents opened fire. In the last two years, eight people have been killed for throwing rocks. American border patrol police, according to NPR are on the record as saying it “considers rock-throwing to be deadly force which sometimes demands the same in response.” There hasn’t been much debate, discussion or media about it.  It is normal for police to respond with force when attacked.

No one blamed America for throwing the rocks or creating the violence – as did Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas when he blamed Israel for the tensions stating “How can peaceful demonstrations lead to the death of two martyrs and before that others? If Israel really cared about security, it would not be using lethal force against demonstrators.” Slick public relations campaign to try and merge “peaceful” and rock throwers together.

Abbas said that Israel alone bears full responsibility for what is happening today and what will happen in the future. Clearly, a case where the victim is being blamed.

And in the last few weeks we have seen Haaretz and The New York Times run articles encouraging an Intifada of rock throwers against Israel.  As the mother of a three year old whose daughter was injured recently after being hit by a stone said, ““A rock kills. A rock is a deadly weapon in every way.”

It really doesn’t take a genius to figure out that rocks are deadly – and in any sane part of the world if someone throws a rock it’s a violent act, and is met with an appropriate response. Rocks can and do kill. Throwing rocks is plain and simple terrorism.

America understands these rules – stating that it considers rock-throwing to be deadly force which sometimes demands the same in response.” None other than Prime Minister Netanyahu in 1989 said “Shoot rock-throwers to kill.”Assuredly, Israel will soon too adopt this policy.