A Bad Omen

Two (or more) snipers shoot eleven police in Dallas, as they attempted to maintain order at a Black Lives Matter-type demonstration. According to various news sources, at this hour 4 of those have died, others are in serious condition.

Supposedly the two shooters are in custody. I'm surprised they allowed themselves to be taken alive.

The snipers were armed with rifles. At least some sources suggest police-style body armor (so-called "bullet-proof vests) will not stop rifle bullets, particularly if rounds are jacketed or armor-piercing.

If this becomes a pattern, we will see police refusing to turn out for future crowd control duty. Then riots will turn into insurrections followed by military attacks on rebel-held areas, if our leaders have courage. Alternatively, those areas will become no-go zones for police, much like the favelas of Brazil or the banlieues of France.

Update: A fifth Dallas police officer has died of gunshot wounds.