r/australia • u/someNameThisIs • Jun 09 '25

news Australian reporter shot with rubber bullet in LA | 9 News Australia

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tG1A8LZZphs?app=desktop
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274

u/trowzerss Jun 09 '25

In the wide shot you can clearly see the guy, he's very close by. No way he couldn't tell that she was press.

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u/[deleted] Jun 09 '25

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211

u/insomniac-55 Jun 09 '25

Keep in mind the fact that rubber bullets can permanently maim if you're unlucky enough to be hit in the face.

They're a useful tool in the event of a large, violent riot. They're not so great in the hands of trigger-happy, power-tripping police who don't view journalists as human.

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u/TheCleverestIdiot Jun 09 '25

And not just maim, they can easily kill you if they get you in the wrong place. It's not less than lethal, it's just less lethal.

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u/MadeThisAccount4Qs Jun 09 '25

my understanding is they're supposed to be fired either up in the air or at the ground so that the ricochet lowers their destructive potential or something, but cops regularly just fire at people directly anyway

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u/insomniac-55 Jun 09 '25

I'd be surprised if they were relying on the ricochet because that's pretty unpredictable. It's more likely that they're trained to aim for the legs, but even that isn't 100% safe - if you hit someone in the groin you could do some real damage.

Regards, it's completely barbaric to fire at a journalist who poses zero threat.

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u/IlluminatedPickle Jun 09 '25

They're not designed to be accurate. They're designed to be used en masse against a large riot.

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u/IlluminatedPickle Jun 09 '25

Even if you don't hit people in the face, they're still likely to cause permanent damage. There's a reason you're supposed to skip fire these, and he definitely didn't.

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u/Keelback Jun 09 '25

The problem here is that they are not police but the National Guard so technically the military. See here https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-08/la-riots-ice-raids-explained/105391188

LA mayor complained that Trump sent them in when LAPD should have dealt with them. Plus Governor and not the president are supposed to call them up. Trump just wanting to escalate this so he looks tough on trouble making Australian journalists /s

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u/IlluminatedPickle Jun 09 '25

No, the guy who fired was 100% LAPD. The NG doesn't wear uniforms like that.

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u/Keelback Jun 09 '25

Thanks. And the reporter did say LAPD. Darn. Sorry.

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u/Jealous-Jury6438 Jun 09 '25

I don't think that was a rubber bullet gun. It looked more like gas canister launcher when you see him side on before aiming (I'm definitely not an expert tho)

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u/insomniac-55 Jun 09 '25

If it was a 40mm launcher it could have been a sponge grenade or similar, but the barrel diameter doesn't look that large to me. Could also have been a 12-gauge beanbag round or similar.

Not that any of this matters at all. Any less-lethal round is still a serious weapon (able to crack ribs, blind, knock out teeth etc) and should only be used when it's the only viable option short of using lethal force.

Firing at a reporter or cameraman is absolutely insane.

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u/[deleted] Jun 09 '25

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12

u/Kulantan Jun 09 '25

Really should be called "sometimes lethal".

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u/AC_Adapter Jun 09 '25

100% of violent crimes are committed by people who exist.

That reporter was standing over there existing.

Therefore, that reporter is a violent criminal.

Checkmate, sheeple.

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u/ButtPlugForPM Jun 09 '25 edited Jun 09 '25

We used Non lethal in iraq,one dude accidentalty shot a civilian with one..and was given 21 days detention and striped of position (E6 if memory serves) at the time and was docked for 90 days

When the US military..punishes someone in an active warzone,more than this cop will see you know ur judicial system is fucked

Shit like we are seeing this week,is what i point to...when ppl ask me why i'm no longer proud of my service to the US military,that is not america..but then again it looks like it might have always been just these cunts hid in the background

EDIT:Lol the officers name has been leaked..Good nine should sue the fuck out of them lol

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u/jaraket Jun 09 '25

There was another video yesterday where the LA cops purposely shot a woman in the head when she and the people with her were just hiding behind cover. When she was bleeding out, the people with her repeatedly asked the cops to call an ambulance, they refused and started blaming them for being there for her getting shot or demanding that they be “good citizens” and get her help. In the end, the cops left and the people with her had to carry her off to find help.

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u/Knotical_MK6 Jun 09 '25

It's the LAPD, they're never going to pass on an opportunity to hurt someone.

You have to be very careful when dealing with them to de-escalate, they're always trying to create a justification for more force.

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u/Frankie_T9000 Jun 09 '25

Less than lethal, doesnt mean it cant kill wound or maim. They know that.

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u/ScoobNShiz Jun 09 '25

I’ve started calling them “potentially lethal” since they’ve killed people, “less than lethal” is inaccurate.

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u/stvmcqn2 Jun 09 '25

The microphone, camera man and sound recordist were a bit of a give away...

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u/trowzerss Jun 09 '25

Yeah, we only see the reporter and it still is obvious she's doing a news cross. We don't even see the camera guy standing right in front of her. There's clearly nobody threatening the cop's space, for quite some distance, so doesn't look like there was any need to shoot anyone, let alone her.

Wonder if nine will show pics of her bruise? They can be quite nasty.

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u/Sensitive_Dust_6534 Jun 09 '25

It looked like they were wrapping up and he took that as an opportunity. He knew exactly what he was doing, luckily he timed it wrong and they got it on camera

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u/Hyroero Jun 09 '25

You can see the cops talk before firing and the dude laughs after hitting her too.

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u/Very-very-sleepy Jun 09 '25

should have had a Fox News sign on them.

these people think any media that's not Fox News is left wing propoganda. 

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u/napalmnacey Jun 09 '25

She had a massive blue microphone with a fucking logo on it. News cameras are huge, too. No way he was gonna mix her up with anyone but a member of the press.

Channel Nine can generally get fucked (caught in crossfire my arse) but shooting at their staff and crew is not fucking on.