Border Patrol: OK to Shoot Fleeing Subjects?

Now that the president is in the business of commuting sentences, some lawmakers would like to see him turn his attention to two border patrol agents who drew more than 10 years in prison for shooting a fleeing, unarmed drug trafficker in the back. By federal law, agents are allowed to fire their weapon only if they are in danger.

The limit on deadly force seems wrong to several GOP senators—especially if the subject is a drug smuggler—and they held a hearing on it yesterday. The US attorney for West Texas defended the convictions, testifying that there is no way to guarantee that a fleeing suspect is dangerous, and that the Supreme Court has already weighed in on the matter.  (More Mexican border stories.)