>>Getting back to London... It is indeed sad that someone is shot to death for apparently wearing a thick coat. I can understand the paranoia felt by the community. This is what can happen when fear rules our lives. It can happen anywhere. I fear that this episode has only begun between terrorists and the public service sector against the general public. The difference is when the public service sector kills an innocent person it is done to protect the community.
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>>People will differ with his/her opinion about the incident this morning in the London subway. Rationalizations will include it was deserved. Anyone who wears a thick jacket in 70 degree weather deserves to be shot! Well, come to San Francisco and you will see thousands of people doing such a thing in the downtown area.
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>Why do you start with the assumption that the person is innocent? I think you are rationalizing as well.

I didn't see any presumption of innocence in TomWs message. But I did detect that perhaps shooting the person (to death yet!) might have been a bit 'over the line' and an example of a deaf boy to show that.
First reports have the guy down on the floor and held by police, THEN being shot. If that's anywhere near the truth I would expect a huge outcry by the locals.
Assuming guilt and exacting punishment immediately is far more problematic than gathering/presenting/evaluating evidence and then coming to judgement.
Summary execution is far more efficient, though AS LONG AS IT INVOLVES OTHERS THAN ME.