If the police were generally imposing impartial justice, protecting the innocent, getting muggers and burglars off the streets, then one could plausibly claim special privilege for the police.

If the police are not doing that, then they are just another gang. Gang X hits Gang Y, it is legitimate for gang Y to hit gang X. Taliban bomb us, we bomb taliban.

There was a massive effort to find something to arrest him for, and after the big effort to find something on him comes up empty, then he supposedly suddenly does something that makes it necessary to kill him.

Not implausible, given low black IQ and propensity for violence. Being investigated might trigger the crime they were looking for, but at least somewhat suspicious. And even if my suspicions are totally unjustified, and the police killing totally justified, why the huge effort to bust Mark Duggan, as against the total lack of effort to bust ordinary muggers, arsonists, and burglars?

No. No matter what the police did to Duggan, only people who were attempting to defend Duggan can possibly claim justice for attacking police. I suppose you might think that vigilante attacks against the specific police officers who killed Duggan are just, too. But that’s as far as it goes.

Also, “legitimate” is poor word-choice, as it suggests something done in accordance to law, which attacking police is not. May I suggest “justified”?

I’ve read several news stories now, and I don’t see any real evidence one way or the other as to justification. And the claim that the police lied doesn’t look strongly supported to me either. Evidently there were claims from them about an “apparent exchange of gunfire.” This isn’t necessarily a lie. There were a bunch of cops. One of them (at least) fired. One of them got hit. It’s easy to see how many or even all of these cops could get the mistaken idea that they were in a gunfight. This is what investigations are for.

Would normally be legitimate, yes. However, it is well known that if you wave a piece at the cops, you’ll get shot. Only an idiot wouldn’t know that, and as Duggan expected to get shot, he isn’t an idiot. If you do something knowing full well you’ll get hurt, and you end up hurt, it is nobody’s fault but your own. Even if technically speaking on the other side is a human who could have decided not to.

Also I want to know who is claiming Duggan shot first. I only know about it from all the myth-busting attempts. The official cop’s story is that Duggan didn’t shoot. (After a little googling, I get it now. “Doubts emerge;” implying a police coverup where none exists.)

I guess you should make sure you have a herd of pigs in your backyard before you shoot anyone in self defense in the UK to dispose of the body.