If the house was gated, would it be legal to shoot a trespasser?

Alot of the time things look different when the details come out (hey, I've been wrong). This Reminds me of the choking incident involving the Oklahoma State Trooper and the Paramedic. Everyone one saw the cell phone video showing a white cop choking a black man. What people did not pay attention to was the video footage from the Troopers squad car (which was released, I think, 2 weeks after the incident). When the Trooper steps out of his car and is walking towards the ambulance the paramedic steps out of the ambulance and starts coming at the Trooper. I seems that the paramedic may have initiated the aggessive behavior.

Can't wait til they spoof this in the next season of The Boondocks.

When did it become against the law to yell at a police officer (or even act like a buffoon) on your own property?

I read the police report and some interviews Gates has given on this. It's amazing how different the picture appears with just a few subtle changes. Having heard Gates speak, I do believe that he played the race card right away. The cop didn't do anything you could say was overtly racist—he didn't call 911 to report the break-in and neither side has claimed the officer made any racist remarks. When Gates started throwing charges of racism around, it ratcheted things up significantly. Was it Disorderly Conduct? I dunno. According to the Mass. laws, it was arguable either way, but I bet the DA didn't want the bother of fighting it in court.  Calling the cop a racist, making “your mama” jibes and then verbally attacking him in front of a crowd probably isn't a smart thing to do (but since when have academics been pragmatic). I think he deserved to get arrested and then later discharged. Maybe I'm racist too.

This guy is a loon. I would be thanking the police if they followed up on a report of a break-in at my apartment only to find it was me trying to open a door that was in a jam. I bet you $100 that this batty professor would be crying racism if it HAD been a burglary but no one responded at all. Give me a break and try harder to race bait next time.

“Police supporters charge that Gates was responsible for his own arrest by overreacting.” You gotta love these tactics, This police officer stomps all over this mans rights until he (Gates) over reacts. Now the officer has a lame excuse to arrest Gates for disorderly conduct. Gates did screw up by over-reacting but I would imagine it would be hard not to when the officer continues to push him. This is what gives the good cops in this country a bad name (There are plenty of good cops out there).

Oh please, Mr. Gates. Get over yourself and move on. The cop screwed up. *You* screwed up. But who goes running to the media?  Sheesshh. Perhaps Mr. Gates would prefer the cops just leave his house alone. He'd been broken into once before, but I guess that doesnt matter when the opportunity for a little media face-time comes up, huh. The whole thing is just moronic.

I would add that the cop was not only stupid, but also an asshole.