Why do people insist on disobeying cops when they know there is a history of shoot first ask questions later? Surely at some point you have to realise it's not worth losing your life to prove you're in the right?

There is a really simply solution. If the cops tell you to do something, here is an interesting concept. Do what you are told. If you don't like it, report it afterwards but disobeying a cop is nothing short of stupid