Posted on 04/26/2005 12:06:43 PM PDT by holymoly
St. Petersburg police officers have added the Colt AR-15 rifle to their inventory to counter the expiration of the assault weapons ban and the appearance of more heavily armed criminals.
ST. PETERSBURG - (AP) -- The expiration of the nation's ban on the sale of assault rifles and the appearance of more heavily armed criminals have pushed more than 100 St. Petersburg police officers to order assault rifles of their own for official duty.
The first group of officers completed the required 16 hours of instruction for using Colt AR-15s in January.
The semiautomatic weapons fire bullets that travel up to 2,700 feet per second and are powerful enough to penetrate body armor.
''St. Petersburg -- it's not so sleepy any more,'' said Tom Jacwin, a 22-year veteran who is getting used to his new weapon.
``The bad guys are smarter and better armed.''
Police Chief Chuck Harmon approved use of the AR-15s last June with guidelines that took months to develop.
Officers who want the weapons must buy them for $1,100.
The rifles may be used only in ``a high-risk situation, such as to overcome suspects with superior firepower, in response to an active shooter situation, when confronted by barricaded subjects, during stakeout and perimeter operations, for felony vehicle stops.''
The weapons must be stored in a hard case in the trunk of a patrol car except when being used.
They can't be modified for automatic fire, and officers must qualify with them in the shooting range each year.
Critics say that the speed and 300-yard range of the bullets pose a threat to bystanders.
Advocates say the assault rifles are vastly better than the standard Glock handguns assigned to officers and are more accurate than the pump-action shotguns that the department makes available.
I am schooled; with new and valuable information also. I had dismissed the Mini 14 from my mind as a reasonable weapon because of issues relating to barrel heating. This mod appears to address barrel heating and overdriving of the op rod. Now all one would need is better ventilation of the forend to reduce heating issues and the problem might be solved. I will leave to the Mini 14 fans further exploration of the appropriate mods to effect the cure above.
Bye the bye, wasn't the M1 carbine, and consequently the Mini 14, action as result of a design by "Carbine" Williams? He developed the short stroke piston and floating cylinder design ultimately used in the M1. Bill Ruger used the system in the Mini.
Propaganda piece. Citizens better get their walls reinforced with bullet proof material.
Did you happen to catch Katie Couric during the D.C. sniper hunt? She sat down with a BATF agent to talk about the case, and, sitting there thoughtfully fingering a .223 round said "I understand these bullets are particularly dangerous because they spin in flight."
Priceless.
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