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The “militarization” of police was not only inevitable, but necessary
Hot Air ^ | August 16, 2014 | Jazz Shaw

Posted on 08/16/2014 4:38:17 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

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To: 2ndDivisionVet

We aren’t going to be able to stop the proliferation of the military weapons to local police forces.

It’s important, however, to change those things we can, and in this case one thing to change is our perception of those weapons.

We need to begin thinking of them as resources for our side, resources being maintained and fueled for us to use when they are needed.


21 posted on 08/16/2014 4:56:30 PM PDT by Balding_Eagle (If America falls, darkness will cover the earth for a thousand years.)
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To: JRandomFreeper

I was a civilian (state employee) security guard at an Air Guard base in the 80’s after I left the service. Depending on my post that night I carried a S&W .38 revolver & 18 rounds or a FULLY AUTOMATIC (selective fire) Air-Force style M-16 with 120 rounds on my person. The local PD were actually somewhat scared of us. LOL


22 posted on 08/16/2014 4:57:08 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out for himself.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

How about we quit breeding gibsmedats, quit inviting illegal aliens into the country ... maybe then we wouldn’t “need” uniformed thugs.


23 posted on 08/16/2014 4:57:20 PM PDT by NorthMountain
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To: GeronL

It would be a great help for the authorities to evoke more relaxed standards for self and property defense in situations of rampant lawlessness such as was the case in Ferguson.


24 posted on 08/16/2014 4:57:43 PM PDT by skeeter
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The author is full of crap.


25 posted on 08/16/2014 4:57:48 PM PDT by Timber Rattler (Just say NO! to RINOS and the GOP-E)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The problem is that when police are kitted out with military gear they will use it. Not just for riots, but they will do more mundane jobs, way down scale from riots, using the same tactics. It’s already happening, and people are already dead who should not be.


26 posted on 08/16/2014 4:58:30 PM PDT by RobinOfKingston (Democrats--the party of Evil. Republicans--the party of Stupid.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The every day cop needs his side arm and maybe a semi-auto rifle or shotgun in the trunk with a vest and helmet. Beyond that the “tactical unit” should be available for call up for specific incidents where there is a known SIGNIFICANT threat.

This does not mean serving normal warrants. If the need to serve a warrant or confront a significant threat arises then is should be executed on a rare basis rather than routine.


27 posted on 08/16/2014 4:58:59 PM PDT by reed13k (For evil to triumph it is only necessary for good men to do nothings)
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To: oh8eleven
Requiring that my employees be directed to use and carry equipment that I deem necessary is 'hate'?

Not hardly, and it points to your 'us vs. them' mindset.

Police are supposed to be there to provide a service to the public. The public gets to decide how they are equipped. That's not hate, except in some twisted, steroid deranged bully's mind.

/johnny

28 posted on 08/16/2014 4:59:29 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: Timber Rattler

Spot-on Brevity Award, goes to Timber Rattler!


29 posted on 08/16/2014 5:00:29 PM PDT by blackdog (There is no such thing as healing, only a balance between destructive and constructive forces.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

A military uniform should be reserved exclusively for military use - it is a universally recognized symbol that the Most Powerful Force in the World has arrived to kill enemies and SAVE populations.

Bloused camo pants aren’t going to stop a bullet any quicker than police uniform pants. Departments need to bugger off with the dress-up crap and the government needs to stop acting like a damn arms dealer to agency departments. And that includes painting armoured vehicles in camo or flat grey - paint the darn thing like the police vehicle it is.

If departments insist on on their officers being dressed up like rhinestone cowboys, AND they expect to retain the support of the military, then they might want to strongly consider conducting themselves under Warrior rules and knock off fostering perceptions that make REAL warriors look bad:

http://qz.com/249483/police-in-ferguson-may-look-like-soldiers-but-their-tactics-wouldnt-pass-us-army-muster/


30 posted on 08/16/2014 5:00:56 PM PDT by blueplum
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Military and police should be very, very, very different.

Police are a tool of the local citizens, to make their life easier. The military are to kick ass, take names, and protect the sovereignty of a nation.

/johnny

31 posted on 08/16/2014 5:01:12 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: Jagdgewehr

Bingo. Part of the Grand Leftist Plan.

Sooner or later, the good guys are going to win. In a way, all this is a big bluff.


32 posted on 08/16/2014 5:01:14 PM PDT by PapaNew (The grace of God & freedom always win the debate over unjust law & government in the forum of ideas)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

It’s interesting because arguing against the “militarization of police” ultimately is saying that more power has to go to State and Federal government than local.

Its somewhat analogous to 2nd amendment issue where the anti-right-to-bear side says big brother will take care of you, so you don’t need guns.

Here it is big big brother will come in and take care of your city if there are any problems, so you don’t need equipment to deal with riots or other threats to your city.


33 posted on 08/16/2014 5:01:17 PM PDT by ifinnegan
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

We need “good old boys” on the beat, as the US had 50 years ago. We do not need jack-booted thugs yelling “Get on the ground, GET ON THE GROUND, NOW!”


34 posted on 08/16/2014 5:02:14 PM PDT by AlexW
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To: JRandomFreeper

In Britain citizens don’t have guns.

Your comments are weird.


35 posted on 08/16/2014 5:03:38 PM PDT by ifinnegan
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To: JRandomFreeper
A small group of specialists could be armed to deal with violent offenders, with most of the rank and file unarmed. It's time to go back to the hue and cry model of policing, with police actually on foot, unarmed, and walking a beat.

Not even the most liberal black Democrat would agree with you. (They are mostly looking to get more blacks employed as cops).

36 posted on 08/16/2014 5:04:31 PM PDT by Zhang Fei (Let us pray that peace be now restored to the world and that God will preserve it always.)
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To: JRandomFreeper
The public gets to decide how they are equipped.
BS. The lawlessness of the people dictates how they are equipped.
37 posted on 08/16/2014 5:04:55 PM PDT by oh8eleven (RVN '67-'68)
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To: JRandomFreeper

I wouldn’t walk around certain areas without being armed, many people don’t leave their home without being armed, which is probably the smartest way to go. I believe people should be armed in general; I don’t think being a cop should cause to be disarmed.


38 posted on 08/16/2014 5:05:04 PM PDT by Wyrd bið ful aræd (Asperges me, Domine, hyssopo et mundabor, Lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor.)
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To: oh8eleven
BTW, your image is broken on my browser and doesn't appear, since you hotlinked it from site that doesn't want you to hotlink it.

I was able to see the image by doing some unarmed investigation, reading the source html and using another browser to go directly to the site that doesn't allow hotlinking.

/johnny

39 posted on 08/16/2014 5:05:04 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: balch3

Big difference between a police force with riot gear and the para-military forces of Federal Departments which shouldn’t even have a law enforcement branch.


40 posted on 08/16/2014 5:05:45 PM PDT by ifinnegan
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