5.56-mm and 7.62-mm rifles
Posted on 08/17/2014 5:18:52 AM PDT by Sir Napsalot
State and local police departments obtain some of their military-style equipment through a free Defense Department program created in the early 1990s. ..... detailed data from the Pentagon illustrates how ubiquitous such equipment has become. Highlighted counties have received guns, grenade launchers, vehicles, night vision or body armor through the program since 2006.
(Interactive Map at the linked source)
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Equipment is no substitute for courage.
It would be nice to have a ‘total tally’ on all of the (quote) surplus (unquote) military equipment year in and year out to give away since the “FREE” program began.
(spit)
In the Indianapolis suburbs, officers said they needed a mine-resistant vehicle to protect against a possible attack by veterans returning from war.
Shameful.
How about we protect ourselves from police officers just returning from their shift.
About as likely.
The grenade launchers and shoulder fired rockets are a concern?
Is there any wonder those waging these "wars" want to be like the military?
We brought this on ourselves by demanding everything societal ill be treated like a war. Both sides. Now those waging the "wars" are gearing up and it's not a good thing.
Aroostook County Maine has armored vehicles. To protect against marauders from Quebec or New Brunwick? To fend off gangs of potato throwing farmers? To be able to make it down a dirt woods road without having to stop for the occasional bear or moose?
I know the cops in our little two stoplight town has their own ‘RV’ now. Every so often, they get all dressed up, take it for a ride, and raid someone’s property in search of dried out plants that happen to be illegal to have, ect.
It would save A LOT of time and money if they would just wait for whoever their target is to go out for groceries or something. I suppose that doesn’t sound as exciting in the local newspaper....
I wonder how the “times” feels about how much firepower the BLM has or why the federal agencies are buying up ammo buy the ton?
yea, I thought so.
But it does go a long way in keeping those who would murder those they supposedly "serve" safe while they go about their mercenary business...they get the same sense of invincibility as the druggie who is hopped up on meth and they exercise the same restraint as said hop-head.
Let’s see, ay the start of the Iraq war soldiers were being blown up in their un-armored Humvees so they were plating them with found materials. Then Oshkosh started building MRAPS but they could not build them fast enough, so soldiers were still being blown up in their Humvees. Now we are leaving equipment in Iraq and Afganistan and giving it away to police and foreign military.
I guess the military industrial complex stock prices are more important than a ready military and a 4 trillion dollar investment by taxpayers.
While I agree with all who say the police don’t need to be militarized, I can see what is going to happen in the future when a real terrorist attack takes place and the small town guys weren’t equipped to handle the situation. There will be (media) screams for beefing them up. Truth is, though, law enforcement units, like individuals, may not be equipped for all situations, even though they have heavy firepower. Training, training, training.
What is to be expected, though, is increased abuse of authority on citizens if this much weaponry is handed to the local LEOs.
Had a guy in my neighborhood barricade himself in his home after a three year fight with his wife.
Sheriff came with two mobile command centers, an armored personnel carrier, a swat team and about 20 other cops.
All for some guy who shot and killed himself cause his wife is a whore.
ANd he was not a threat to anyone but himself/
Returning Jihadis are going to be a problem.
I have to laugh at the thought of some of these hero wannabes looking in the mirror and seeing themselves as some kind of action figure.
Sounds like an old George Carlin routine I once heard.
It’s all right there in the training manual!
Most of us here have been concerned about the militarization of the police AND their willingness to use this military equipment for what had been regular enforcement duties. While I can see a need for some military equipment in a few situations, say a holed up band of immigrant drug cartel members or anarchists, this one in a million occurrence has become the norm for use for even serving a search warrant for tax evasion. “let's take the APC out for a run now” is the norm.
So, IMO, while this equipment may have applications for the National Guard or state police, I don't see the need for every two stop light town to have tanks, grenade launchers, or Apache Helicopters. If I am late on my education loan, I don't need the Dept of Ed Swat team bursting into my residence at 3AM with flame throwers either.
So let me get this straight.
In the early 1990’s Bill Clinton begins arming up police with military weapons.
In 1996, during B Clintons reelection, B Clinton’s buddies in the Chinese military were caught arming up the gangs with full auto weapons.
B Clinton arms up the police with military equipment and the Chinese military is arming up the gangs with military weapons.
B Clinton wanted to stay in the WH and the Chinese wanted him to stay in the WH.
Both have the same objective, keeping Clinton in the WH, but they are arming up different sides.
This is a real head scratcher, what could they possibly had planned?
During B Clinton’s impeachment Hillary had a threat called the “Scorched Earth Policy” part of which was to orchestrate race riots.
Strange, we have the same thing with various Fast & Furious type programs arming up the gangs and Obama arming up police with military equipment.
Sounds to me like we got Deja vous all over again.
Sure is funny.
Every time a Clinton has their sights set on getting into the WH or staying in the WH we have orchestrated civil unrest/race riots.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.