Indianapolis police train to use M-16 rifles

WHAS ^ | 12/01/2004

[Yo-Yo]

The rifles were modified to remove the automatic firing capability. The original rifle can keep firing for as long as the shooter holds the trigger, while these rifles fire just one shot for each squeeze, officials said.

No offense to any law enforcement types here, but after some spray-and-pray shootouts by cops in the past, I say 'thank God.'

[Edgerunner]

Still, it's an excellent firearm. They need some of this in San Francisco...

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

Cool, now the Indy police will at least have a fair fight in the next shootout!

Good for them.

[rdb3]

So they'll use the three round burst instead of the fully automatic. I was partial to the A1 in basic training. Didn't like the A2.

Then I got to carry the M-205, an M-16 with a grenade launcher attached, in permanent party.

Will cops get to use the fully automatic M-60 next?

[rellimpank]

--yes---I would submit that there is never a need for full auto fire in police work--

[Conspiracy Guy]

Hope they spend some time at the range.

[nanak]

Every cop should have and M16 and an Uzi.

[Ajnin]

--yes---I would submit that there is never a need for full auto fire in police work--

I'm sure the US Border Patrol could find a use for full auto.

[Pahuanui]

How... antiquated. My department, in CA, allows officers, any and all officers, who qualify with an AR-15 to carry one on duty, every shift. It sits right there in the lock, next to the Remington.

It's actually become quite passe, and I got tired of the bother, so it's just me, my Sig .45 and the .12 gauge.

[edchambers]

(snip)The rifles were modified to remove the automatic firing capability.

Uh... wouldn't that make them AR15s? Not that there's anything wrong with that but wouldn't you rather have a new AR15 than a stripped down or modified M16A1?

[Blood of Tyrants]

You ain't kidding. The very last thing you need in a shootout with some nutjob is a trigger happy cop spraying bullets in a 30 degree arc.

[rellimpank]

With respect to your background and what you do, IMHO the US-Mexican border situation should be considered a military situation--

[libstripper]

They might have been better off with the M-14. It fires a a .308 round instead of a 7.62x39 and has a lot more range and a lot more penetrating power. Partucularly useful if the enemy is wearing body armor.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

Good point, but if they are still running around with the .38/9mm and a 12ga. ANYTHING would be better, the M-14 would be outstanding.

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

I wouldn't buy the Colt version. Give me a Bushmaster.

[Deaf Smith]

If they don't have a H&K MP5 in every vehicle, then they're not up to par with Dalworthington Gardens, Texas.

[5Madman2]

No there is not, but there are times that a rifle is needed.

Cops have carried rifles throughout the years, this is not a new thing. It's news worthy because they are "ugly guns"

They have carried anything from 22's for stray, injured animals in the country to M-1 Carbines and 30-30 lever actions for things that a shotgun is not appropriate for

[rellimpank]

--I agree and the officers should know how (and when) to use a rifle, be it a lever action .30-30 or whatever.

As an aside to this , I know of a county where a Mini-14 was available in the trunk of a squad car. By whatever means , it became so rusted as to be unusable. The solution--replace it with a stainless steel model!

[5Madman2]

Stainless steel is good, but they still need to maintain it Oil does wonders. The great thing about the Mini 14 is that they would only need to wipe it down every once in a while