[EXCH54FE]

Sadly, as time moves on, we can assume that the DHS police force will likely be given greater authority by the Obama administration.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

[b4its2late]

He even said he wanted a civilian force as powerful and well equipped as the military. I think he’s taking away from the military for the civilian force....

[ZULU]

Too many politicaal idiots like the Bushes and too many Statist NAZIs like the bastard currently in the White House are to blame.

But you can REALLY blame ALL of it on the apathetic, self-absorbed voters who allow this to go on.

[Jack Hammer]

How did it happen?

Too easy.

Americans simply forgot - or more precisely, didn’t give a rat’s *ss - that, “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.”

[BenLurkin]

[a fool in paradise]

You could just as easily blame it on the war on illegal immigration/parental custody disputes.

[a fool in paradise]

I don’t think that the hollow point bullets purchased by Social Security were for drug crime.

[buckalfa]

The para-militarization of civilian law enforcement was accelerated in the aftermath of 9/11. The then new Homeland Security department gave millions of dollars in grants to local LEA’s to upgrade their capabilities. A grant is a use it or lose it proposition, so local agencies went on a shopping spree for tactical and assault gear. Of course once you have the toys, you have to use them to justify the expenditure.

[Oatka]

DHS soon will have a new name/acronym "GS" - Geheime Staatspolizei.

obama's model:

[ansel12]

Because of the so-called war on drugs, SWAT teams began springing up across the land, tactically armed and ready to do whatever became necessary to overcome the drug problem that this country faces.

That isn't true, SWAT was created to deal with militant groups and armed groups, sniper backed riots, and potential shootouts, not to arrest people for drugs.