Posted on 10/11/2013 5:48:40 AM PDT by from occupied ga
PRESTON — The Preston Police Department acquired a Mine Resistance Ambush Protected Personnel Carrier (MRAP) from the United States Army within the past week. The military has chosen to make equipment available to law enforcement agencies to increase domestic security in our country.
MRAP’s are armored fighting vehicles are designed for the purpose of surviving attacks and ambushes, including mines explosions.
Preston Police department applied for the vehicle in early spring of this year. The Preston City Council considered the proposal and possible benefits to our city and the surrounding communities and approved the acquisition. The vehicle comes at no cost to Preston City. It is a 2007 model with very low mileage.
“What are we going to do with that?” is a lot of people’s first comment. Others might say, “Are things that bad in Preston that we need that?” I hope not, too. It is not manufactured with our needs in mind, but I am so grateful to have it to protect our officers and people in our area. The military is dispersing equipment while it is still functional rather than putting it in mothballs and never to be used again.
Preparing for and increasing our capabilities doesn’t make bad things happen.
The taxpayers already paid for the vehicle. We did not have to buy it again. Times have changed. Too many communities have had to say, “I didn’t think that would happen here.”
This MRAP will be made available, too, for use not only here in Preston, but in neighboring counties, as well as the Logan and Cache county area. It will be an asset to the regional SWAT teams that serves our community.
In any situation where there is a threat of gun violence this vehicle may be used. Our department has officers that have been trained and have personally used these armored vehicles in real world operations overseas. They feel this vehicle will be an asset in our area just as it was in combat situations.
We are very thankful for this added resource this MRAP brings. It increases officer and public’s safety as we arrive at a high threat incident. Officers will still have to get out of the vehicle into danger to manage the threat. The vehicle is expected to be used as a response vehicle for special teams. It can be used for rescue and evacuation of public from threatening environments. I appreciate our government and our military for the security they give us and for their help to increase our strength here in our schools and at home.
This must be the “militia” our founders wrote of.
When Ubama declares martial law DHS will come and claim it.
I was opposed to all this arming of smaller cities and town police forces with more advanced weaponry.
I’m having second thoughts.
Yes, they will cause a lot of deaths, but for those of us who need and want real firepower, the physically closer to us that it is stored, the easier it will be to obtain.
These faux LEO’s will be just doing their job, while we will be fighting for our families, our homes, and our children’s future.
Not only will we be more determined, we are a lot smarter than the average LEO.
I know who’s side I’m betting on.
Hmm, didn’t know IEDs were a big problem in Preston, ID (population 5,204). You would think it would have made the news...
Your local LEO has been watching you and your family for years and knows about that excavated 'septic system' you were working on 12 years ago.
It isnt as bad as it appears. Having the toys isnt the most important part of the equation. Unless you know how to use them and are motivated theyll be taken away by someone(s) who do and is. Just saying...
Now they should be. Besides, you make it big enough this won't matter.
A few months ago we saw stories that they were passing these out. Many said the stories were bunk.
Wait until they start using these at DUI checkpoints.
Apparent't the stories were true. Makes you wonder what other rumored things that the government has in store for us that people are saying couldn't happen here are going to come true. Has 0bama stated his final solution to the gun owner problem yet?
"Arbeit Macht Frei"
I wonder how many of these local police forces and sheriffs departments are taking these vehicles under false pretense? DHS thinks they are getting pre-positioned assets and troops... Local LEOs are smiling pretty all the while thinking “Yeah, when your goons roll into my turf, we’re using this on you.” We may not know who’s side anyone is really on until the SHTF.
I would expect to see several privately owned mil surp bug-out vehicles in Idaho.
Who knows? I know we pushed these through the logistics process and spent billions on getting them fielded. I see no reason the military is offloading them this early. I guess we are getting our of urban warfare or at least changing theaters.
They were made to be used by the lowest common denominator in the military, they aren't that difficult to figure out very quickly, especially for a farm boy. If they can pass the civil service test to become a cop, they can pass the asvab to make it to A school to drive a buffalo.
I wish I could think like you. As an avid historian, I cannot come to that same conclusion. The jack booted thug mindset is a part of human nature. When ordered to shoot civilians the thugs will.
I offer the NPS rangers kicking people out of their homes as evidence. Those MRAP's are for killing Americans. They will have very different rules of engagement than Marines in Iraq.
Gestapo rules of engagement. And the MSM will call them heroes. Just like the Boston Marathon atrocities.
There are a lot of interesting things in Idaho beyond potatoes, but police militarization has gotten out of hand. And isolated rural inhabitants quickly become “cultists” living in “compounds,” and as we all know, that is not allowed under our Constitution.
Operating and using arent the same.
Sadly I must agree with you; history has shown your position to be the one that police have followed time and time again.
If we’re not breaking any laws, what have we to fear? (barf)
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.