[FreedomPoster]

I had to look that up. Assume you mean Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compagnies_R%C3%A9publicaines_de_S%C3%A9curit%C3%A9

We were in Paris last June. I think it may have been some CRS guys that were watching a bunch of West African gibsmedats demonstrating and blocking traffic by marching down the road. It was blocking our tour bus so badly, for so long, that we bailed out and found a cab. Some of the guys watching had similar body armor.

Sorry for them they only have Mini-14s. Effective enough, I guess, in an urban setting, but it certainly wouldn’t be my choice.

[InABunkerUnderSF]

Mine either. I'd love to know the rationale behind selecting the Mini-14 as the prefered weapon of the national riot cops.

I first saw the CRS packing Mini-14s in the late '80s. The French military arm at that time was the FAL, transitioning to the FMAS. The CRS was founded right after WWII and I suspect they were initially armed with M1 Carbines. If what I've heard from former Legion members applies to the CRS, M1 Carbines probably served until they were literally worn out. At that point, the FAL might have been seen as too heavy or powerful or expensive, the M16 was too closely associated with the US military in Viet Nam and the Mini-14 was a politically correct alternative. 30 years later they're still in service.