So, to respond to things like army helicopters protecting a load on the ground, and BP guys getting nailed by automatic weapons fire, what should the BP be doing? Or is doing?
I read that agents have recently been restricted from carrying M-16's where in the recent past they were allowed to. Has that weakened the ability of BP agents to respond to attacks, or is it not that big of deal?
When is last time you heard about BORTAC responding to Agents being shot at. I guess what I should have wrtitten was that BORTAC has been useless. With all the problems we have been having, BORTAC has been nowhere around. Right now, BORTAC is helping the Canadians provide security for the G-8 summit in Canada. Meanwhile our line agents are being shot at and assaulted by Mexican military and smugglers down on the Border. It would be nice to actually have BORTAC help us out on the line for a change.
Almost every Border Patrol Agent, at least in California has access to M-4's . Agents in San Diego and El Centro Sector are restricted from taking their M-4's out in residential areas. Supposedly, the INS under Meissener wanted to do away with the full auto on the M-4's and started the ball rolling to do so. Fortunately, this stupidity has yet to come to fruition. For the most part Agents can take their M-4's to the field, most elect not to.