Posted on 03/24/2008 7:31:13 AM PDT by holymoly
Four years after the federal ban on assault weapons was allowed to expire, police are engaged in an arms race with criminals. More and more police departments now arm patrol officers with military-style weaponry that can match criminals' firepower and even penetrate body armor.
Sadly, the lawmen had warned Congress and President Bush about this very problem in 2004 as they tried in vain to be heard over the pro-gun drumbeat of the National Rifle Association.
Last year saw the largest number of police officers killed on duty in five years, with 69 shot to death. Six times in 2007, two or more officers were killed in a single incident.
''Our departments are moving to these weapons out of necessity across the country,'' The Associated Press was told by Chief Scott Knight, an official of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Knight's own small department in Chaska, Minn., has ordered 10 assault rifles with 30-round ammunition clips.
Back in 2004, the then-head of Knight's organization warned, ''Weapons of this nature serve no legitimate sporting or hunting purposes and have no place in our community. Unless Congress acts, the firearms of choice for terrorists, drug dealers, gang members and thugs will be back on our streets where once again our officers will be outgunned by criminals.'' That has come to pass.
Miami Police Chief John Timoney calls the new arms race with criminals ''a national problem.'' He has armed his officers with AR-15 assault rifles in response.
Los Angeles police learned the danger of being outgunned by criminals wearing body armor in 1997, when 11 officers were injured, plus two civilians, in a gun battle with two bank robbers. That, no doubt, was on the mind of Chief William Bratton when arguing in 2004 to keep the federal assault weapon ban in place, he demanded to know, ''By what right does Congress and the President of the United States put at risk the lives of the young men and women who put on those uniforms and those badges?''
Chief Bratton's question remains just as urgent today. Military style weapons have no legitimate place in civilian hands on America's streets.
Four years ago, as the ban expired, we posed this question: ''Who in Congress will have the guts now to introduce a new and even tighter ban on such killing machines?'' The question remains relevant.
'Those people' (that's ok I'm a 'Typical White Person' /s) are definitely adding to the overall crime rate (Philly is a quagmire). But overall, to me it seems the LEO's are getting killed mostly by illegal gang bangers. Or maybe the MSM is focusing more on them and ignoring / glossing over, inner city Blacks shooting Cops (again Philly aside).
I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you, but if there's a bright spot to their existence, it's that they're not really trained to handle organized resistance.
SWAT losses would become quickly unsustainable if they lost their standard advantage of overwhelming numerical superiority.
Thanks
B.S.
Bushmaster doesn't make a "M14" or anything like it. Nor do they make anything in 7.62. And no LE armorer would put a "laser" sight on a M14 or a 7.62 - holographic yes - lasers on rifles are for the wanna-be mall ninjas. (which you sound like)
They will also learn the hard way that cops in the U S of A are a lot more expensive that "La Policia" in Guate' City or Puebla.
By what right does the chief elevate the rights of the public SERVANTS above the public they claim to serve????? Our rights are SUPPOSED to be superior to those we employ.
“Unless Congress acts, the firearms of choice for terrorists, drug dealers, gang members and thugs will be back on our streets where once again our officers will be outgunned by criminals.’’ That has come to pass.”
What a crock from this clown. I come from a law enforcement family. They all understood the risks when they swore their oaths. If there are cops overly worried that their going to be shot then they should have become librarians.
Exactly. The rights and priveliges of the guy choosing to serve the public cannot be so important they are used as a reason to restrict the liberties and freedoms of that same public, otherwise he’s not serving them, they’re serving him. Anyone who’s willing to take the job with that mindset, I salute. I couldn’t do it.
Ah, wasn't that before the AWB expired? These police state generals will never be satisfied until the entire population of subjects is neutered and the enforcers are armed with state of the art weaponry and gear. Their one track mindset can't comprehend concepts such as they work for us, we have a constitution, etc. When will we start firing dangerous people like this?
This Bozo is facing corruption charges for the use of a Lexus "donated" by a local dealership for the chief's fine work in the "community." He also just got a vote of "no confidence" from the rank and file. He came (IIRC) from Boston and fit right in with the liberal gun ban crowd in South Florida. With any sort of luck he'll go the same way his fellow gun banner from Broward, Ken Jenne, went (handcuffed) and in a shorter period of time.
Funny how all the folks who want to ban our guns all have these really ugly skeletons hidden deep in their closets. Teddy Kennedy had Chappaquidick, Clinton had monica and filegate and white water and .....so on etc. I'll bet chuckie schumer has something rattling around he'd like kept secret.
JM Lexus?
Does Coral Gables still maintain its own police force, or have they merged with Metro?
And how many were killed with "assault weapons"?
There have been some setbacks:
When they got their brand new police station a few years ago, there was a chopper pad on the roof but the building hadn't been stressed to handle the weight of a helo. The indoor firing range failed to install any exhaust fans and the holding cells had an odd tendency to just POP open.
Went thru a slew of Chiefs, too after Skalasky retired. HE was my PE coach when I was in junior high school.
The current chief is doing just so-so I guess but the one prior came from Oklahoma and got a "no confidence" vote within his first 18 months. He also had an embarrassing record for Unintentional Discharges of his duty firearm. Lessee, one time he was in his office's private toilet and capped off a round into the commode which shattered from the Glock M23 40 cal rd. A few weeks later he was at Bally Total Gym and was redressing after his workout. He had left the gun in his gym locker. Trying to reholster he managed to crank off TWO rounds into the locker. I'm told the locker died instantly and all his incidents made the Miami Herald as well as a few more that filtered down from Okalahoma. Eventually he took retirement and was promptly RE-HIRED as a "consultant" at four times his previous salary as Chief! How do I get a job like that? Sheeeeesh. The Gables has had a few murders and some cops killed in recent years so they're no longer regarded as simply "kiddie cops."
Terrorists, drug dealers, gang members and thugs all prefer semiautomatic weapons that *look like" full auto weapons? I know they aren't the brightest bulbs in the string, for the most part, but they aren't that stupid. And neither are we.
The government would supply weapons to combat an enemy military. The Second Amendment ensures that the people have the means to combat a federal military.
There weren't many police in those days. Just federal marshals, who mostly guarded the judges and served federal warrants. At the local level, there would be an elected sheriff, who would call on the posse comitatus , basically the militia, wearing their civil rather than military hat, as needed.
I think that Bushmaster made a rifle similar to the AR-10 in 7.62 NATO, but I don’t know if they still make them. Laser sights are for mall ninjas.
They are getting nervous about Heller vs DC.
Stupid strawman. It's called the Constitution you assclown.
IMO, more cops were killed this past year because there are so many illegals from gangs like the MS-13 who have NO respect for our laws and will kill cops in a heartbeat.
So true, if not but to scare the creep out of them. Thug guns are known to be unloaded an unacceptable amount of the time. (for thugs, even. 6^-)
"Daddy didn't load my gun",
"Momma chose a different ammo, today."
"Don't call my clip no magazine."
"Keep it up and I'm giving the NRA your mailing address."
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.