Police Armed with Assault Rifles
Real ones, too. Indianapolis PD to arm officers with M-16s. Not sure why that is, since we all know that these weapons are ONLY good for killing as many people as possible as quickly as possible. I’m not sure how that squares with a “protect and serve” mission, but what do I know?
The announcement follows criticism from IPD officers that they regularly face criminals who have more firepower, although officials say their announcement was not a response to those complaints.
The criticism increased after IPD Patrolman Timothy “Jake” Laird was gunned down Aug. 18 by a Southside man firing an SKS-style assault weapon from more than 150 yards away.
“SKS-style assault weapon.” Wait, it gets better.
In most cases, IPD’s 1,200-member force uses .40 caliber Glock handguns. Also, some officers have 12-gauge shotguns. Some on the force, such as SWAT members, already have access to specialty weapons and gear.
IPD received the [M-16s] last year but delayed their use, partly because of range safety issues. Indianapolis did not have a range where training with the more powerful rifles could take place safely, police said.
You gotta be kidding me. I guess it depends on what the training is going to be like. I can think of at least three ranges in my hometown where I can shoot rifles considerably more powerful than an M-16. Granted, these are from fixed positions, so they couldn’t train on fire-and-motion, or stuff like that.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Department has 49 of a similar patrol rifle, the Bushmaster AR-15 semiautomatic…”We felt the need . . . to equip ourselves, for lack of a better term, to meet force with force,” said Sheriff’s Capt. Phil Burton. “In order to provide safety to the public.”
I just want to know: how does an Evil Bushmaster Sniper-Rifle Assault Weapon provide “safety” if it’s only good for killing people?
Can I get an “Amen?”
August 27th, 2004 at 6:04 pm
Amen.
That’s been my question, too.
August 27th, 2004 at 8:02 pm
Um, yeah, what he said.
August 27th, 2004 at 9:47 pm
Maybe if “your neighborhood” got shot up by a deranged person that had already killed his mother and shot 5 of your local police officer’s, and no-telling who else this deranged person would have or could have killed, you might just want your police officers to have the equipment to keep you and your family alive. Hmmmmm. Maybe they should have just talked to him. Oh, I forgot, they couldn’t! The first Officer that was shot was gunned down before he could even get out of his car!
August 27th, 2004 at 9:54 pm
Well, Tobi, how exactly would the fallen officer have been helped by having an M-16 in his hands?
As it happens, I believe—and so do many like minded bloggers—that the primary responsibility for keeping me and my family alive falls upon ME first. That’s why I ought to be able to own an “assault weapon.”
August 27th, 2004 at 10:51 pm
The Department of War became the Department of Defense… get like minded bloggers to start refering to these things as “defense weapons” vice “assault weapons.” See if you can’t make it stick.
August 28th, 2004 at 9:28 am
Heh…I like it.
August 28th, 2004 at 12:46 pm
Every California Highway Patrol cruiser now has both a 12 gauge and an AR-15. Most California local police as well.
August 28th, 2004 at 1:12 pm
Heck, even the police depts. of little towns here in NC have some sort of .223 “assault weapon” in the trunk. I asked.
August 28th, 2004 at 3:17 pm
TN HWY patrol just got bushmaster carbines. My dad is a local prominent law enforcement officer to a surrounding county (i.e., a small town). They just bought a bunch of mini-14s. I asked him why they got those and not ARs. He said the ARs weren’t politically correct enough. Thought it was funny.
August 29th, 2004 at 2:28 am
Heh, “weren’t politically correct enough.” Solve the problem by carving a tiny little, “Have a nice non-secular day” on each round. I mean, sometimes you’ve got to shoot peeps… but you don’t want them to feel bad about it.