Tuesday, December 6, 2011

More on the militarization of the police.


The Pentagon Is Offering Free Military Hardware To Every Police Department In The US.

Some folks see danger in the transfer of military equipment to local police, and there is that. But there is more danger in the psychology of federalization of local law enforcement than there is in this hardware.

As for me, I also see opportunity. Personally, I would like to thank the Clinton, Bush and Obama administrations for spreading out all this military hardware into the hinterland where, in an emergency, the armed citizenry can get its hands on it without having to trespass on a military base.

In addition, the wars in Southwest Asia have also produced, like the French and Indian War before the Revolution, a large pool of veterans -- armed citizens -- skilled in the use of such equipment.

Every cloud has its silver lining.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

yep, because we all know they cant keep their shit togeather and they have a track record of "losing" things

its not hard to pick it up off the ground, or when some crooked cop decides he can make more money than he's paid at his job, by selling it..or running it..or "walking" it

rexxhead said...

...and every silver lining has a cloud :-(

wv: ar[ma]ament

Anonymous said...

Damn, you let the cat out of the bag. I was eyeballin' that stuff. ^_^

Pat H. said...

Silver lining, indeed, thanks for that uplift.

We all need those.

Good luck in Foggy Bottom.

Anonymous said...

"As for me, I also see opportunity."

In periods of societal collapse, gold coins possess a unique value to produce amnesia in public officials. Every militiaman should keep a few Krugerrands in his kit.

MALTHUS

Anonymous said...

You know, Mike, I was thinking exactly the same thing!

Dedicated_Dad said...

This is (of course) old news to anyone who has been paying attention.

What's amazing to ME is that nobody's noticed how many ATC's and the like are spread around Podunk towns...

This is a large part of the "militarization of police" problem.

In order to GET such toys, they have to justify them - explain to Uncle Sugar how they plan to use them. How would one use .mil hardware but in .mil-style "RAIDS"?!

Once they HAVE the toys, then they must be used in order to justify the ongoing budget-hits for maintenance and etc - and most ESPECIALLY TRAINING!

For a "Podunk" department, there IS no "full-time-SWAT" and thus no budget for SWAT training. The solution? We can "practice" on NON-dangerous situations so as to be prepared for the REALLY dangerous ones!

Genius! -- or at least it would SEEM so to the bureaucrats in charge!

So... NOW you get SWAT callout for routine warrants and Marines murdered in their home in front of their wives and kids - assuming the wives and kids (and Grandparents, and dogs, and... and... and...) don't end up riddled with bullets of their own...

I admire the ability to find "silver linings" in this sickness - but I think you're DELUSIONAL if you think that The Bad Guys (with uniforms and without) haven't already had similar thoughts of their own...

Mt Top Patriot said...

Ain't nothing if you give it a good think. It is a lot of valuable military grade equipment, but it's spread out over a myriad of locations in the hands of people as varied as America itself. If SHTF goes down, are these very separate paramilitary units called "law enforcement" going to coordinate and blend together in a cohesive manner? I think not. In fact I'll bet my left nut half of them chicken out. They have family and assets to protect, they are very local, they don't have the autonomy and inherent protections of the full military.
Bad Cops, and other members of society who have gamed the corruption and racket system of government are going to need all the friends they can get. You piss off enough people with your holier than though attitude, when the time comes for redress, your ass in a wringer. All the military goodies in the world ain't worth a bucket of warm spit.
Besides, who wouldn't do a lot to get their paws on a nice genuine military 3rd Gen night vision weapons scope, M21 or M60?
Armored cars and such are serious bullet magnets and probably are a serious liability tactically in SHTF. But 1st rate field and personal tactical gear, belt fed weapons, issue personal ballistic gear and small arms? Those are choice items. :)!

Anonymous said...

Even if it comes "free" from the federal government, it costs money for local police to operate and maintain this exotic gear.

It's just one of the reasons your local taxes keep going up.

Anonymous said...

Great. More big hardware, in the un-trained/rarely range practicing, monopoly of paid do'ers of violence. More no knock raids for your barking dog, which they will kill 1st. Hope the shoot each other w/these.

Anonymous said...

Piece o' cake. Just pick a new "patrol rifle" up off the trunk lid of the black and white and mosey on down the sidewalk.

Mt Top Patriot said...

State Reconsiders Ban on Korean-Owned M-1 Garands
New decision could allow the importation of the iconic rifles

From: http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=47906

Bet the South Koreans took nice care of those Garands.
A BM59 308 conversion with one of these fine rifles is about as good as an M1-A

Anonymous said...

Yes, opportunity, cause an awful lot will just abandone thier posts... remember NOLA and Katrina... I do... I was there. Free Stuff. Tee hee...

Taz, FL

Xenophon said...

Lest you guys in Texas forget -- Texas peace officers swear to "uphold the Constitution of the United States and the laws of the State of Texas". And remember, whether in Waco or at Ruby Ridge or elsewhere, the Feds don't run operations themselves without local help. Think about that. Who do you guys think is your trip wire when the Feds decide to make their move? Be smart and remember not every local and state officer is on Obama's, or Napolitano's, or Holder's wavelenght. It really is time to start considering who is on whose side because I guarantee you they are wondering who will be with them if they make a stand.