Boston Police and AR15's

Status
Not open for further replies.
C

cryogenic419

New member
Came across this story yesterday. Seems like the police dept has a plan in place for training and deployment. Their reasoning for wanting said rifles sounds logical, they are trying to have the best tools for the job and prepare for something they hope never happens. Somehow the mayor-elect has taken issue with this.

Is it me or does it seem like this incoming mayor just not get "it"? Are "assault weapons" now so evil and horrific that not even police should be allowed to have them?

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/12/30/incoming-boston-mayor-police-clash-over-ar-15-proposal/
 
fox news

I refuse to click on a fox news link. But I will say I never heard of a cop that was not ready for more firepower when the department was ready to issue it. The departments always seem to be behind the times when that comes along.
You must remember that Boston is in Mass. and that is the home of some very liberal thinking. Like New York where they fear 8 round magazines and 20 ounce soft drinks and either one in a plastic bag. They fear other with ARs and big gulp 44 oz bladder busters.
 
If only two "specially trained" officers per district have them, how is this an advantage over having to wait for a swat team to respond to an incident?
 
“If the cops have these machine guns, they’re going to use them,” Nolan said.

*snicker*

Another example of mis- or dis-information, whether intentional or not.
 
With duty assignments, trining days, days off, etc, 2 per district is pretty worthless.

All officers should be trained and should be available to all.
 
I know...that whole 2 people per district is a little on the lean side and kind of makes you question how effective it will be. I can't find much more about exacting details of this, maybe they plan on training a lot of folks, and the 2 per district means on duty at any given time so that things like time off, training, sick days, etc are covered by another competent officer. Honestly I think they should be issued to every officer that is able to qualify with it just like they have to do with their pistol.

Just seems illogical that in a major city that local government would not want to give their LEO's every possible advantage within reason. They are just AR-15's, not Humvee mounted M2 machine guns with API rounds or a rocket launcher. As bcarver mentioned this is in Massachusetts so I'm not 100% shocked.
 
Under the plan, according to MyFoxBoston.com, the city would buy 33 AR-15 rifles, at $2,500 apiece. They would go to two trained officers in all 11 districts of Boston.
Click to expand...

Perhaps the incoming mayor fears excessive force incidents will go up if the officers have even more firepower. Lawsuits are very expensive. Perhaps he's just a nut that thinks anyone who touches an AR is immediately compelled by Satan to murder innocent people. Either way, if they're giving $2,500 each for them, I would like to sell them one!:D
 
Negative vibes about EBRs! Told you so!

That is a well known mayoral or city council effect. In one of my presentations I run through various cities having fits over the guns.

In the police firearms world - it led to the pistol caliber carbines and the pump action 223s. All to avoid the appearance of the ARs.

That's how we get the modern sporting rifle blather - It's a nice gun. Please don't ban it or take it.
 
If only two "specially trained" officers per district have them, how is this an advantage over having to wait for a swat team to respond to an incident
Click to expand...

8min. down the road beats 1hr from the house. A call out for a tac team at night likley means waking a team of at least 4 out of bed. All of em got to get into gear jump in the car and drive. The drive for some may be from out of town.
 
I agree that the police should have access, training and assault rifles available for the police officers on patrol. I think everyone remembers the LA bank robberies, yea the responding police were out gunned.

I like the way fox news describes weapons it makes them sound more devistating and evil. Fox news is great if you like bias fictional stories. i wonder if the color of assault rifles were changed to pink or baby blue if they would still be evil?

I do hope that everyone that does own and if they have a "accident" get that same treatment that dick cheney did, when he blasted that attorney in texas in the face.
 
Hmm, more militarization of police force, when is it going to end? They say they need to be prepared for any situation that might arise, well many nevada residents have .50BMG guns, should our local police carry M107's or M82's? Better yet, let them really be prepared, mount a phalanx on top of that Humvee they are so proud of. Their (local LEO) primary tasking is preservation of capital and maintaining civil order (to keep commerce functioning normally), these sort of armaments are so far over kill it's not even funny, especially with the dismal hit rate small town LEO's have when under fire. Giving them more firepower is just asking for trouble.

I heard a Chicago LEO on the radio this morning talking about how so many murders were being committed with "illegal weapons" he repeated that 3 times, then said how we need to get 'military style' out of criminals hands. Aren't all weapons 'military style'? My rem700 isn't much different than an M40, 1911's are everywhere. Typical of police to make ignorant statements.

Edit--let's remember: No one calls the police because they have guns (we all have guns). Police are called to hostile situations because they have backup!! Lots and lots of backup if needed. That's the strategy for 'peace keeping'. Heavily arming ones self is a strategy for war making, not peace keeping.
 
Sierra280 said:
Hmm, more militarization of police force, when is it going to end? They say they need to be prepared for any situation that might arise... these sort of armaments are so far over kill it's not even funny, especially with the dismal hit rate small town LEO's have when under fire. Giving them more firepower is just asking for trouble.
Click to expand...
So, you support Mayor Walsh's stance against giving the police military-style weapons...
Sierra280 said:
...a Chicago LEO on the radio this morning... said how we need to get 'military style' out of criminals hands. Aren't all weapons 'military style'? My rem700 isn't much different than an M40, 1911's are everywhere. Typical of police to make ignorant statements.
Click to expand...
Or maybe you don't? I'm confused. :confused:

Two things...
  • AR-15 patrol rifles are becoming nearly ubiquitous with police in my area. AFAIK this has not resulted in any bloodbaths involving innocent bystanders, it seems popular with patrol officers, and public criticism has been virtually nil.
  • Although I think Mayor Walsh's stance is wrongheaded, I'll at least give him props for ideological consistency, unlike some other municipal leaders who hypocritically oppose "military-style" weapons in the hands of civilians while giving the local police whatever firepower they ask for. :rolleyes:
 
Oh good grief...........

Sierra280 Hmm, more militarization of police force, when is it going to end?
Click to expand...
Put yourself in the officers shoes instead of ranting about "militarization".:rolleyes:
(and FYI the cops have had uniform and rank just like the military for more than a few years;) )

Would you prefer the officer carries a stick like in the UK?
Is a six shot .38cal revolver too dangerous and "militarized"?
Watch this video and tell us how you would feel if that was your son or daughter in the squad car armed with a only stick or six shot revolver:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po41dsDbw-Q




carguychris ......AR-15 patrol rifles are becoming nearly ubiquitous with police in my area. AFAIK this has not resulted in any bloodbaths involving innocent bystanders, it seems popular with patrol officers, and public criticism has been virtually nil.
Click to expand...
+1
Due to the shooting in the video above, the weapon of choice among officers in Plano, Richardson, Allen, Frisco, etc is an AR...........not a shotgun. Thirty rounds vs eight. without a reload.

It has nothing to do with some paranoid militarization conspiracy theory and everything to do with survival.

Maybe officers in Nevada don't get fired on by bad guys with AR's and AK's.
Maybe Gardnerville mirrors Mayberry and your officers carry their rounds in their shirt pocket.
Maybe you don't understand the concept of "bring the biggest gun you have to a gunfight".
Maybe you don't understand the Second Amendment applies to police officers as well.
 
Last edited:
Sierra280 said:
Correct, I do support the mayor not wanting to give LEO's 'military style' weapons. Sorry I digressed a bit.
Click to expand...

How can you support citizens having the right to have military style weapons but not the police?

I don't mind officers having ARs, I've got one pretty close at hand all the time. I don't advocate providing crew served machine guns to the police; not on any moral or political grounds, but from a fiscal standpoint.
 
Sierra280 said:
Hmm, more militarization of police force, when is it going to end? They say they need to be prepared for any situation that might arise, well many nevada residents have .50BMG guns, should our local police carry M107's or M82's? Better yet, let them really be prepared, mount a phalanx on top of that Humvee they are so proud of. Their (local LEO) primary tasking is preservation of capital and maintaining civil order (to keep commerce functioning normally), these sort of armaments are so far over kill it's not even funny, especially with the dismal hit rate small town LEO's have when under fire. Giving them more firepower is just asking for trouble.



I heard a Chicago LEO on the radio this morning talking about how so many murders were being committed with "illegal weapons" he repeated that 3 times, then said how we need to get 'military style' out of criminals hands. Aren't all weapons 'military style'? My rem700 isn't much different than an M40, 1911's are everywhere. Typical of police to make ignorant statements.



Edit--let's remember: No one calls the police because they have guns (we all have guns). Police are called to hostile situations because they have backup!! Lots and lots of backup if needed. That's the strategy for 'peace keeping'. Heavily arming ones self is a strategy for war making, not peace keeping.
Click to expand...


Oh for goodness sake. I'm in WY and in the three departments where I have friends or family, every single officer has an AR-15, and our police don't act "military" at all.

When the AR-15 is one of the most popular rifles in the country, how is it anything but good sense to make sure police can respond on even footing.

"Militarization" is a mindset thing, not an equipment one.

As another poster noted. You seem to oppose this militarization, then turn around and say all weapons are really military-style. Frankly, your post just seems to be a pretext for cop-hate.
 
I like the way fox news describes weapons it makes them sound more devistating and evil. Fox news is great if you like bias fictional stories. i wonder if the color of assault rifles were changed to pink or baby blue if they would still be evil?
Click to expand...

This statement is hilarious....thanks for the laugh. If you think Fox is bad try watching any other network and see what you get.....I hate to be the bearer of bad news but they are all propaganda machines....

On the topic of police and AR15's....If we can own them then they should have them available at all times.
 
dogtown tom said:
Maybe you don't understand the Second Amendment applies to police officers as well.
Click to expand...
+1. If you disagree with Dogtown & I, I suggest you read the part of the Constitution that talks about the police, and how they're entitled to privileges that the "rest of us" don't get to enjoy. We'll wait while you look it up. ;)
 
Last edited:
I'm afraid I gotta agree witht he mayor though not for the same reasons exactly. Just a simple matter of if the residents of Boston don't get to have AR-15s, then neither should the cops. Afterall, AR-15s are ILLEGAL so what sort of "better firepower" will the cops run into in the hands of criminals. What? That law doesn't work? Hmmmm....shame. Should'a thought about that before passing it.

I don't mind officers having ARs, I've got one pretty close at hand all the time.
Click to expand...

Yes, you don't mind cops having ARs because you have one yourself. Some of us in places like NY and Mass. very much mind it.


On the topic of police and AR15's....If we can own them then they should have them available at all times.
Click to expand...

Well the people of Boston can't. So....
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top