Peace Officers do not need Armored Vehichles. If they do, then there is no peace to be kept, and the Governor needs to call out the militia.... (that'd be the National Guard) to restore order
Why draw the line at armored vehicles?
Why not draw the line at all automatic weapons, tear gas, night vision capabilities, heavy body armor and lets not forget the dreaded, evil looking blacked out, military looking hardhat used by many tactical units cause the helmets look evil or the listening devices cause that's an invasion of privacy.
Too, since helicopters/planes are used in military ops. lets take them away as well. Especially the blacked out ones used often by Homeland Security.
Lets get real about this...
IMO, some of the posts on here really show how far out of touch some are with just how bad things are outside of their own backyard. There are parts of our country that the major gangs have all but taken over. These gangs are no longer a few stupid neighborhood hoodlums walking around with Saturday night specials that might go off when the trigger is pulled. They have evolved into well organized gangs involved in million $ criminal activities(white and blue collar) and have the latest in fire power and sophisticated communications to protect their interests.
Not only that, they have become experts at using our own laws as means of doing business just under the radar of LE.
Bottom line is, you can't fight fire with a spray bottle of water.
Some have offered suggestions of change.
I'll offer this one:
Don't handicap the officers out on the street. Give him at least equal firepower/tactical procedures then the BG's have. More if we can.
Here's another: Change the judicial problems that have plagued this country for years by not plea bargaining crimes down to a lessor charge that allows nothing but slapping the BG's on the wrist and turning them loose time and time again.
And another: Stop turning BG's loose for crimes(some that are felonies) that they should be locked up for simply cause there is no place to house them which happens everyday. And the criminals know the housing situation and know they aren't going to jail if caught committing these crimes. They may be dumb, but street smart.
Again, while some here may be fortunate enough to live in an area with a very low crime rate and don't see the need for their local LE to have armored vehicles or even a tactical unit in their town(and you may be justified in your opinions), please be aware that there are areas in the US that not only have and utilize armored vehicles but other donated military equipment as well that is needed for counter-drug / counter-terrorism operations as well as hostage situations.
Sorry for the rant.
and they were all wearing brand new desert digital camouflage military uniforms. I asked them who they were hiding from. They didn't understand. I explained that camo was for hiding from the enemy to avoid being shot/detected, so who, in this prison environment, are they hiding from on the tax payers dime? Laughs and "See ya later" comments. Our "enemies" wear orange, and will have home made/improvised stabbing/impact weapons at best. Your tax dollars at work.
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armoredman
Is it possible that these new desert digital camouflage military uniforms were purchased at a bigger discount then what traditional black uniforms could be purchased for? Simply cause the company they were purchased from has been making millions of these same uniforms for the military and was able to sell them to your outfit at a more discounted price. If this is the case then I like my tax $'s being spent that way.
