Friday, September 05, 2008

Machine Gunner Sheriffs

S.C. Sheriff's Department Armored Vehicle with Belt-Fed Machine Gun | Corrente: "The Richland County (S.C.) Sheriff’s Department has acquired an armored personnel carrier complete with a turret-mounted .50-caliber belt-fed machine gun for its Special Response Team..."

Uh-huh. What's next? Blackhawks at the PD? Warthogs patrolling the school crossings? I worried years ago about the creation of military style SWAT teams and snipers and so on (and don't bother flogging me with that old chestnut about calling a hippy instead of a cop or the SWAT team-- where I live you better plan on defending yourself because you'll be long dead if you're waiting on a response when the nearest cop is probably 30 minutes away.) If law enforcement turns into armed camps of standing armies, then you know what's next.

The problem with standing armies is no one likes them standing. Everyone wants them doing something, so who or what is available for them to do something to? Just us. You and me and the dog next door.

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