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Fact Or Fiction: The Pros And Cons Of Militarizing The Police
The ongoing clashes between residents of Ferguson, MO and heavily armed police forces - which are equipped with M16 rifles and armored vehicles - have drawn attention to the increasing militarization of police in the United States. Here are the 'alternative' cases for and against outfitting local law enforcement with military-grade weapons...
PROS
- Same tactics used successfully in Afghanistan, Iraq
- Modern law enforcement simply cannot do their job properly by relying on handguns, tasers, and tear gas alone
- A real shot in arm for nation’s ailing weapons industry
- Look on driver’s face when tank pulls up beside Mini Cooper always fun
- Local photojournalists now able to capture fog of war at home
- Nice surprise treat for veterans to see weapons they used in war pop up on their hometown streets
- Never a bad idea to put a more powerful gun in someone’s hand
- Actually going to seem pretty quaint when compared with police armaments 20 years from now
CONS
- Most police officers have proven fully capable of violently subduing protesters without any military-grade weapons
- It actually very hard to recite Miranda rights while holding 40-pound grenade launcher
- There no longer any middle ground between community watch and military
- Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles only get 5 miles per gallon
- Jesus, just look at this shit
- Military-style helmets limit peripheral vision while firing indiscriminately into crowd
- Could potentially be abused if put in lesser hands than America’s historically honest and virtuous police departments
- Takes away that personal touch of beating a suspect to death with bare hands
Fact or Fiction...
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I read, here on ZH I believe, that molotovs were getting tossed in Ferguson? Any word on how effectively they were deployed? Just asking. I hope no one got hurt but I would like to see how an MRAP takes 1 or 2 to the undercarriage.
There are PROS to militarizing the cops?
Liberty and a welfare state are incompatible especially if many citizens lack a basic morality and self respect. The lack of those qualities will only contribute to a speedier decline. The concept of liberty requires a good measure of the idea of individual responsibility. Freedom allows you to harm yourself and suffer the consequences as well as succeed and reap the rewards. Instead we have the concept of "if you fuck up (no matter ho many times), we will take other's rewards to care for you." Sure, there are those who did not earn their wealth and may lord it over others, but that does not alter the fact that there are many who have worked hard and have struggled to stand where they do today taking care of themselves and their families.
There is plenty of blame to go around. This all didn't start yesterday, but it doesn't help when you have a president that says "you didn't build that".
I really like reading Oldwood and Deerhunter as they make me proud to be living in the same country with them.
Are you describing GM, the bank bailouts and the unfunded pension plans we were forced to fund, or something else?
The most interesting thing to me about all this (which is good news/bad news) is that the police are seeing how outnumbered they really are, and the current situation is nothing compared to what could come.
All 'police' must be looked at as a hostile threat.
I'm pro-cop. I'm also pro-liberty. A realist knows that 99 times out of 100 a cop is going to be vindicated for a "bad shoot". A grand jury will find for the cop because to do otherwise (sad to say), would bankrupt the municipality in question. So, granted, there's no justice in the legal system. That being said, for all the pissing and moaning about illegal cop killings, I've yet to see even one father, son, brother or husband "step up" and jump in that cops shit. Personally, I think it says more about today's American male than it does about cops.
Shared reality.
Let me see now. Maniac adrenalin spiked cop just shoots my friend and I am supposed to get in his face while I am unarmed. I am pro-liberty, pro-life, pro-use my head rather than get it shot full of holes.
"I'm pro-cop"
Lost me right there.
Why we are here now???!
Too little too late gentlemen! You should have fucking done this after the unlawful invasion and occupation of Iraq!!!
The only non-coward(s) still living "The Jersey Girls", which these two slobs say nothing of in this video or dead Paul Wellstone!...
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=29e_1408452522#4hBbHepCCwfErCbk.99
The next to the last thing we need is for the police to be militarized; the last thing we need is for the country to become lawless without the use of effective police. Just sayin’, this Ferguson Revolution is sparked by lies. What about these morning headlines on Drudge?
Reporter: More than Dozen Witnesses Confirm Ferguson Cops Version of Shooting …”Michael Brown Rushed Officer”… Report: Cop Suffered “Orbital Blowout Fraction to Eye Socket”… Investigation Could Take Months … Militant Protesters Growing in Number, Many Coming From Out of State … Kurtz: Some Liberal Outlets Creating “Almost Lynch Mob Mentality …
Did you just turn your testicles over to us?
"Worker bees can leave
Even drones can fly away
The queen is their slave"
JACK (V.O.)
I'll tell you about those Drudge headlines. The're called BS!
There is video of the pig after the incident. No injuries present. Autopsy showed no sign Mike Brown was in a struggle.
Witnesses confirm cops version. More BS! No police report ever released.
Stop bbelieving horseshit peddled by the PR firm that the furgeson low life pigs hired to muddy the waters for you.
Brother, you need to get back to communing with the Antarians. The 'tard factor @ ZH is starting to take a toll on me.
Brother you need to put the pipe downn. Your the one believing horsesh!t stories from some loser blog called gateway pundit.
Yeah the cop had his orbital blown out but could still shoot someone 20 feet away 6 times and then hang out by the body for an hour without touching his eye once. Not to mention this fairy tale has been released some 10 days later.
Perhaps you're projecting?!?!
Been here 2 Weeks? Looking to stir up trouble? Get the emotions flowing?
The surest way to increase police militarization is to have more hammerheads like you going after a particular community's values. Events have shown that the Ferguson Police Department responded as most Americans would expect from their police department. The Ferguson PD were dealt a crap hand. They knew they had a crap community that did not have the level of intrinsic morality shared by other Americans. Once the passions of the low IQ were stoked, things were bound to get out of hand. The politicians descended on the community and stoked the flames even further. Every community is watching what is going on.
That being said, the Ferguson PD dealt with events with a sure hand. Many will persecute them for it, but that is human nature. If the populace believed in virtue and honor, they wouldn't have a cultural value system like that displayed in Ferguson. It is clear the populace (The Free Stuff Army) is driving events for a political advantage. Outside of Ferguson, no one wants these type of people in their community. Hence you will see more police militarization as local governments want a display of values against those hammerheads who want to loot, pillage, and destroy.
My hat is off to the Ferguson Police Department. They have exhibited virtue and honor at a very difficult time. They did not stand down until ordered to. They are prepared to man the barricades if that is what is requried. Not all residents of Ferguson back the looters. Many look to the Ferguson PD for protection from the looters.
God Bless Them...
Sure and let's militarize the citizens, too, legalize fully automatic assault rifles, and make the purchase of at least ten RPG's per year tax deductible.
I am guessing many on this site will reject this notion, but it is John Adams after all:
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people”. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” John Adams
Since we are no longer a "moral and religous people" we can expect our government to reflect this change. Yes, our government is a reflection of the people we have become. We were never perfect, but one cannot look at the USA now and think we fit the description Adams put forth.
We need a revival!
sschu
dup
sschu
What if x-lax were mixed with chocolate donuts?
Don't forget steroids, testosterone, and alcohol.
Cops have a taste for violence enhancing substances!
My expereience with volunteer fireman is the more equipment you give them, the more they want to use it........ to the point of dabbling in arson. Seems to me cops are of the same ilk.
Again. Orwell and Huxley are somewhere laughing their asses off.
I hate your new Adobe sponsored auto-play ads. You should get rid of that shit ASA Mother fuckin' P
Long before our Socialist utopia most cops didn't carry any guns.