Re: LE Snipers Using Semi-Auto
Excellent post. As a member of the military I support the thin blue line, but we need to remember our first job is to defend the little remaining freedom we have left in our country even if it is at the expense of our personal safety.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KYpatriot</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SniperCJ</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: eleaf</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Why on earth would a police unit need a 50?
Overkill anyone?</div></div>
Why would ANY civilian on the planet need a 50 or a 338 for that matter. Works both ways sport-o.
<span style="color: #FF0000">It does not work both ways -see below</span>
Garland PD (suburb of Dallas) has AR10's. I shot one the other day. Very nice and very accurate. Wouldnt mind lobbying our Admin for one or two.</div></div> <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jon Lester</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: eleaf</div><div class="ubbcode-body">A town of less than 30,000 needs high rate of fire, semi-auto precision rifles? For what? Have you had even one single crime or situation in the last 10 years that would necessitate that kind of firepower? I doubt it.
According to
http://www.city-data.com/city/Pullman-Washington.html
you have 2 murders this decade, and 25 robberies. It seems to me that 3 precision bolt rifles is more than enough.
The militarization of the police force in the US is one of the biggest threats to freedom and autonomy individuals have. No need to exacerbate the problem. </div></div>
By this reasoning, I have never been robbed ,mugged or raped, so why should I reach for my 1911 to tuck in and use my CCW rights when I leave home?</div></div>
<span style="color: #FF0000">Because while government must justify its actions to its citizens, the reverse is not true:</span> American citizens don't have to justify it, have a "reason", or anything else.
Perhaps this isnt the thread for this discussion with apologies to the OP, but it is an important discussion and eleaf isnt wrong simply for asking the question.
It is NOT a bash on law enforcement, quite the contrary, it is the reason american law enforcement have volunteered for some of the noblest responsibilities on the planet.
Dont fall into the trap of thinking that government has the same rights as a citizen. Government agencies do not have rights, period. Individual American citizens have rights. Governments have limitations, and for good reason.
When a private citizen expresses a concern that a government official is lobbying for more and more powerful weapons that will be used primarily against American citizens, that is a serious question. As a law enforcement officer, you know your own purpose, temperament, and respect for the Constitution so it is likely that it never entered your mind that a private citizen could view the weapon acquisition as potentially oppressive. Consider however that this citizen does NOT know you, and it is the duty of citizens to hold their government accountable (something the American people have mostly forgotten it seems). His fear is justified. Governments throughout history have always leaned towards gathering more and more power. Always.
Before you think I am anti-law enforcement, realize I am and have been carrying government issued weapons my whole adult life, first in the military context and now the LE one.
We must never forget that in our dealings official or not with the public that our respect for the Constitution must be paramount, even to the point of taking on more risk to ourselves as a result. It is the main reason being a law enforcement officer is a noble profession as long as it is approached that way.
So perhaps rather than jumping on eleaf or implying he hates police for asking the question, a better and more sincere response would be justify the agency need for the weapon and how the rules of engagement in its use will respect the Constitution. It is a serious question that deserves a serious response.
Dont all of us with the solemn responsibility of employing official lethal force want the public to rest assured that if it came down to it that we are the first line of defense against tyranny rather than the strong arm of it?
If not, why?
Its a rhetorical question...of course nobody has to justify themselves to me. Just wanted to give everyone the reminder that the Constitution is our first duty, not nailing the bad guy, or our own safety. As much as I enjoyed the "You shut the #$$% up, I'll protect America" poster I saw in OIF, we must in truth have the opposite attitude if we really believe in our Oaths.
Lowlight's sig line is appropriate here:
Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
--Frank Outlaw
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