Does law Enforcement really need select fire?

[Sudaev]

I wanted to quote something a friend recently wrote:

Normal, functioning societies that are not in terminal crisis don't require thousands upon thousands of heavily armed police in the streets to guarantee basic order.

I take issue with a lot of the hyperbole around Edward Snowden and his role in shedding light on the American security apparatus, but there is more than a modicum of truth to this narrative...no State not in crisis is as security obsessed and police oriented as the United States is. The only comparable military and policing structures existed in Stalinist societies, actively failing states that were enduring a coup or a civil war situation, or countries bracing for general war on terms of strategic parity with foreign enemies.

There is something very strange about a 1st world state maintaining a massive and obtuse police presence in every major population center and a concomitant bizarre view by the public of the police as necessary and valorous guardians of Order or (alternatively) as ''racist'' assassins.

This isn't really precedented (as noted) in living memory outside of civil war situations or Communist countries of the 20th century.

[WyattandDoc]

I wanted to quote something a friend recently wrote:

Has your friend ever ridden a subway system in Europe? Has your friend ever worked a patrol car on PM shift or Earlies in a busy urban setting? Just curious.

[ParkwayDrive]

Seeing as how they miss 90% of the time full auto will only mean more bystanders shot. It would only be useful in cover fire anyways. Unless you are are talking a dedicated 50 cal not an M16. Dumping M16 mags, full auto means officer will likely miss target, run out of ammo, overheat the rifle, and/or hit bystanders. Tri burst may be better option.

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Torrance-LAPD-Manhunt-Mistaken-Identity-Shooting-Newspaper-Delivery-191200561.html

Officers fired more than 100 rounds at two newspaper delivery women -- leaving bullet holes in their pickup, clothing and other personal items in the vehicle -- in a case of mistaken identity during the search for fugitive Christopher Dorner, according to their attorney.
The women, Margie Carranza and her 71-year-old mother, Emma Hernandez, are "grappling with a lot of issues" in the wake of the incident, attorney Glen Jonas told NBC4.

Not to mention it wasn't even the same color or model truck.

[CK_32]

Seeing as how they miss 90% of the time full auto will only mean more bystanders shot. It would only be useful in cover fire anyways. Unless you are are talking a dedicated 50 cal not an M16. Dumping M16 mags, full auto means officer will likely miss target, run out of ammo, overheat the rifle, and/or hit bystanders. Tri burst may be better option.

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Torrance-LAPD-Manhunt-Mistaken-Identity-Shooting-Newspaper-Delivery-191200561.html

Officers fired more than 100 rounds at two newspaper delivery women -- leaving bullet holes in their pickup, clothing and other personal items in the vehicle -- in a case of mistaken identity during the search for fugitive Christopher Dorner, according to their attorney.
The women, Margie Carranza and her 71-year-old mother, Emma Hernandez, are "grappling with a lot of issues" in the wake of the incident, attorney Glen Jonas told NBC4.

Actually this post is spot on... They can't shoot straight with a semi, let along add F/A into the mix. Good post!

[bwhited]

I was training with an agency that carried select fire MP-5's in their trunks.
Each officer that left their weapon on semi-auto performed better than the ones that used the select fire feature to the position to put as many bullets down range as possible.
The difference was night and day.

[pterrell]

FA is a waste of ammo if you aren't using a crew served weapon...

[PyroFox79]

It may have been mentioned before but even in the military only the machine guns are full auto. We always trained and engaged with semi. Ive only fired my M16 on burst maybe 3 times and those were in training. So no i dont think they need full auto when the military gets the job done with mostly semis. Personally Fullauto is just there for suppression other than that its a waste of ammo

[ParkwayDrive]

It may have been mentioned before but even in the military only the machine guns are full auto. We always trained and engaged with semi. Ive only fired my M16 on burst maybe 3 times and those were in training. So no i dont think they need full auto when the military gets the job done with mostly semis. Personally Fullauto is just there for suppression other than that its a waste of ammo

We went to quite a few ranges where we only fired our M4s on burst, but it was just so we knew how to effectively engage targets with it and know how to handle it. In Afghanistan, I only fired my M4 on burst once and it was due to the only crew served at our position being down and I was trying to put as many rounds down as possible. Police do not even need burst, let alone fully automatic.

As you said, it's for suppression. Police do not need to suppress anyone with fire.

[Mr. Nobody]

So to you, a rifle is equal to a 240B and AT-4's...

Do you get your ideas from Dianne Feinstein???

Lol

Sent from my SCH-I605