After Dallas - No such thing as militarization of police

[dchang0]

they didn't magically turn into the Army. No matter what uniform they wear, they are still bound by use of force law, the constitution, and case law.

You do see the continual erosion of our Constitutional rights going on, right? Especially our beloved 2nd Amendment, which the State of Calif. seems to think is completely optional to follow and is just paying lip service to until SCOTUS is stacked with anti-gun justices.

Every single right of the Bill of Rights has been abridged by some ruling or regulation or law somewhere in these 50 states, except perhaps the right to not have soldiers quartered in your house--yet.

The law is changing, and it's not changing towards more peaceable law enforcement, more liberty, and more power into private citizens' hands. It is centralizing power in the hands of the state.

[RobinGoodfellow]

Militarization

I'm conflicted about this. Police need access to the equipment they need to do their jobs and protect themselves and the people. However, over-militarization of the police can also lead down a dangerous road of sacrificing too much liberty for security. No one wants to see lawless rioting, but no one wants a heavily armed police state ready to squash anyone the government doesn't agree with. It's a double-edged sword, a tightrope that needs to be walked carefully.

Although they should have access to rifles and shotguns, I am not in favor of the police having much more than that in the realm of military arms.

A response to the incident in Dallas should have used the National Guard, not police.

[RRangel]

It has been revealed that the Dallas police murderer used an SKS. Which is not even illegal, in California because it's not an "assault weapon," with an exception. Usually, an SKS is limited to 10 rounds, but I'm not aware of the specifics. These rifles have been around since the 1940s.

[danfinger]

I'll take societal decay over a police state all day, everyday and twice on Sundays.

[Ghost_of_1776]

No thanks. I fear a police state much more than I do the criminals that they supposedly protect me from.

[ironpegasus]

After Dallas, there might not be a Second Amendment for veterans- Forget the gear, the training according to the progressives now represents a danger to public safety.

How's that going to work for the numerous vets that are LEO? Are they too dangerous to be LEO or is there an exemption in that law that covers LEO? Would that ban apply to any vets getting out who wanted to join an LEA? Would you have had to have been an LEO in the military to be considered for the exemption to join an LEA post service?

If being a vet alone is enough to trigger a ban (and not even requiring a combat tour), do the vets have a right to petition the gov for potential lost wages because they are retroactively banned from a future position? Do we pre-emptively ban anyone who might want to join the military from having 2A rights as they would eventually become a veteran?

So confused...

[gruntinhusaybah]

You do see the continual erosion of our Constitutional rights going on, right? Especially our beloved 2nd Amendment, which the State of Calif. seems to think is completely optional to follow and is just paying lip service to until SCOTUS is stacked with anti-gun justices.

Every single right of the Bill of Rights has been abridged by some ruling or regulation or law somewhere in these 50 states, except perhaps the right to not have soldiers quartered in your house--yet.

The law is changing, and it's not changing towards more peaceable law enforcement, more liberty, and more power into private citizens' hands. It is centralizing power in the hands of the state.

Yes of course I do. That has everything to do with legislators and nothing to do with what equipment police officers use.
Peaceable and law enforcement are just about mutually exclusive. We charge law enforcement with, well, enforcement of laws. How many people do you think are willing to do that equipped like Dudley do right when facing things like the Dallas ambush?
If my kids school has an active shooter I want hard core meat eaters with the BEST equipment to show up and aggressively assault the threat.

I'll take societal decay over a police state all day, everyday and twice on Sundays.

That's the SAS not police.

[danfinger]

That's the SAS not police.

Sent in to police N. Ireland.

[duckman45]

But they did have a robot drone rigged with explosives to take out the threat without endangering officers, so there is that.

[Volksgrenadier]

Cool, so long as it's these guys...

[desertjosh]

It has been revealed that the Dallas police murderer used an SKS. Which is not even illegal, in California because it's not an "assault weapon," with an exception. Usually, an SKS is limited to 10 rounds, but I'm not aware of the specifics. These rifles have been around since the 1940s.

Really? A SKS? Anyone have a link?

[ssaction]

Really? A SKS? Anyone have a link?

google turns up this:

http://controversialtimes.com/news/the-gun-used-by-the-dallas-police-murderer-is-revealed-its-not-what-most-people-thought/

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/07/08/dallas-police-protest-shooting/

"A law enforcement source tells CBS News that Johnson had an SKS semi-automatic assault rifle and a handgun. He also wore body armor. The SKS was originally manufactured in the Soviet Union but is popular with many gun enthusiasts around the world."

[IrishJoe3]

A response to the incident in Dallas should have used the National Guard, not police.

As a citizen Soldier...... HAHAHAHAHA HAHA!!!!!

It took the National Guard....3 says to get to the Rodney King Riots? And even then they didn't have ammo?

Let me get this straight .....ongoing active shooter, multiple fatalities , you want the police chief to pull his guys out. Call the major, who will call the governor, who will call the National Guard HQ and give the order to active, HQ then starts their phone calls down the chain of command. At the very end of that phone tree are 18-25 year olds working day jobs from fast-food to construction. Those Soldiers then leave their day job, respond to the armory, gas up gear up and other mobilization logistics, and then START responding.

[gruntinhusaybah]

Sent in to police N. Ireland.

Different country, different rules. I'm not sure what the point of your posts are in regards to US LE.

But they did have a robot drone rigged with explosives to take out the threat without endangering officers, so there is that.

And what is your alternative? An officer go in so they could be murdered too? The bomb suit is not a magic shield, if the officer survived, they would be down some hands and feet at a minimum. Ask me how I know.

Don't want to be blown up by a robot? Don't murder cops and threaten them with IEDs.

[Blade Gunner]

I do not in anyway condone the assassination of police officers. However if you consider some (not all) of the lethal force used against some (but not all) on some black males, at what point in time do the actions become the actions of a tyrannical government. The exact circumstances the second amendment was written for.