SavannahMann
Platinum Member
- Nov 16, 2016
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I'm more concerned with safety and saving lives, than what things look like.I have no problem with the police having the best equipment possible to do their jobs effectively, while minimizing the risks to them. However, I think there needs to be a balance, especially with the day to day police officer, and how they dress, and act. I do get a sense there is more of an intimidation factor today, in how they are perceived. That may do with more, and more wearing "SWAT" type gear, and wielding some of the military equipment they have a little too freely.
Some units are beginning to look like a Standing Army instead of civilians that "Protect, and Serve".
The problem is that the cops like most people have an idea. If we have it we might as well use it.
They tossed a flash bang grenade in and maimed a baby. Why did they need it? It was standard because they had them.
SWAT was sold to the public as needed for terrorism and hostage situations. Then it became a case of every problem looking like a nail because the cops had a big hammer. Every warrant service became a SWAT task because there was one chance in a thousand it might be dangerous. The cops have to shoot first because one chance in ten thousand that the person might be reaching for a gun.
The same thing has happened time and time again. The cops got pepper spray and were using it constantly. Then bad press about situations where it was not warranted meant that the cops then had to show some restraint. They hate that.
When the Tasers became common same thing. They would zap a guy for asking what did you stop me for.
If you give them the hammer they will find a way to view the problem as a nail. The bigger the hammer the more likely the nail will appear big enough to warrant it.
The cops want to show the money they spent training with the hammer was well invested. So the hammer comes out for even minor situations.
They could buy a used armored car from Brinks. They could but the armored car isn’t bad enough. It doesn’t look intimidating. And it doesn’t have a top hatch to get your machine gunner up on the roof with.
The Secret Service uses armored limos and armored Suburban trucks. There are companies that will armor plate a Hyundai if you want. But the cops “need” a MRAP.
It’s all bullshit. All the excuses are bullshit.