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With all the white noise in the news the militarization of local police has slipped by the public largely unnoticed. No longer can the public allow themselves to believe that the police in full combat battle gear are there to protect them.
Sooner or later the "Schutzstaffel" factor will come out to control the people by force.
"The militarization of America’s metropolitan police forces was on full display in recent months as police from Los Angeles to New York cracked down on Occupy protests, decked out in full SWAT gear and occasionally using strange pieces of military hardware."
This has really been a dramatic change in this country during my lifetime. I'm in my 50's and as a kide there was no such thing as SWAT. Now even patrol officers have buzz cuts, wraparound sunglasses, and an AR-15 in the trunk. I don't begrudge them the firepower they need to defend themselves, but somehow it needs to be made crystal-clear to them that they are not an occupying army.
I expect that with so many troops returning from Iraq, naturally many of them will turn to what they think they know, and will go into law enforcement. No wonder the gov't needs so many domestic 'wars'--war on drugs, war on tobacco, war on prostitution, war on obesity, etc.
You have full gear swat teams and helicopters raiding dairy farms because they are selling raw milk.
Think about that....this is not some type of Branch Davidian cult full of armed-to-the gills extremists.
These are hobby farms who milk a few cows and sell the milk, legally I might add, to other individuals.
This is what you want ? Like it or not this is what is happening.
This has really been a dramatic change in this country during my lifetime. I'm in my 50's and as a kide there was no such thing as SWAT. Now even patrol officers have buzz cuts, wraparound sunglasses, and an AR-15 in the trunk. I don't begrudge them the firepower they need to defend themselves, but somehow it needs to be made crystal-clear to them that they are not an occupying army.
I expect that with so many troops returning from Iraq, naturally many of them will turn to what they think they know, and will go into law enforcement. No wonder the gov't needs so many domestic 'wars'--war on drugs, war on tobacco, war on prostitution, war on obesity, etc.
On the flip side, the Riverside, CA Sheriff's Department outfitted their officers in blazers and slacks back in the 60's or 70's, instead of "military style" uniforms, but quickly had to back off that as nobody took them seriously.
On the flip side, the Riverside, CA Sheriff's Department outfitted their officers in blazers and slacks back in the 60's or 70's, instead of "military style" uniforms, but quickly had to back off that as nobody took them seriously.
After reading your post it got me thinking. Maybe that is what it takes today for the police to be taken seriously. Maybe people don't fear/respect the law as much as they used to. Maybe seeing the police appear as military makes people stop and think now.
After reading your post it got me thinking. Maybe that is what it takes today for the police to be taken seriously. Maybe people don't fear/respect the law as much as they used to. Maybe seeing the police appear as military makes people stop and think now.
Are you kidding? American's never have paid much attention to the law and rarely have held cops in any kind of esteem. It's part of our culture to flaunt the rules and try to avoid responsibility for doing so.
Heck, even a former President (Andrew Jackson) thumbed his nose at the Supreme Court and remarked, "Justice Marshall has made his ruling....now let him enforce it," when the Court ruled against Indian removal.
It was not a secret that DHS was allocated money for local law enforcement training.
Thank the DHS for bringing the military to our front yards.
Actually, the military training civilian law enforcement has existed long before DHS was ever conceived under the pretext of the War on Drugs.
See Public Law 100-456 (1988), Division A, Title XI, Section 1104 - Enhanced drug interdiction and law enforcement assistance by the Department of Defense.
On the flip side, the Riverside, CA Sheriff's Department outfitted their officers in blazers and slacks back in the 60's or 70's, instead of "military style" uniforms, but quickly had to back off that as nobody took them seriously.
I remember reading an article about an FBI agent from the 1930's named "Jelly Bryce." Bryce was known for his incredible shooting prowess and thus was often chosen to apprehend 'most wanted' criminals. He always wore a suit and tie. They took him seriously. I'm not saying that cops should be required to wear suits & ties, just that times have changed, and I'm not sure that it's a change for the better.
Actually, the military training civilian law enforcement has existed long before DHS was ever conceived under the pretext of the War on Drugs.
See Public Law 100-456 (1988), Division A, Title XI, Section 1104 - Enhanced drug interdiction and law enforcement assistance by the Department of Defense.
But under DHS they got lots of money for military toys.
Not so much under the war on drugs but lots of extras in this war on terror.
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