Not Looking To Start A Fight Here But,

[seapower]

I just saw an article "on line" that mentioned something I have been alarmed at more and more. Just about every policeman (other than State Trooper's) whether they be town cop's or sheriff's dept type's, are armed to the teeth. I mean every "Barney" around here has weapon's on their side's, on their leg's, in their boot's, vehicle's that resemble Army and Marine gear.

I'm not paranoid as I believe just about any PD can be held down by just a handful of "selectively" trained VET's. But what is going on here? I realize the arguement of having to have arm's that match or "out gun" the bad guy's. My question would be, if you need weapon's better than the bad guy's, why not use those weapon's and put em' out of business? Once and for all, instead of this revolving door justice system we have. I'd love to see the "cop's" less dressed and let our "Special OP's" guy's hold training in "problem " area's. I don't know how it is anywhere else, but what I see is a bunch of wanna-be Rambo's, that couldn't make it past Military Boot Camp. OK, Merry Christmas. Frank

[treyfry]

I'm with you frank I see them all the time. And they are quick to pull the tazer these days. I saw two guys get hit in the same parking lot this year for really nothing more than stating their case with the officer. In my home town they don't even have to go to any academys or pass any physical testing. Its pathetic.

[longfisher]

...has been a topic of great concern in other than conservative circles for decades.

I used to ran a nice little executive recruiting operation for scientists. Officed near NASA. Went into the nearby McDonalds frequently for a quick bite and then back to work.

One day went in there, bought my grub and then took a seat to eat. In comes two cops. On was in traditional Houston PD garb with a patrol belt. Ok, no big deal. I said hello and he politely responded with his own in return.

But with him was a guy that looked like Robocop. I was stunned at the justaposition between the two cop's demeanors. Second cop was deliberately rude and intimidating to the largely Hispanic customers and wait staff there. A real prick just armed to the teeth, in total black garb, helmet with face shield and a weapons belt that wouldn't quit with ammunition pouches. In addition had a leg holster with a large caliber weapon stuffed in it.

As I left the restaurant I took pains to look closely at his uniform to see what Dept. he was from. Surely, I thought he was from the FBI or DEA or something (it was way before the days of the TSA). Boy was I wrong.

He was a cop from the local school district. I was astonished. I'll bet the surrounding Hispanic neighborhoods didn't appreciate it one bit with that overly-armed and overtly-armed idiot prancing around the school yards like that. I wrote a letter of complaint to the S. Houston School District.

Regrettably, now we see more and more of that among the Houston PD too. And, with the fearful conservatives overrunning Texas we see a lot of crap like that at the Airports and even buss terminals too.

Except for the yahoo mentioned above, before 09/11 I'd never seen any military-like police except during a trip to Guatemala for some fishing. There they have machine gun armed military and police everywhere. I even found shell casings on the floor of a Guatemalan movie theater where we went to see Jurassic Park with English subtitles. I distinctly remember telling the wife how uncomfortable I was with all that crap around me and telling my fishing buds how lucky we were to live in land of the free and the home of the brave.

All that's changed, huh?

LF

[seapower]

That's my point, nothing to do with "conservative", not so sure I'm as conservative as you make me out to be. I remember the day when "we" respected" law official's much more than their weaponry. In this day of predominent single family household's (because it's allowed), kid's getting involved in gang's because of the lack of responsible family around them, etc........ I'd definitely have to say that the "liberale" social experiment of the last few decade's has failed us miserably. I still think allowing our special op's guy's a little training in the hood, would do alot of good. Not meant to be nice, just need to get control, before we're all wearing doo rag's. Once again, I see thing's as the ARE, not as they COULD be. Frank

[seapower]

The "militarization of our police force's began after the LA Riot's. Reason being, is they then saw that the President wouldn't let loose troop's to quell such foolishness. One of the biggest thing's I have against George Bush Sr., is that he did not send in troop's to end the mindless pillaging of honest business owner's and the common citizen that were being terrorized by the many thug's roaming free. If that would have happened, it would have set a long lasting tone. If you'll look back, you can see a direct corellation of gang activity scince then.

What I really don't get is that folk's of your mindset, don't get that law's are made to protect the honest citizen's. Not visa versa. I have had many, many year's of breeeding and training dog's. Your breed is one I am especially familuar with. Show that dog of your's no love or direction and see what happen's. The first time he snap's at you because you are by his food bowl and you don't do something to make him see thing's "your way". That'll be the beginning of a very, very unhappy relationship between the two of you. Kid's are no different. If shown at an early age, that foolishness won't be tolorated, then you have just set the tone for life.

You folk's seen to think that "everyone" is up for "redeemable", fact of the matter is they are not. That is unless, you start showing them the "way it is" early on. Sorry, no "dreaming" here, just the fact's. Some will even say that they don't "know" it's wrong to steal, it's the way they were raised. Try stealing some of their dope and see if they don't recognise "wrong" then. You'll find out from the pointy end of a gun. When will you folk's start seeing the "world" as it really is???? Seriously, Frank

[Avenger]

My first concern is that if you've ever had any experience with them, Most cops are positively the worst gun handlers you've ever seen in your life. Many of them are a Plaxico Burress in waiting. Mostly it's just piss poor training, but in a few cases it's arrogance.

The second is that EVERY government agency seems to have it's own police force. The Port Autority, The Transit Authority, Post Office, Environmental Divisions, Cities, Villages, Towns, and apparently Schools too. Who do these clucks answer to?

I agree, something is wrong with the picture.

[Big Fish Billy]

I just saw an article "on line" that mentioned something I have been alarmed at more and more. Just about every policeman (other than State Trooper's) whether they be town cop's or sheriff's dept type's, are armed to the teeth. I mean every "Barney" around here has weapon's on their side's, on their leg's, in their boot's, vehicle's that resemble Army and Marine gear.

I'm not paranoid as I believe just about any PD can be held down by just a handful of "selectively" trained VET's. But what is going on here? I realize the arguement of having to have arm's that match or "out gun" the bad guy's. My question would be, if you need weapon's better than the bad guy's, why not use those weapon's and put em' out of business? Once and for all, instead of this revolving door justice system we have. I'd love to see the "cop's" less dressed and let our "Special OP's" guy's hold training in "problem " area's. I don't know how it is anywhere else, but what I see is a bunch of wanna-be Rambo's, that couldn't make it past Military Boot Camp. OK, Merry Christmas. Frank

Like most arguments, you really don't know what's happening unless you walk a mile in the other guys shoes. When I was a kid you didn't "state your case" to anyone. When the cops came through the door you did what you were told....not the case anymore. Criminal intent is on the rise everywhere, from everyone....and there's a lot of mean and ruthless people out there....sorry I believe in shooting first and asking questions later....when you put yourself in the wrong place, you better do what you're told....as you would say there Frankie....JMHO...

[GALAZIO]

... guess you might be referring to actions like this???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akwjAjcQnqM

Plenty of documents available to research regarding the ever-growing "police state" & militarization of police forces nationally. (and plenty of PD's telling them to pound sand... Search "OathKeepers")

[longfisher]

... guess you might be referring to actions like this???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akwjAjcQnqM

Plenty of documents available to research regarding the ever-growing "police state" & militarization of police forces nationally. (and plenty of PD's telling them to pound sand... Search "OathKeepers")

...I sometimes dream of pulling into the main avenue on which the cops are arrayed like that from a side street with a "techincal" armed with a quad-fifty or a 106 RR loaded with flechette and leveling them to the last man...like bowling pins in a stiff wind.

This business of trying to persuade the cops in riot gear to consider their actions and perhaps even take the opposing side is utterly and fatally misguided. In America there is a reservoir of brutal and criminal sadists like there is in no other country. If one were to convince a half dozen cops to leave those ranks and join the opposition there would be 1,000 right-wing conservative jerkwads to take their place in a microsecond.

It is my personal belief that violence is coming to America in the most horrific way...citizens just defending their rights and lives who finally realize that only violence will bring back America. I practiced at the range as recently as yesterday.

Beat the Cops! Butcher Congress to the last fat cat! Eat the rich and then crap their residue on Obama! Free the country!

Utter anarchy is preferable to where we're obviously going.


LF

[Curmudgeon]

Utter anarchy is preferable to where we're obviously going.

You can't be that stupid, morons like you would be the first fodder out of the cannon ...