Toochee my friend.

I was a little shocked to learn from a park ranger this week that they are going through AR15 training on the range. I asked him if that is common practice and he stated that they are just like our city police. They all are being trained on AR15 shooting skills. Seems that the militarization of our police is real even in small town America. Very perplexing!

Being a law enforcement officer has always been about power and respect. As the population grew, and the big cities became breeding grounds for criminal violence, the amount of force needed to show power on the side of the law increased. The LAPD created the first SWAT unit after the 1968 Watts riots.

SWAT equipment has been too expensive for smaller police departments until recently (even though a kind of envy existed). Now that the equipment is being given away from overstocked military supply, even small towns are gaining armored vehicles and automatic weapons.

The problem with toys like these in a testosterone-driven profession is an unquenchable desire to play with them. The danger is becoming obvious, as any excuse is used to call in the tactical units.

The Federal tactical units are always itching to get the chance to play with their toys. Waco could have been handled by the county sheriff, peacefully. I have no doubt the tactical unit of the BLM was unhappy they didn't get to show off their stuff at the Bundy ranch, like the BATF did at Waco.

After viewing this, don't the words "Police State" come to mind?

Even my little town has an mrap unit. It has been shown off in parades. The happy sheeple clap and smile and oh and ah, mindless of what it really means.

Actually most LEO's for the BLM, Forest Service, and other game warden style officers are trained at GLENCO and Langley, and are training along side with secret service and CIA, FBI, IRS, take your pick. A Forest Service officer has more search and seizure authority than an FBI agent, and most have been carrying "assault weapons", GLOCK's, and high-capacity shotguns since the 90's.
If you have a hunting or fishing license, you have no right to privacy from any kind of game warden. When you get your license, you submit (unspoken) to search of your property, cooler, and any or all fridges and freezers. The closest thing that I know of as a protection against it, is to sign your license with your name followed by, "ALL Rights Reserved"; implying that you agree to no unwritten contracts, that might violate your rights.

I was required to wear a name tag when I was a state corrections officer. Every law enforcement officer in the United States should wear one--not a mask. Obama has not turned us into Mexico yet. When he does, I may reconsider my above stated view.

Good one, really makes you think. The masks to me are the biggest problem, anonymity means they don't have to think twice before doing something that crosses the line, they are behaving as a herd instead of an individual.

About the same time "to serve and protect" became "to pester and annoy".

lol

Meh, they only want what's best for us. <tongue firmly in cheek>

You are right the AR is semi-auto. It is not the weapon that concerns me. It is the attitude that the militarization of peace officers leads to that bothers me. Gives a great sense of power over people in general.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the AR15 is a semiautomatic rifle. That wouldn't worry me. The newer generation of fully-auto weapons from Colt, H&K, etc are prevalent with most SWAT teams. THAT I'm worried about.

its probably not totally inappropriate to call them Ninjas.. Back in the 80's in Milwaukee in the 'bad' neighborhoods Milwaukee had a Ninja problem. Masked police officers using force, in the dead of night often without warrants. The people living in those 'bad' neighborhoods started calling them the Ninja Squad back then. Till the news found out. Now, we are expected to simply accept it.

They are outlaws whose actions can't withstand the light of truth for fear that the true intent will be exposed.

While America slept...

Somewhere between Waco and 9/11.

"Already a couple of the faithful have sent in checks for a foundation memorial to the innocents who perished at the hands of the ninja at Waco ... I have been criticized by referring to our federal masked men as 'ninja' ... Let us reflect upon the fact that a man who covers his face shows reason to be ashamed of what he is doing. A man who takes it upon himself to shed blood while concealing his identity is a revolting perversion of the warrior ethic. It has long been my conviction that a masked man with a gun is a target. I see no reason to change that view."
Jeff Cooper