SC: What do the Police need?

[Ironbear]

How about a Armored Personnel Carrier with a belt-fed .50 cal? While I grant the use of a .50 cal sniper rifle for specific purposes, I am having difficulty imagining any scenario in which the use of a belt-fed .50 cal around town, wouldn't be a bad idea. Too many things stop being adequate backstops...

Anyone around here with an opinion?

Follow the link for pictures (of guns pointed at you) and comments. Minnesota get (dis-?) honorable mention too!

http://www.reason.com/blog/show/128482.html
Sheriff Lott's New Toy
Radley Balko | September 1, 2008, 1:12pm

The Richland County, South Carolina Sheriff's Department (that's them above) just obtained an armored personnel carrier, complete with a belt-fed, .50-cal turreted machine gun. Sheriff Leon Lott has charmingly named the vehicle "The Peacemaker," and insists that using a caliber of ammunition that even the U.S. military is reluctant to use against human targets (it's generally reserved for use against armored vehicles) will "save lives."

Can we call this overkill, yet? Is there any weapon people like Sheriff Lott would consider inappropriate for use against American citizens?

Like most of these military toys obtained by local police departments, the Peacemaker will inevitably be used on drug and gambling raids—that is, to enforce laws against consensual activities. Or, as we're now seeing in Minnesota, perhaps on raids against leftist political activists.

Can't be too careful, you know.

[cmj685]

Unfortunately this continues to follow the trend of U.S. law enforcement agencies taking on the whole persona of super, anti-terrorist, uber-tactical, para-military death-squad, SWAT teams, who think they need all the latest techniques, training and equipment to battle the American citizen to the death. Of course the law enforcement agencies are all gung-ho for it, because it means more money, equipment, power and prestige for them, more training opportunities, more promotions, more new departments, and did I mention more money? What has to happen is that the civilian commanders (this is why military and law enforcement both have civilian commanders--to ensure that these kinds of things don't get out of hand as they tend to among military and para-military agencies), like the governors, mayors and city councils have to step in and firmly stop it. Law enforcement has to be perpetually reminded that they exist to protect and serve, not to wage war on, the American citizen. But that doesn't seem to be happening for a variety of reasons. So look for it to continue. I think it was about a year ago or so there was an article about a completely land-locked county in Indiana whose law enforcement agency procured an amphibious assault vehicle. It just goes on and on....

[Srigs]

I can understand an armored car/van but belt feed 50... nope

[1911fan]

I too, concur, a armored car has many uses, but a Ma Deuce is only fun for the cops, Now if he plans on using it as a fund raiser, ( come shoot Ma Deuce at the old school bus, $40 per 100 rounds, I can understand that) but for tactical uses, no......

[chunkstyle]

Where do I get one?

[R.E.T.]

Where do I get one?

It might be expensive. Group Buy?

[Ironbear]

Where do I get one?

First you become Sheriff of Chunky County......

[Vlad]

I too, concur, a armored car has many uses, but a Ma Deuce is only fun for the cops, Now if he plans on using it as a fund raiser, ( come shoot Ma Deuce at the old school bus, $40 per 100 rounds, I can understand that) but for tactical uses, no......

Wow, that is quite the bargain! Last gun show there was 50 cal for sale at 4$ each round.

[1911fan]

Thats commercial pricing, the police get this stuff as "surplus" or as contractor over runs, just like the 119 dollar M 16's minneapolis was to get or the department costs on Glocks, Consumer pricing has nothing to do with what Govt pays.

[Vlad]

Thats commercial pricing, the police get this stuff as "surplus" or as contractor over runs, just like the 119 dollar M 16's minneapolis was to get or the department costs on Glocks, Consumer pricing has nothing to do with what Govt pays.

OK, I'll give you that. So, can I buy the trigger time and not use the ammo and keep for "personal use"?