Balko on the Militarization of Mayberry

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1. 1
   

   naturalcynic

   October 2, 2012 at 1:40 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment

   I’m sure that they could use some penis-enlarging device. It would be cheaper, but then again, the feds may not pay for it.

2. 2
   

   rickdesper

   October 2, 2012 at 2:23 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment

   Welfare for the well-connected homeland security industry.

3. 3
   

   jaketoadie

   October 2, 2012 at 2:24 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment

   Natualcynic #1:

   No, the government would pay for it, this isn’t something that would help exclusively women, so it would be ok for tax dollars to be spent on it.

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   Abby Normal

   October 2, 2012 at 2:34 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment

   And now city officials think their police officers need assault rifles too.

   Reminds me of the time I tried to convince my boss that an analysis I was compiling would be greatly enhanced by an on-site visit to the customer’s facility… in Hawaii. Not even Mayberry is immune to the glittery lure of boondoggles.

5. 5
   

   Olav

   October 2, 2012 at 3:33 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment

   Oo, militarization of the police. Now I get to spam this link again:

   http://dissenter.firedoglake.com/2012/10/01/private-security-force-arrests-supporters-of-striking-walmart-warehouse-workers/

   That’s not even the police mind you, it’s private “security” that is being used by Walmart against its employees (who happen to be on strike).

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   lofgren

   October 2, 2012 at 3:44 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment

   A town of 4,500 people in New Jersey that hasn’t had a murder in more than a decade has a SWAT team.

   Who cares if they haven’t had a murder in more than a decade? It’s irrelevant. Statistically speaking, there are probably 600 people in that town who have smoked pot in the last year, 200 of whom probably have a dog. How do you expect the police to protect and serve if they can’t even defend themselves from pot smokers’ dogs?

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   cry4turtles

   October 2, 2012 at 3:54 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment

   I think sending in SWAT teams exacerbates most situations. They’re only useful for terrorists or meth labs, and maybe an occasional bankrobbery. Mostly they’re an abuse of power.

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   D. C. Sessions

   October 2, 2012 at 4:44 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment

   I think sending in SWAT teams exacerbates most situations.

   Hah! Tell that to the Pima County SWAT team. They expended hundreds of rounds on a visit to a house recently and then had to defend themselves from wild-eyed EMTs from the Tucson Fire Department.