The United States of SWAT? Military-style gov't units wreaking havoc on non-violent citizens.

National Review ^ | 04/18/2014 | John Fund

[Pride in the USA]

scary times indeed

[Nachum]

The list, Ping

Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list

http://www.nachumlist.com/

[Joe Brower]

Thanks for posting this, SeekAndFind.

So, America is the "Land of the Free"? Not if you look closely. In fact, you don't have to even do that any more.

Question is, what are we going to do about it?

[Georgia Girl 2]

I don’t think you are taking into account the full anger of the American people.

This country is divided as at no other time since 1775 and 1861. Its almost 50-50. That cannot continue. One side has to win. It will not be decided at the ballot box.

The Republican party is not going to restore the constitutional republic. The US govt in its current form will not lay down and roll over. It has become too corrupted.

The genie is out of the bottle and its not going to be put back in.

[B4Ranch]

As long as DHS continues to buy millions of rounds of handgun ammunition and we continue to buy millions of rounds long rifle ammunition, I know who will win the firefight.

In the meantime lets start electing people who will wind this SWAT team police force back down to becoming peace officers once again. Federal agencies don’t need their own SWAT team for every issue where citizens don’t follow the manual.

[tumblindice]

Sending ‘Brandenburgers’ against Americans is one thing, at least they’re federal employees. But the independent contractors, free agents, ‘operators’, Ronin, ‘camo-queers’—whatever they’re called ... the next thing after that is drones. This is all Reid and Obama, Brennan and Clinton.
We’ve got to replace these kids playing grownups with real grownups.

[Grams A]

When was the last time you saw a policemen and didn’t feel threatened?”

Actually it was just last Saturday. We have two guys who direct traffic at our church service. While the service is going on they hang out in the snack bar. I needed to return an important call on my cell phone but I had a cup of coffee and a cup of fresh fruit in my hands. Set them down on the table by the policeman and asked him if he would watch them while I went outside. I knew they would be safe since it was obvious that he only ate donuts.

[Billthedrill]

I do think the author has a point in that these raids should be recorded and subject to public review, every single one of them. Moreover, every statute that prohibits the taking of videos of police should be stricken from the books. This level of violence must never be protected by secrecy or it becomes, by definition, out of control.

[LevinFan]

“The tank, driven by the newly deputized action-film star Steven Seagal, plowed right into Llovera’s house. The incident was filmed and, together with footage of Seagal-accompanied immigration raids, was later used for Seagal’s A&E TV law-enforcement reality show.”

WTF? A police sanctioned publicity stunt? And when did swat start ramming houses, not knowing what is on the other side of the wall? Not to mention such gratuitous damage should not be allowed.

How anyone can support cops anymore is baffling. Ends justify the means mentality. Even if the end is cockfighting and the means is squashing people under an armored vehicle.

[no-to-illegals]

Mine was this past Wednesday (two days ago). Saw a Sheriff's Deputy while conducting business with a contract employee. Another contract employee I refused to do business with had called in the Deputy. No problem. That was her right to make that call. About forty minutes later went through a routine traffic check (driver's license, tag check) after having conducted business. My forty caliber was on the seat beside me. Officer saw. No words were exchanged between Officer and myself other than courtesies.

[LevinFan]

“There’s no shortage of people wanting to be “a sniper” these days. It’s a great “pickup line” and an outstanding way to impress the chicks”

Why? No disrespect on soldier snipers, or even honest LE snipers. But a sniper isn’t exactly shinning knight. No King Arthur. Any chick impressed by that needs to think how cold blooded a sniper has to be, then apply that to herself.

[lostboy61]

SWAT snipers are trained at 100 meters or less. Take them too the big open space world and there just another deer hunter. Most dept. use a 5.56X45 round in a bolt rifle short barreled weapon (M40-18in. urbane or 16in. M-4 with scope) with 70 gr. match grade round. They have no ideal how to get to 800-1500 meters unless former military snipers. As all former military people are all terrorists how could they work for the police.

[elcid1970]

Watch for demands by the gungrabbers for strict controls on “medium range sniper weapons”.

By United Nations definition that’s your standard scope sighted hunting rifle. The kind that slaughters millions of helpless lovable deer every year.

“We only want to ban assault rifles”

“Noboby’s coming to take your guns”

[B4Ranch]

If the Feds don’t restrict the usage of their heavily armed SWAT teams, then the people will be forced to defend our liberty by returning fire. Not all sniping has to result in fatalities.

A BLM or Forestry agent patrolling the back country will quickly get his head on straight when his vehicle becomes the target.

A vehicle tire will do just fine. An aluminum airplane or helicopter engine can be disabled with a single shot. A drone airplane with a hole through the fuel tank or battery pack isn’t going to take off. A boat with a few holes in the hull won’t be patrolling the harbors and waterways. A manufacturing plant can be brought to a close if something as simple as the ventilation system is disabled.

[jdege]

To me, the solution is simple.

Remove the authority for federal agents to bear arms, off federal reservations. If a USDA employee needs to carry a firearm, he can get a carry permit, like any other civilian.

[lonevoice]

Thanks for the ping to such a well-written article.

I have questions about these two pieces of it:

"There are things that can be done to curb the abuses without taking on the politically impossible job of disbanding SWAT units."

He concedes that it's politically impossible to disband these SWAT units...why?

"After all, if taxpayers are being asked to foot the bill and cede ground on their Fourth Amendment rights, they have the right to a transparent, accountable record..."

Isn't the issue that citizens cannot be compelled to cede their Fourth Amendment rights, regardless of how transparent the process?

[Dick Bachert]

[stevie_d_64]

I need to borrow yer crystal ball...

Keep it next to my Buddha statue...;-)

[stevie_d_64]

“But whoever fires first will lose the public’s support.”

Who version are you going to believe???

The media (any network, including FoxNews)???

The government???

The responding government agency spokesperson???

Some internet source??? (i.e.: Drudge, Breitbart, Infowars)??? Even FreeRepublic???

I’m not really trying to bust peoples chops about this, but we are already in heap big trouble Kemosabe...

I’m still trying to keep up and get through the menusha off all this flak being thrown out there...I have a pretty good idea about all of this personally, and it might even be similar to other’s opinions and overall analysis...

Like you said, it is the governments PR war to lose...I just do not see that happening with the overall media in their pocket...

I have to wonder what the solution will “really” be...

[GOPJ]

The bureaucracy that inspects and regulates porta potties - they want their own armored vehicles and SWAT Teams too. They’re tired of citizens giving them so much sh*t...