"There was a time when “defending the homeland” was a function of, well, the Department of Defense. Today, that massive agency is really more about invading and rebuilding other countries. So we got the Department of Homeland Security. Which, inevitably, now includes missions overseas. Welcome to mission creep...
Today, in addition to protecting America’s borders and airports, the department is interrogating people suspected of pirating movies at Ohio theaters, seizing counterfeit NBA merchandise in San Antonio and working pickpocket cases alongside police in Albuquerque. Homeland Security agents are visiting elementary schools and senior centers to warn of dangers lurking on the Internet.
Some government watchdogs and civil liberties advocates – and even the nation’s first Department of Homeland Security secretary – question how those actions serve the purpose set forth in the 2002 law."
"These are cops with the Michigan State Police Emergency Support Team — basically the agency’s equivalent of a SWAT team. This photo got a retweet and plaudits from Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder... There are good reasons for state police agencies to have SWAT teams... But until Canadian troops start marching on the Upper Peninsula, it’s hard to envision a scenario under which state troopers would need to don camouflage uniforms, face paint and ghillie hats. Even if one could fathom such a scenario or two, it’s also regrettable that this is the face the Michigan State Police want to project to the public. These guys aren’t the military. Their mission is not to annihilate a foreign enemy on a battlefield. They’re domestic police officers who serve the residents of Michigan. Their mission is to protect the constitutional rights of those residents. It’s important that they, our elected officials and we all know and appreciate the difference."
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Well this is just dumb. Do you live in Michigan? If so, then doubly so. If not, then I should tell you that in Michigan, rifles are common, meaning kevlar is useless. Meaning you have basically 2 defenses when you need to set up in a scenario that could be tense against someone who is armed.
ReplyDelete1. Wear a Ballistic Plate Carrier and hope they aim for your torso
2. Don't be seen setting up.
If there is a hostage situation, something the MSP ERT is trained to deal with, something like a sniper team in full camouflage is a basic necessity for the rural area of Michigan, given that they likely won't be hiding on rooftops like in large cities with SWAT, but instead will likely be in the treeline.
Why are people so damn dumb?
"Even if one could fathom such a scenario or two, it’s also regrettable that this is the face the Michigan State Police want to project to the public. These guys aren’t the military. Their mission is not to annihilate a foreign enemy on a battlefield. They’re domestic police officers who serve the residents of Michigan. Their mission is to protect the constitutional rights of those residents. It’s important that they, our elected officials and we all know and appreciate the difference."
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