Over-Armed Police

For John, BLUF:  Don't Over-Arm the Police.  Keep them close to the People.  Call the National Guard when you need armor and firepower.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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In today's edition of The [Lowell] Sun is an article by Reporter Chelsea Feinstein, "Reps. question police armored tactics".  I have my differences with Representative Tsongas, but she is spot on with regard to the Department of Defense over arming police departments.  From the article:

In the wake of the nationwide debate on police militarization following protests in Ferguson, Mo., Lowell Democrat Rep. Niki Tsongas led a hearing on the subject in the House of Representatives Thursday.

The issue has been in the forefront of national discussions since a militarized police force in Ferguson used tanks, flash grenades and assault rifles to respond to citizens protesting the fatal police shooting of teenager Michael Brown in August.

"When you saw peaceful protesters being confronted with armored vehicles, having assault weapons pointed at them, that did raise a lot of questions around militarization of local police departments," Tsongas told The Sun after the hearing.

This is not about the fatal shooting of teenager Michael Brown, but about how the Ferguson Police dealt with the demonstrations that followed.  In fact, the article called to my mind the confrontation in Tianamen Square in 1989.  Probably because that is where I am in Sean Kay's new book on idealism and realism in foreign policy.♠

I fully agree with Rep Tsongas on this issue.  We are militarizing our police.  That said, there is a subtle issue of responsibility to protect the civilians, a requirement under the Law of Armed Conflict for Service personnel.  Even at risk to oneself.  That is why over-armed police seem out of place, at least to me.

As a final note, I do question the use of "assault rifle" to describe certain firearms.  Even The New York Times came out with an OpEd in September saying it is a bogus term.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  See "Books I'm Reading", along the right margin of the blog.