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The militarization of the police has come primarily from the militarization of criminals. Before the Valentine's Day Massacres, criminals had better cars and we
by c3534l 7y ago
The militarization of the police has come primarily from the militarization of criminals. Before the Valentine's Day Massacres, criminals had better cars and weapons than the police, allowing them to fight and win against the police. Prior to the LA shooting spree, police had no way to fight a criminal armed with assault weapons and no training on how to do so without endangering the public. When I lived in St. Louis, once the riots started to happen the police got tanks and other military equipment from out of state and then never let go of them (massive over-reaction to protestors that were not anywhere near as rough as you saw on TV, but that's what happened).
I think you're right that the drug war was a factor, but I think you're wrong in why it was a factor. It's not some arbitrary distinction between what you deem to be a "victimless" crime, as if there was never such a thing in the 1700s and 1800s. The reason is that it's an arms race. The police always want to be better equipped and trained at dealing with a situation than they people they're up against. If it's unarmed protestors, they want organized formations and tear gas. If it's a drug cartel with assault weapons, the police want tanks and helicopters.
- wbl 7y agoBritish police had no weapons in the 19th century while the population had ready access to firearms.
- yardie 7y agoSo if I have this straight in St Louis when the people are protesting against police brutality, the polices solution is to be more brutal? No kidding it’s an arms race. I’ll even bet they are using kettling to invoke a reaction from protestors. They aren’t passively responding to protestors, they are active antagonizing the public to justify their brutality.
- CompanionCuuube 7y ago> So if I have this straight in St Louis when the people are protesting against police brutality, the polices solution is to be more brutal? No, they brought in that equipment to deal with the riots. If it was just protesting but not rioting then that would be a different story. The tools are a force multiplier which is necessary when you're outnumbered. There are fewer police than rioters.
- thatcat 7y ago>police got tanks and other military equipment from out of state and then never let go of them This is related to the economic dynamics of military surplus and nothing more.
- geggam 7y agoIf you believe that then you havent read history