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These programmes provide useful defensive equipment, such as body armour and helmets. But it is hard to see why Fargo, North Dakota—a city that averages fewer t
by mercurial 13y ago
These programmes provide useful defensive equipment, such as body armour and helmets. But it is hard to see why Fargo, North Dakota—a city that averages fewer than two murders a year—needs an armoured personnel-carrier with a rotating turret. Keene, a small town in New Hampshire which had three homicides between 1999 and 2012, spent nearly $286,000 on an armoured personnel-carrier known as a BearCat. The local police chief said it would be used to patrol Keene’s “Pumpkin Festival and other dangerous situations”. A Reason-Rupe poll found that 58% of Americans think the use of drones, military weapons and armoured vehicles by the police has gone “too far”.
Oddly enough, I was under the impression that a large part of the American population protested loudly whenever their tax dollars are spent for "useless" reasons. Do the complaints only apply when it's the Federal government doing it?
- Sharlin 13y agoSadly, I guess there's a large subset of people who think investing in more "security" is never useless.
- maxerickson 13y agoThat was the federal government doing it: http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120326/NEWS07/703269971 http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120326/NEWS07/703269971 http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/12/20/local-cops-ready-for-war-with-homeland-security-funded-military-weapons.html http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/12/20/local-cops-... (Each article discusses a grant from the Department of Homeland Security being used to purchase a vehicle) Which is probably part of the problem, an average citizen can't do much more than whine to their Congressperson about this sort of spending.
- mercurial 13y agoIt's more complicated than that. First off, local councils take the decision to buy these toys with Federal money, so there is irresponsibility on both sides, but they also do it on their own: Nashua police purchased a BearCat with drug forfeiture money in 2003. (from your second link)
- mason240 13y ago>$286,000 on an armoured personnel-carrier known as a BearCat. Or the town could have about 4.5 more teachers. I think the only way we will ever stop this madness is to put into clear terms what we are giving up. Sure, the tank thing might make the town "safer," but is it is really worth cutting 4.5 teachers at YOUR kids school to pay for it?
- bluedino 13y ago4 teachers for one year. They're not buying one of these things EVERY year.
- SapphireSun 13y agoOr one teacher for four years.... For instance, an education in a foreign language or computer science for dozens or hundreds of people depending on how time is spent. If criminals have and use high powered weapons the cops need that capability, but if that situation isn't realistic, well look what you're giving up.