Militarization of Police Continues Apace. Dallas County PD Gets $600K Military Tank

[TalkingDog]

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/dallas-county-police-department-gets-600000-military-tank-free-video#

A military tank that was built to withstand ballistic arms fire, mine blasts, IEDs, and other emerging threats is now property of the Dallas, Texas, County Sheriff’s Department.

The Department of Defense was had no use for the vehicles and has given them to local police departments instead of letting them collect dust in warehouses.

Dallas County sheriff's deputies reportedly traveled to Fort Hood earlier this month to pick up their very own International MaxxPro MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected). This particular truck has never seen any actual combat, having only been deployed stateside for training exercises, according to the Dallas Observer.

snip

"Having a tactical vehicle will not only provide warrants execution with the equipment to assist in performing their jobs but will provide an overall safety arch," Chief Deputy Marlin Suell wrote to commissioners.

[WovenGems]

1. Hmmm

Bet I could take it out with about ten bucks worth of easy to get stuff. High tech is best handled with low tech. And I'll just bet the local gangs figure out that low tech trick.
And, no, I'm not telling. Get to know a combat engineer and he just may teach you.

[cynatnite]

2. I'm trying to think of what situation this would be called for...

Nothing comes to mind.

Maybe I just don't have the imagination.

[arcane1]

3. "This particular truck has never seen any actual combat"

I wonder how much money we wasted on these damned things.

[Comrade Grumpy]

6. Well, we're destroying $7 billion worth of them in Afghanistan.

That could have bought a few school lunches or new bridges or something useful.

[Hayabusa]

4. Armored car, not a tank.

Sorry, those kinds of things bug me.

[JHB]

7. More of a truck, from the video, and armoring isn't clear for some configurations

In some ways an actual tank might be preferable, just because it would be such a pain in the neck (and money sink) to maintain that it would lose its shine pretty quick. There's a reason only armies use them.

[TalkingDog]

10. Don't be sorry. I'm not offended. I just used the headline from the article.

No skin off my nose.

[intaglio]

5. This - is - not - a - tank. Please amend your headline

It is equivalent to an armoured personnel carrier, still unnecessary because the mine protection but still not a "tank"

[TalkingDog]

9. Using the headline from the article. Please amend your reading habits and attitude.

Take it up with the author if you can't manage to unclench your fundament.

[intaglio]

11. This is GD not LBN

you do not need to use the headline.

False claims like this merely undermine your case.

[pinboy3niner]

8. "Warrants execution"?

"Knock-knock. Open up--or else."

Actually, our increasingly-militarized PDs seem to use these kinds of military vehicles more to intimidate political protesters than anything else. We've seen them staged routinely at Occupy protests during the last couple of years.


L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. armored vehicle deployed at Occupy L.A. MayDay protest at Pershing Square, May 1, 2012.