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Jeremy Bender reports that eight different law enforcement agencies in Indiana have purchased massive Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles (MRAPs) that were formerly used in Iraq and Afghanistan. The MRAP is a bulletproof, 60,000-pound, six-wheeled behemoth with heavy armor, a gunner's turret and the word "SHERIFF" emblazoned on its flank.
Pulaski County, home to 13,124 people, is one of the counties that have purchased an MRAP from military surplus. When asked to justify the purchase of a former military vehicle, Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer told the Indy Star:
"The United States of America has become a war zone. There's violence in the workplace, there's violence in schools and there's violence in the streets. You are seeing police departments going to a semi-military format because of the threats we have to counteract. If driving a military vehicle is going to protect officers, then that's what I'm going to do."
(Score: 2) by pbnjoe on Wednesday June 11 2014, @09:02PM
It's a dangerous world full of violence and terror. You had best stay in your homes and let the police keep you safe, lest your public actions be mistaken for violence and you hear a MRAP-rap-rap on your door (or body, if you're caught in the act).
Ok, so I'm joking around, but what state of mind do you have to be in to think that the violence rate is that high? Like others have said, it's not even close enough to require what's essentially municipal military. Either delusion or a grasp at control, methinks. Most likely former.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by mhajicek on Wednesday June 11 2014, @10:20PM
As the frequency of violent acts declines, each act is perceived as more shocking and severe. This leads to emotional overreaction.
The spacelike surfaces of time foliations can have a cusp at the surface of discontinuity. - P. Hajicek
(Score: 3, Insightful) by dry on Thursday June 12 2014, @06:17AM
The media and some "tough on crime" politicians totally fixate on the violent act and pretty quick it seems like there is way more then there really is as the message is repeated over and over.