National cop union says they need bayonets and grenade launchers to keep cops safe.

[geek tragedy]

Add another one to the list of "why I support every union but law enforcement unions."

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/white-house-limiting-military-equipment-for-police-118041.html#ixzz3aWNhNcQm

CAMDEN, N.J. - The nation’s largest police union is fighting back against a White House plan to restrict local police forces’ ability to acquire military-style gear, accusing President Barack Obama’s task force of politicizing officers’ safety.

The White House on Monday announced that bayonets, weaponized vehicles and grenade launchers will no longer be available to local police and that other equipment such as riot gear and other types of armored vehicles would be subject to a more onerous approval process.
...

James Pasco, executive director of the Fraternal Order of Police, told POLITICO on Monday that he hopes to have a White House meeting as soon as Tuesday to discuss his concerns about how the plans could put cops at risk.

“The FOP is the most aggressive law enforcement advocacy group in Washington, and we will be at our most aggressive in asserting the need for officer safety and officer rights in any police changes that are to be effected,” Pasco said.

[Electric Monk]

1. Their argument, like that of most gun nuts, boils down to "I want it because I want it".

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12628334

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

3. Yes, it is, but we have the constitution that says they can have it, in the confines of a well

regulated


you said it

militia

[hack89]

6. The courts, the president and the Democratic Party say otherwise

the 2A protects an individual right.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

2. And I am the crazy one who says cops wont even need guns if we enforce the 2nd properly

You see the escalation will never stop if you dont stop it all at the source.

We have the law, it is called the 2nd amendment

no guns, period, outside of a well regulated militia

period

[arcane1]

4. Won't someone please think more of officer rights

[lpbk2713]

5. And they don't see the essential problem here?

They have drawn a line in the sand. THEY have made it them vs everyone else.

[bluestateguy]

7. You accept a certain level of risk when you decide to be a police officer

Nobody forced them to be cops. They chose it. I don't want any cop to be hurt in the line of duty, but I am not giving up my constitutional freedoms because some cops don't feel safe with their military toys. When the lines of civilian policing and military actions are blurred, freedom is endangered for all.

As for their White House meeting, good luck with that. They failed to endorse Obama in 2008 and 2012, so the FOP can take a number and have a seat.

[hunter]

9. If any cop needs those sorts of things to keep safe they should stay at home.

The most talented cops know how to deescalate a tense situation.

Any fool can make a tense situation much, much worse with a bigger body count when they've got the bigger gun,