Police Assault Rifles Approved In Marion, Iowa; Department Joins Trend, Will Buy AR-15s For Officers

[k2qb3]

55. ARs are particularly good in this regard.

They're accurate, and because of the light bullet and high velocity they expend energy very rapidly, the bullet comes apart on impact so overpenetration is less of an issue.

IMO it isn't really in question that ARs are the best defensive weapons available, we can argue over whether it's overkill or not but not the defensive utility of the platform.

I share the concern over the militarization of the police force, it's long been my opinion law enforcement should not get any special exemption to whatever the local firearms laws are, for a number of reasons. An LE exemption cedes the defensive utility of the item, LE shouldn't be arresting people for possession of the same defensive tools they employ themselves, and in the case of NFA items, like fully automatic weapons, suppressors, and short barreled rifles/shotguns, there really isn't any legitimate LE utility. Full auto is just plain dangerous to bystanders, LE really doesn't need the ability to kill in secret, and barrel length restrictions are silly to begin with.

From the pro-AWB perspective, which I don't share, the argument is "these weapons are designed to kill large numbers of people really fast, only the police need that ability".

To the extent that gun control measures banning features makes any sense, I'd be a lot more comfortable if they applied to everyone. I own several items with "restricted, LE only" stamps from the '94 ban (which no longer applies) and it's the one thing that irritates me most about that sort of legislation.