Little Pennsylvania communities get big weapons from U.S. military surplus

[yortsed snacilbuper]

Center Township's MRAP vehicle.

Center Township police Chief Barry Kramer guards a 15-square-mile swath that is home to roughly 12,000 people, 300 businesses, six hotels and two college campuses.

Since May they have had a new tool: a 48,000-pound mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicle that comes from the military, literally battle-tested under fire and complete with bullet holes and shrapnel damage.

“I hope I never need it,” Chief Kramer said.

link

[Rhythm]

1. As has been demonstrated in other jurisdictions...

You give the cops these kinds of 'toys', eventually they're going to want to play with them...

[nc4bo]

2. What in the world would Chiefy need it in the first place?

Where's the war Bubba? Who is this enemy that requires military grade equipment?

At this point, it doesn't matter if our government reverses the practice, none of this wartime equipment will ever be returned.

Fuckers - on both ends.

[avebury]

3. That is totally insane.

It is becoming clearer every day that the MIC is targeting US communities as the next target if they cannot sell their products for use in military actions overseas. The American people are their next intended targets.

[JHB]

4. Say, Chief, how much does it cost to run one of those things per year?

Odds are the cost of maintaining it should loom larger in your mind than whether you might "need it". The latter is unlikely, but the former is a certainty.

Fitting color scheme for a white elephant, though.