A submachine gun and other SWAT team weapons were stolen late Thursday or early Friday from an Orange County deputy's vehicle...The agency is offering a $2,500 reward for the return of the weapons...Earlier this year, a burglar stole a .223-caliber AR-15 assault rifle from an Orlando police patrol car. It has not been recovered despite a $1,500 reward.Do I hear $3,000?
With the local paper reporting on it, there's no excuse for not knowing that "gun thefts are.. common" in the area. And, naturally, "[The Only One] was not identified..."
[Via Cousin G]
From: Nick Charles [mailto:nicholascharles@comcast.net]
ReplyDeleteSent: Saturday, November 11, 2006 2:36 PM
To: 'ocsoinfo@ocfl.net'
Subject: FW: Stolen SWAT team weapons
Importance: High
Sheriff Kevin Beary:
Please see my letter below. I want you to know that I support our law enforcement and fire fighting personnel across the country. I do however, have serious doubts about the wisdom behind the militarization of our police forces. I do not believe there is any basis (other than urban myths and free handouts by the federal government) for our police forces to have military weapons.
In my profession, I am intimately familiar, respectful and proficient with firearms of all types – and I must say that I am shocked to find that such super-weapons as the .45-caliber HK Ump 45 submachine gun outfitted with a silencer – (where’s the night vision scope and extra magazines?) have been deployed for use in civilian police work.
This is a dangerous precedent and I would ask that you reconsider your office’s apparent policies.
Respectfully,
Nick Charles
nicholascharles@comcast.net
________________________________________
From: Nick Charles [mailto:nicholascharles@comcast.net]
Sent: Saturday, November 11, 2006 12:11 PM
To: 'hcurtis@orlandosentinel.com'
Subject: Stolen SWAT team weapons
Importance: High
Mr. Curtis,
I am concerned that the most obvious question is not asked in your article (see below). Why is it that the Orange County Police department is in possession of such military weapons in the first place? Do you have any concept of the awesome power of (for instance) a fully automatic .45 caliber sub-machine gun – not to mention WITH A SILENCER? It is absolutely absurd. These kinds of weapons do not have any place in civilian law enforcement – these are military weapons used for search and destroy purposes – not serve and protect. Lest you believe the “urban myths” about police work in the United States, let me refer you to the current FBI statistics (which you can study on line yourself) some of which I have outlined below.
The FBI’s own statistics show that there is literally no statistical evidence that our police forces are being out gunned. Out of the total 50 police deaths by felony gunfire (this excludes the 4 accidental self inflicted officer deaths by gun fire) in the U.S. during 2005, only two were caused by “assault weapon” caliber gunfire. The vast majority of deaths were caused by hand guns of 9mm or less, including .22 caliber. Our police officers (even excluding the types of military weapons discussed in your article) massively out gun the bad guys.
As part of a current academic study, FBI statistics regarding police deaths, and thereby the “riskiness” of being a police officer, were compared to traffic fatality statistics provided by the NHTSA (2004 being the last year with complete figures), please see below:
Traffic Fatalities YE 2004 (Source NHTSA)
Licensed Drivers YE 2004 198,889,000
Fatalities YE 2004 38,444
Percent Fatalities 0.02%
(Source NHTSA)
Police Fatalities YE 2005 (Source FBI)
Death By Felony
Registered Police Officers (Incl Puerco Rico) 561,844
Killed by felony in the line of duty (50 by shooting) 55
Percent Fatalities 0.01%
(Source FBI)
Police Officers death by felony are only one half as likely as is an ordinary citizen dying while driving a vehicle
Death By Accident
Registered Police Officers (Incl Puerco Rico) 561,844
Killed by accidents (mostly travel related accidents) 67
Percent Fatalities 0.01%
(Source FBI)
Death by Felony and Accident Combined
Registered Police Officers (Incl Puerco Rico) 561,844
Killed by accidents and felonies combined 122
Percent Fatalities 0.02%
(Source FBI)
Police Officers deaths are no more likely than that of an ordinary citizen dying while driving a vehicle
So we should be asking ourselves – why is it that the law enforcement departments have turned from their traditional “protect and serve” police functions into paramilitary SWAT teams across the country using unnecessary military super-weapons against the citizenry? How smart is this? Keep in mind that the overwhelming majority of SWAT team usage is to serve ordinary warrants or search warrants - not hostage, etc. situations. Didn’t the founding fathers and congress itself prohibit the use of military forces from being involved in police work (e.g. the Posse Comitatus Act) for obvious reasons? You should look into Radley Balko’s work with the CATO institute regarding the militarization of U.S. police forces and the tragic impacts occurring all over the country every day.
And worse, now we have these super-weapons in the hands of criminals as per your article. BTW given all the SWAT team “pseudo-reality” shows – virtually everybody now knows that the trunks of police cars are routinely filled with military weapons, armor piercing bullets, flash bang grenades, body armor, etc. It is no wonder that such weapons are being stolen with alarming frequency.
And yet the question remains: Why are our police forces being equipped with such weaponry in the first place??? As a member of the free press you would be doing a great service in educating both yourself and your readers about the truths associated with this topic.
Respectfully,
Nick Charles
Mr. Charles, may I copy this post for use of the stats in future?
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