The video as a whole I won't comment on but the document they mention by CATO, Overkill, is an outstanding source of info on the subject. I took a moment to look it up since I didn't have it bookmarked, though I read it when it first came out. Don't miss the interactive map with example cases. It is a very real problem with lots of unneeded deaths attributed to it.

http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=6476

but what if al quaeda existed and were using heavily armed school kids to deal drugs, huh? didn't think of THAT did you? it's better to be safe than sorry, eh?

http://www.videosift.com/video/Teachers-stage-fake-gunman-attack-on-sixth-graders

the fuzz what a joke. lets get a tank to enforce jay walking.

The UK and US are slowly being turned into police states, whilst we all sit idly by and watch the whole ugly spectacle unfolding daily on youtube.

If they came for you in the middle of the night, and dragged you away, do you really think your neighbours would even care?

Where are all those assholes who railed me for calling them PIGS?

Guess what? They ain't getting any smarter and we are arming them with bigger (more sophisticated) weapons. Gee...I wonder what's gonna happen? They'll waste your family or friends and just crawl away.

mink...I hope you are very sarchastic or really stoned.

None of that gear is used by everyday patrolling police officers. The military grade gear is for S.W.A.T/Tactical units. Is everybody saying we shouldn't have these units?

If you take the time to read the document linked in the first post it demonstrates the problem well enough and sources plenty of examples. Plenty of cops are getting worried about this stuff too, it's not some simple "use of force" objection. It's a developing trend of using it out of habit or to justify the teams themselves rather than just where needed and in some cases that has cost innocent lives. Even where lives aren't lost they are traumatized.

If you need more info on the subject let me know, it's not like there's a shortage of sources or case examples. A bank robbery, hostage situation, armed suspect barricaded in or others of the sort, fine. As a standard practice for every low level drug bust and other uses of the sort, no. Too many mistakes have happened.

>> ^TheSofaKing:
None of that gear is used by everyday patrolling police officers. The military grade gear is for S.W.A.T/Tactical units. Is everybody saying we shouldn't have these units?


First off, every patrol car is equipped with, what is now called “crowd control” gear, used to be riot gear but that started to tip off the fact that the ones with the gear are the ones that start the riots! So yes, every officer on patrol has upgraded equipment that they shouldn’t have, not to mention all the assault weapons they are given and told what heroes they are for doing what we do every day, without hiding behind a uniform and being armed!

Secondly, NO!@!! We should not have these military forces; they are a violation of the law! Not that they have to obey the law, even when they kick in your door, kill your dog, abuse you and your family, and “OH sorry Mr. and Mrs. Smith, we were supposed to be raiding 75453 west Jefferson rd, this is 75452 north Jefferson rd. our bad, have a nice day.

http://www.swatreform.org/cases.shtml