Militarization of local cops includes thousands of bayonets

[green73]

Through the 1033 program, the federal government has geared America's local police departments with military-grade equipment — ranging from airplanes to bayonets — worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

NPR combed through the transaction data for the program to find out where the equipment went and what kind of gear was involved. Since 2006, the Pentagon distributed more than 79,000 assault rifles, 205 grenade launchers, nearly 12,000 bayonets, nearly 4,000 combat knives, 50 airplanes, 479 bomb detonator robots, and much more to America's local cops.

cont.
http://www.vox.com/2014/9/3/6101895/...administration

[RJB]

Bayonets!?!?! WTF!?!? To be honest this is more troubling than armored cars. They can claim the vehicles are needed for defense, but the offensive nature of bayonets used in warfare inexcusable in a policing situation.

[tod evans]

Bayonets!?!?! WTF!?!? To be honest this is more troubling than armored cars. They can claim the vehicles are needed for defense, but the offensive nature of bayonets used in warfare inexcusable in a policing situation.

I've got a K-Bar from my service days and the thought of roided out kops on the streets with M-16's sporting K-Bar's is scary!

The vast majority of kops aren't qualified to handle BB guns responsibly let alone a weapon with powder and a knife...

[tangent4ronpaul]

Bayonets! - WTF???

I used to shave w/ a gerber, but this... NO!

-t

[jmdrake]

The really scary thing about this is that most of the military equipment is going to rural police forces where crime is low. What are they gearing up for? Who are they gearing up for?

[tod evans]

The really scary thing about this is that most of the military equipment is going to rural police forces where crime is low. What are they gearing up for? Who are they gearing up for?

My bet is once TSHTF and the cities crumble these weapons will be used in concentric circles to keep the inhabitants within their confines...

Many of us have been advising city dwellers to get out for years.....

[CaptUSA]

First, they hit the crowds with these: http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...t-Pepper-Spray

Then, they follow up with the bayonets, probably hooked up to their tasers for extra fun.

What we all really need to be worried about is when they start stocking up on street cleaners to remove the mess. Then, you'll know it won't be long.

[tod evans]

First, they hit the crowds with these: http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...t-Pepper-Spray

Then, they follow up with the bayonets, probably hooked up to their tasers for extra fun.

What we all really need to be worried about is when they start stocking up on street cleaners to remove the mess. Then, you'll know it won't be long.

[Ronin Truth]

Never bring a knife to a gunfight.

[FindLiberty]

[Ronin Truth]

It's Vlad the Impaler! Dinner is served.

[Origanalist]

I feel safer.

[tangent4ronpaul]

The really scary thing about this is that most of the military equipment is going to rural police forces where crime is low. What are they gearing up for? Who are they gearing up for?

ok, THAT IS SERIOUSLY SCARY...

-T

[Philhelm]

Bayonets will only work on slaves, not against people who have decided enough is enough.

[fisharmor]

Bayonets will only work on slaves, not against people who have decided enough is enough.

Since WWI bayonets have never been intended to "work" on opponents.
The primary purpose of them for the last 100 years has been in training soldiers to be merciless. Having recruits stab dummies as part of their training helps them to dehumanize their future opponent and steel their nerves for what they're about to undertake.

Or, at least that's the story for why they were still issued in WWI. 100 years later, with more advanced and reliable firearms, I can't imagine the bayonet has assumed a more prominent role, so I'm left with the assumption that they'll be used in some sort of fidelity training.

[navy-vet]

I've got a K-Bar from my service days and the thought of roided out kops on the streets with M-16's sporting K-Bar's is scary!

The vast majority of kops aren't qualified to handle BB guns responsibly let alone a weapon with powder and a knife...

I love my K-bar, always have. Whenever in the woods it's always on me. Best blade they ever made IMO. Gives me the creeps thinking about getting stuck with it though ughhh Didn't know it could be used as a bayonet.

[navy-vet]

Perhaps my Ka-bar, is different than the bayonet type some posters here seem to be referring to. Mine is of Nam vintage, Camillus Cutery, issued as a USMC utility and fighting knife. It has a full tang which is something I prefer in a blade for it's strength and weight, grade a 1095 chrome-vanadiumsteel, a durable stacked leather washer handle, and a heavy duty leather snap holster with thigh strap. There is no lug for mounting to a rifle.
Interestingly, the knife was first introduced in 1942 and the name Ka-Bar is according to factory lore, "Kill-a-bear".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ka-Bar

[Uriel999]

bayonets are used to finish off the enemy laying on the ground wounded.

[navy-vet]

bayonets are used to finish off the enemy laying on the ground wounded.

and training...
http://www.stripes.com/blogs/the-rum...ining-1.137356

[navy-vet]

oops, sorry green, didn't mean to steal your thread here.

[XNavyNuke]

Though this would normally go in the Liberty History section, we are coming up on the anniversary of the Battle of Paoli, Sept 20 1777. A successful all-bayonet ambush by the British on colonial forces.

http://totallyhistory.com/battle-of-paoli/

. The British Ambush
Meanwhile, Major General Grey took steps not to alert the Americans and removed the flints from his men’s muskets. The British forced a local blacksmith to act as a guide and launched a surprise attack on Wayne’s camp. They stormed in and with extremely light casualties of four dead and seven wounded, routed an entire American division leaving American casualties numbering 272 men killed, wounded, or missing. Seventy-one prisoners were taken, but forty of them were so badly wounded they were left in nearby houses.

XNN

[Brian4Liberty]

Bayonets!?!?! WTF!?!? To be honest this is more troubling than armored cars. They can claim the vehicles are needed for defense, but the offensive nature of bayonets used in warfare inexcusable in a policing situation.

They will work wonders when herding or scattering the nonviolent protesters.

[Mach]

It's not the weapons that are the threat, it is the training (brainwashing) and militarization of their brains.... weapons don't kill people, people kill people.

[devil21]

Is it just me or does the third dude from the left look like Ron?

eta: Edward G. Robinson

It's not the weapons that are the threat, it is the training (brainwashing) and militarization of their brains.... weapons don't kill people, people kill people.

Truth.

[PaulConventionWV]

bayonets are used to finish off the enemy laying on the ground wounded.

Or in clashes of enemy lines. Riot control lines, perhaps?

[idiom]

What short memories we have...

[navy-vet]

Here's an interesting tidbit about the use of the bayonet by troops whose ancestors stuck a bunch of ours.
The U.S. Marine Corps still trains riflemen on how to use the bayonet, as does Britain. In fact, British troops were the last troops to actually use a bayonet charge in combat. This happened in 2004, when a patrol of 20 British troops in Basra, Iraq were ambushed by about a hundred Iraqi Shia militiamen. Help was still on the way when the commander of the British troops realized they were running out of ammo and the Iraqi gunmen were moving closer. So he ordered his troops to fix bayonets and charge. That thoroughly demoralized the Iraqis who, after some close combat with the British (Scots, actually) left 35 of them dead, all ran away. Some of the British troops were wounded but all survived. This, however, was one of the very few such incidents of bayonet use in the last decade. The problem is that Western troops tend to be well trained marksmen and Iraq or Afghan gunmen have learned not to get too close. So opportunities for launching a bayonet charge are increasingly rare.

https://www.strategypage.com/dls/articles/The-Spirit-Of-The-Bayonet-Lives-On-4-8-2013.asp

[CaptUSA]

The problem is that Western troops tend to be well trained marksmen and Iraq or Afghan gunmen have learned not to get too close. So opportunities for launching a bayonet charge are increasingly rare.

Sounds like quite a problem. Oh well, that will be solved when police are using them on civilians - we haven't learned those lessons. Yet.

[navy-vet]

Here's an interesting tidbit about the use of the bayonet by troops whose ancestors stuck a bunch of ours.
The U.S. Marine Corps still trains riflemen on how to use the bayonet, as does Britain. In fact, British troops were the last troops to actually use a bayonet charge in combat. This happened in 2004, when a patrol of 20 British troops in Basra, Iraq were ambushed by about a hundred Iraqi Shia militiamen. Help was still on the way when the commander of the British troops realized they were running out of ammo and the Iraqi gunmen were moving closer. So he ordered his troops to fix bayonets and charge. That thoroughly demoralized the Iraqis who, after some close combat with the British (Scots, actually) left 35 of them dead, all ran away. Some of the British troops were wounded but all survived. This, however, was one of the very few such incidents of bayonet use in the last decade. The problem is that Western troops tend to be well trained marksmen and Iraq or Afghan gunmen have learned not to get too close. So opportunities for launching a bayonet charge are increasingly rare.

https://www.strategypage.com/dls/articles/The-Spirit-Of-The-Bayonet-Lives-On-4-8-2013.asp

And if you read the article the use of the bayonet in civilian authority is clear:
But why do infantry continue to carry a bayonet? To a certain extent carrying a bayonet is tradition, even in the army. But there are practical reasons as well. A lot of time is spent out in the field and a knife is useful for cutting stuff. But perhaps the most effective military use is intimidation during efforts to calm down rioting civilians. This is nothing new, the fearsome effect of a bunch of guys advancing with bayonets on the end of their rifles has been known for centuries. It's also a morale boost for the lads using the bayonets. When you hear the order "fix bayonets" (put them on the end of your rifle) you feel that it is do-or-die time, even if it isn’t. Unfortunately that order is rarely given anymore. In the army the troops prefer to carry a hunting knife or multitool and most units never let the bayonets leave the arms room.
The most common "combat" use of bayonets is for crowd control. In fact, this is about the only "bayonet training" most troops get anymore. The bayonet is used somewhat differently in these situations. For one thing, the troops don't just rush at the crowd carrying their bayonet tipped rifles. They march forward, neatly lined up, with the rifles held so that the crowd sees a line of bayonets coming at them. The troops do this while marching in step and are trained to bring their right feet down as heavily as possible. The sight of the advancing troops, the bayonets, and the rhythmic thud of boots striking the ground usually causes the crowd to scatter.

[navy-vet]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ganGFBeuE8