ABC "news report" on the new firearms escalation between local PD's and criminals

[lacoochee]

Arg, just caught the tail end of what had t be one of the most biased pieces of news I have ever seen. They claimed Clinton sensibly banned semi-autos in 1994 but the Republicans let them back out on the streets. They then claimed that the Republicans made it illegal to track firearms data related to assault weapons usage in crime so no one knows the "real story". Then to top it off it they claimed incidence of use of assault weapons is on the rise by citing a completely anecdotal report that 10 "assault weapons" were confiscated in 2006 and 50 this year in Miami.



I will look for a link to a transcript of this piece of tripe.

http://abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=3919547

Video:

http://abcnews.go.com/search?searchtext=assault%20weapons&type=


Actual article:

Nov. 27, 2007
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The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department is building up an arsenal of bigger weapons. Handguns and shotguns are no longer enough, and officers are being equipped with semiautomatic assault rifles instead.
Video
Dangerous Lives of Police Officers

Cpl. Paul Rubino of the sheriff's department had a matter-of-fact explanation for the upgrade, "All I know is that we should have the same firepower as the bad guys."

Watch Jeffrey Kofman's full report tonight on "World News With Charles Gibson" at 6:30 ET. This is part two of the two-part series "Officer Down."

His explanation is justified by multiple incidents. In September, a suspect wielding an AK-47 fired on Miami-Dade County police officers, killing one and injuring three. This month, a West Palm Beach gang member fired an AK-47, killing an 8-month-old baby.

Police departments from Danbury, Conn., to Dallas to Portland report that they are encountering more assault weapons and are arming their officers accordingly.

This surge of deaths stemming from semiautomatic assault weapons seems unnecessary. In 1994, President Clinton signed a law banning the sale of these weapons. But in 2004, President Bush and Congress allowed that ban to expire. Since then, Congress has made it illegal to keep nationwide statistics data on crimes committed with assault weapons.

But the city of Miami has its own data, which shows that last year, the police department seized 10 assault rifles. So far this year, it has seized 50.

Miami police Chief John Timoney said, "There's a need for Congress to step in here and pass some reasonable legislation that reduces the availability of these weapons in the hands of people who shouldn't have them."

Until that happens, the arms race between the criminals and the police will continue.

 

[DKSuddeth]

Cpl. Paul Rubino of the sheriff's department had a matter-of-fact explanation for the upgrade, "All I know is that we should have the same firepower as the bad guys."

I agree, so where's my M4?

 

[Outlaws]

I agree, so where's my M4?

I don't think you understand, you are not a LEO, you are the bad guy.

 

[Leanwolf]

I don't see why you think you'd get anything other than lies, half lies, and left wing propaganda from the American Bolshevik Corporation. They're only continuing a many years tradition of hating the U.S. Constitution and crusading for its destruction.

L.W.

 

[lacoochee]

I think what bothered me the most was there wasn't even a pretense of trying to present the facts. I mean I get coloring the facts with prose to slant opinion one way or the other, but flat out lying just floors me. No wonder they are losing this debate.

 

[Caimlas]

My guess: in 2006, someone had their cheap safe walk off on them, and it was recovered. In 2007 - this year alone - there were two 25 gun safes which walked off without their owner.

 

[Prince Yamato]

The Clinton ban had no affect on criminal possession of these weapons. So why did they even bring it up? That video was like a trip back to 1994.

 

[Pilgrim]

Miami police Chief John Timoney said, "There's a need for Congress to step in here and pass some reasonable legislation that reduces the availability of these weapons in the hands of people who shouldn't have them."

The problem comes in defining "people who shouldn't have them".

Pilgrim

 

[Robert Hairless]

The Clinton ban had no affect on criminal possession of these weapons. So why did they even bring it up? That video was like a trip back to 1994.

Could it be that the media is recasting the Clinton presidency as the new Camelot because Hillary Clinton is running?

 

[Diggers]

I saw that on TV tonight too.

I found the last part interesting when the cops some thing to the effect of "Here is the BGs weapon" and fires 2 or 3 rounds form a tricked out AK. Then says" here is the police weapon " Cop fires 3 rounds from an M4.

Why is the AK a BGs weapon in this situation?

Heck I was thinking they should keep the AK, It could sit around and go for car rides for years getting dirty and dusty and would still fire if they ever needed it.

 

[Geronimo45]

Why is the AK a BGs weapon in this situation?

Because it's cheap. Criminals don't seem to care much for their weapons - they are a cost of business, and they like to keep costs down as low as possible, so as to use the money on things they care more about - females, cars, liquor, drugs...

I think the AK'd be a great weapon for more rural PDs who might need to take out larger critters... but the bad PR makes it an unlikely thing. You know, cops with 'terrorist guns' as somebody would be sure to say in any lawsuit.

 

[10 Ring Tao]

I also caught this typical hatchet job, and scared those in the room when I slapped my hands on the table in frustration.

 

[Roswell 1847]

a completely anecdotal report that 10 "assault weapons" were confiscated in 2006 and 50 this year in Miami.

Heck last time I was in Miami in the late seventies they had just busted a smuggling ring with 16,000 Mauser bolt actions headed for some South American pesthole.

Also I can remember a similar bust about seven years ago with several freight containers full of contraband AK 47 rifles. Not semi auto either.

Remember how they busted the staff of NORINCO for trying to sell AKs to California Drug Posses?

Gangsters don't have to buy guns from Walmart, and they don't need any sort of paper work or background check.

I can remember the days when Mexicans brought family heirloom guns with them across the border to sell . Probably half the Mexican Mausers around back then were brought over by recent Mexican Army deserters.

BTW
When did Clinton stop the sale of Semi Automatic weapons?
I've never seen the day when a semi auto was not available in any large discount store in this state.
They must have meant the silly ban on magazines with over ten round capacity.

PS
In my town we averaged one murder per year. One year we had three murders and the local paper ran the headline, murder rate up 300%.

 

[MAKOwner]

Whats even worse is the AWB had no real effect on semi auto weapons available to the public other than cosmetic changes. It didn't even effectively really put a dent in the availability of over 10 rnd mags. Just makes the story and the knee jerk reaction to the expiration of the AWB all the more ridiculous.

It would be refreshing to have some decent coverage on the total BS that was the AWB...

 

[Prince Yamato]

I'm actually kind of pissed that we're blowing tax-payer dollars on AR-15s for the police. Honestly, they're not going to use them to the extent that the media claims. In fact, like another poster mentioned, I think they would be better served by an AK. Also, I don't trust Joe Cop to take a long range shot with an AR. If you're not going to take shots over 100 yards, what's the difference between the AR and the AK? Room sweeps in a house? If one guy is using a shotgun, why give the rest ARs... clearly accuracy of shots isn't paramount given that one guy's got a gun that's going to scatter shoot.

 

[Hank Zudd]

just typical;;

it's the finger, not the trigger that does the killin'; look a the latest news from France-thugs rioting around the country now are using registered shotguns, probably stolen, against the police. These thugs are mostly forgein born, unemployed yutes that are pissed the goverment is cutting their handouts for not working.
Even though you could point out the stricter gun control in that country is not working, the bigger point is to show who is using the stolen guns and why. That situation is ripe for a UN total gun ban being pushed, first there then here. Just sad that ammo is almost priced out of reach, restrictive laws in some states have us fighting just to carry for self defense, and now more fodder for the fire to take away our guns to support someone elses agenda; believe me, it's not about keeping guns out of crimes; if it was, why are there so many evil perps not being rounded up. Back to rocks & clubs next,,,,

 

[buzz_knox]

The gun banners and their media cohorts are trying to gear up for a new AWB. Since officer safety has been a successful rallying cry for various laws and court decisions, they figure it will help secure a new AWB.

When I saw this series, I wondered how long it would be before the reason behind it was shown. I doubt there would be a week long series on officer deaths unless there was a desire to link it all to a call to action on firearms.

 

[kludge]

yup, just greasing the slides.