[Rich Z]

Police Departments Stocking Up On AR-15 Rifles

(EXCERPT) Firearm Instructors Say Weapon Is Best Choice

POSTED: 11:38 a.m. EST October 27, 2003

DANBURY, Conn. -- Saying that they need to be better prepared, several
local police departments in Connecticut are turning to AR-15 assault
rifles as their emergency weapons of choice.

Officers in Bethel and Ridgefield are already carrying the weapons,
known as the civilian version of the military's M-16. Danbury is
expecting 30 AR-15s to arrive within the next two months, The
News-Times of Danbury reported.

With the atmosphere of world terrorism and school violence, it's
important to have a tool available, said Ridgefield Capt. Michael
Casey, one of the department's firearms instructors. Ridgefield bought
two of the rifles this month. Casey said that his fellow officers are
unlikely to grab an AR-15 for everyday police calls, but one never
knows what the future holds.

"It only takes one incident to have a disaster, and you have to have a
plan," said Casey, adding that the department hasn't yet had to use
one of the weapons. "I hope we never will."

Danbury police are replacing shotguns that officers carry in their
cruisers with AR-15s, which cost about $750 each. The department plans
to buy 30 of them through a military surplus program. Danbury Capt.
Arthur Sullo said that the new rifles will be used onl...

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http://www.nbc30.com/news/2584193/detail.html

 

[dthomas]

My department started issuing those about three years ago. They are not in every car but there is as atleast one per squad. Cost is the main factor. Every year we are slowly adding more. We went from Remington 870's to Ruger Carbine's in .40 S&W to now the AR-15's.

 

[CAV]

I've seen a few of our state troopers that have what appears to be an M14-like rifle in the trunk.

 

[tasco 74]

does anyone still think that every able bodied person in the U.S. shouldn't be trained to use an assult weapon of some sort? we all should have access to an ar 15 or m1 or m 14 type rifle to help protect our own. if you think the cops are going to protect all of us you are dreaming. opinions please..........



THE 2ND AMENDMENT PROTECTS US ALL.......

 

[Guest]

Yes I agree my friend. When "you know what" hits the fan, the
police are going to have thier hands full and we had better have
some tools of defense for our own. Beyond our .357's, 9mm's
and 1911's.

 

[Rich Z]

Meet up at my place. I have three (3) .50 BMG rifles and can't shoot them all at the same time. Well, I guess I could, but I don't think it would be very pleasant... One thing or another I would have to use to pull the tigger would likely get damaged.

 

[tasco 74]

good plan rich...... point me in the right direction.... i love shooting .50 bmg caliber rifles...... wish i had one of my own.




THE 2ND AMENDMENT PROTECTS US ALL...............

 

[John in AR]

...Danbury police are replacing shotguns that officers carry in their cruisers with AR-15s, which cost about $750 each. The department plans to buy 30 of them through a military surplus program...

M16's thru a milsurp program, I can see; but military surplus AR-15's...? Gotta be either a typo, or reporter carelessness.


Anyway, I myself switched about three years ago. I used to carry my (personally-owned) Mossberg 500 on duty, but after thinking it through, I switched to my (also personally-owned) CAR-15. The shotgun has a great "intimidation factor", but when it came right down to it, the only thing we use a long gun for out here is animals. Usually feral dogs, occasionally a downed (car-struck) animal. The shotgun is just too "random" for me to be comfortable with. The carbine gives me "one shot, one projectile" control, which I much prefer. It can also reach the wild dog that won't let you get within shotgun range.

IMO, about the only shoulder gun that's more versatile than the AR-15, is the more-compact CAR-15 (or M-4) version. Effective out to a further range than most anyone has reason to use it, basically zero recoil, and the short version is much more "car friendly" than the full-size gun. Mine rides between the front seats at night; a full-size AR would be much more cumbersome and awkward in a vehicle.

Lastly, (and surprisingly to me, in this rural of a setting), we've had two hostage situations already this year in one town in my jurisdiction. Both were resolved without shots fired by LE, but the carbine gives options the shotgun just can't offer in those situations.

Even looking at it from the perspective of someone calling the cops, rather than the perspective "of" the cops. Whether the cop's eliminating feral dogs in my pasture (with my cattle & horses out there as well), or trying to rescue my wife who's being held in a gas station robbery gone bad, the carbine usually makes more sense, and offers more options, than a shotgun.

Putting myself in the position of the "customer", if I were a hostage, I'd MUCH rather the cops carried carbines than shotguns.

 

[andy]

guys saying other rifles make more sense

are just ignorant of the FACTS, man. The ones on the Net come up with the SILLIEST crap as to why it's better to have something else.

 

[Guest]

I used to live in San Bernadino county which is only slightly smaller than the state of Indiana. The county troopers carried classIII, and much ammo, as a meth lab in a gold mine could ruin your patrol day with backup up to 4hrs away depending on where you are. Most of the population lives in tyhe urban areas, but the people who live out of town do not respond well to being intruded upon, and a good long arm cam become essential. However, but I do remember a big shift towards 7.62X39, or H&K products, as the officers had to supply their own arms.