Answers: Military Weapons

Do Iowa law enforcement agencies need 'military-grade” weaponry?

At least 13 Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles are in the hands of law enforcement across Iowa, and untold numbers of officers and deputies have access to handheld, military-grade weaponry. Do Iowa law enforcement agencies need 'military-grade” weapons at their everyday disposal? Should the public have more input or oversight into the types of military surplus brought into Iowa communities?

FROM OUR INBOX

Johnson County has a pressing need for its Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) military vehicle. Minefields and roadside bombs are a hazard Johnson County Sheriff's deputies face every single day here. Like other residents, I just asserted my 2nd Amendment rights by mining my lawn.

Jeff K.

Coralville

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First of all perhaps you can tell me how an MRAP is considered military weaponry? Wouldn't it be more accurate to call it military equipment? An MRAP has no offensive capability. Are you listening? NO GUNS. NO METHOD OF SHOOTING PROJECTILES. Are you slanting it in a negative light by not being accurate in the description? Why not call it Law Enforcement safety device? That is much closer than weaponry. All you are doing by calling it weaponry is trying to stoke the fires of people that might be on edge because of what happened in St. Louis. In fact MRAP's were not even used down there. They were using Bearcat's which are available commercially and cost about a quarter million dollars.

Lonny P.

Iowa City

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I do not believe they need or should have military-grade equipment. If situations occur that require that kind of force, call in the National Guard.

Joe M.

Swisher

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Do Iowa law enforcement agencies need 'military-grade” weaponry? No. I can think of many reasons but I'll just contribute one, public perception. The police should be seen as part of our community; community servants, peace officers, friendly faces. Military generally has a different agenda, that of inducing fear or forced authority, and their equipment is designed accordingly. The trend in police appearance and now this trend of acquiring military equipment/vehicles risks their long-held, honorable relationship with the community.

Eric B.

Cedar Rapids

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People are getting too hung up on the designation 'Military Grade Weapons.” As the bad guys get more and more weapons, the police need the proper tools to deal with them. I'm guessing that victims pinned down by an active shooter would love to see the police rolling up in an MRAP and using it as a shield to get them out.

As far as the police having 'Military Rifles,” the M16 is just the military version of the very available AR-15. Yes, the M16 has the capability to fire 3 round bursts and go full auto, but in most situations, this wouldn't be used anyway. Providing these weapons for free to departments that can't afford them is a good thing. I'm guessing that the unbelievably outgunned L.A.P.D. officers in the Bank of America shootout a few years back would have really welcomed the fire power to meet the threat they faced

I'm getting really tired of Ferguson being held up as the model for taken proper tools away from the police. Do we really expect police officers to wade into a crowd of angry protesters, many of them armed gang members simply taking advantage of the situation, with only a side arm and a Taser? Our police like any other worker have the right to be protected with proper safety gear on the job. Unfortunately, as the bad guys get more advanced weapons, the police will have to have the proper gear to protect themselves

Steve G.

Marion

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FROM FACEBOOK

' Rod B.: The issue as I see it is not what equipment a police department has, but how and why they are using it.

' Todd V.: None of these vehicles have any sort of offensive weapon capability. They are an all-terrain, armored vehicle that law enforcement can use in multiple high-risk situations. For example - in an active shooter situation - these vehicles can be used to evacuate innocent civilians out of an area safely or to protect law enforcement officers that are responding. Second, virtually every piece of equipment that are standard equipment for law enforcement today got its start as military equipment. As times change, the needs of law enforcement changes as well. Gone are the days when a police officer was only equipped with a six-shot revolver and a pair of handcuffs.

' Wayne J.: Intimidation is a great method of overcoming a defensive assailant without collateral damage. And when it is needed it's better to have much then not enough.