WTF is going on down in SC?

[shinner 0]

And people question why I might want (or need) a .50 cal rifle!

Leon Lott's Big Toy

Richland County, South Carolina Sheriff Leon Lott planning to pursue charges against Michael Phelps...This is the same Sheriff from here in the Citings section of Reason Mag.

In March the sheriff and SWAT team of Richland County, South Carolina, posed for a photo with an impressive new piece of equipment: an M113A1 armored personnel carrier. The vehicle, which moves on tank-like tracks, features a belt-fed, turreted machine gun that fires .50-caliber rounds.

The sheriff, Leon Lott, obtained the $300,000 vehicle through the 1033 program, named for a 1997 federal law streamlining the Defense Department's transfer of surplus military equipment to local police departments.

Charles Earl Barnett, a U.S. Marines veteran and retired police major who has served on several United Nations and NATO military and peacekeeping missions, says a .50-caliber machine gun is "completely inappropriate" for domestic police work. It "causes mass death and destruction," Barnett says. "It's indiscriminate. I can't think of a possible scenario where it would be appropriate."

Sheriff Lott has named his new acquisition The Peacemaker, explaining in a press release that the name is fitting because "the bible refers to law enforcement in Matthew 5:9 'Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.' "

Let's just hope God helps the next kid who lights up at a University of South Carolina frat party.

[natty 555]

I could see a use for that in day to day police work.

[Davidson Deac II 4,173]

They sell quite a few of these for law enforcement, and they take the machine gun off.

[pstall 5,756]

People roll differently down in SC shinner.

Ask Phelps that.

They still allow fireworks and no motorcycle helmets. I love me some Palmetto State.

[Mr. Scot 34,290]

All this has happened since I moved down here.

(I swear it's not my fault; I haven't even had a traffic ticket)

[shinner 0]

They sell quite a few of these for law enforcement, and they take the machine gun off.

I didn't find the original article so I don't know if this one came with the mini gun or not....judging by this looney sheriff's words I don't think his ego could stand having the vehicle without it though. And even if he did take it off, I'm sure it could be mounted easily enough for population control.

[Davidson Deac II 4,173]

That picture posted above does not have a 50 cal mounted. Don't know if its accurate or not though.

But it doesn't really matter what the cop wants, its what the US government will allow him to buy. I may be wrong, but I don't think the police can legally buy a 50 cal MG.

[Doc Holiday 2,062]

holy poo

[chris999 1,497]

it will be a sad day if they charge phelps. there is no way they can prove that it was marijuana that he was smoking. all of us know that it was, but it is their job to prove it.

[natty 555]

That picture posted above does not have a 50 cal mounted. Don't know if its accurate or not though.

But it doesn't really matter what the cop wants, its what the US government will allow him to buy. I may be wrong, but I don't think the police can legally buy a 50 cal MG.

It probably not accurate. I just searched images for M113A1 and picked a nice menacing looking one.