So im watching Sons Of Guns(yes i know its bull but i find it funny) and a sheriff office is getting a mk 19 along with a m240b. Ok i kind of get the m240b, but the mk 19? What in the hell would they need a mk 19 for?
Most cops now think they are some form of domestic military force. Among those some believe they are some kind of special force. Given this misguided belief they of course need belt feds, Mk 19s and APCs.
Also somebody is sure to come along and suggest the MK 19 could fire LTL rounds, but everyone knows they already have plenty of 37mm devices for that application.
We should also keep in mind the nature of the Bubba SO that we are dealing with. The fact that they deal with RJF and buy nonsense like Thompson “entry guns” shows that they are very much outside of the LE mainstream when it comes to sensible purchases.
It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that the actual intended purpose of the Mk 19 is the July 4 fireworks display.
Can someone explain the point of installing smoke grenade launchers (not the mk19) to the sides of the boat?
Seems a bit pointless for maritime operations.
Most cops now think they are some form of domestic military force. Among those some believe they are some kind of special force. Given this misguided belief they of course need belt feds, Mk 19s and APCs.
I think you’re playing it kind of fast and loose with “most” there.
We should also keep in mind the nature of the Bubba SO that we are dealing with. The fact that they deal with RJF and buy nonsense like Thompson “entry guns” shows that they are very much outside of the LE mainstream when it comes to sensible purchases.
The latter part of your post makes a bit more sense.
I didn’t catch what county and state this was, but I would be pretty pissed as a tax payer unless there was a very well articulated need. The Coast Guard employs M240Bs in an extremeley limited role. I can’t see how on the mainland US you could justify it.
I wanted to say something about that but i felt i would be opening up a can of worms i did not want too and i would be branded as anti police or what not. Im far from anti police or what not. But i feel like some departments like you said are becoming a small military force and im afraid later on down the road for me and my future children we are going to have local authorities patrolling in apc’s with mk19’s mounted (over execrated). Please don’t take this as i am disrespecting any of our local and state police officers. Alot of these bills and laws that are being passed or on their way to being passed scares the crap out of me.
I didn’t catch what county and state this was, but I would be pretty pissed as a tax payer unless there was a very well articulated need. The Coast Guard employs M240Bs in an extremeley limited role. I can’t see how on the mainland US you could justify it.[/QUOTE]
Some one can correct me if im wrong but this is being mounted on a sheriff patrol boat in Louisiana
Obscuration.
It’s harder to hit the smoke grenade launching boat if you can’t get a clear picture.
The opposing forces know that there is a boat or amtrac in the water but it is harder to draw a bead on them it the target is indistinct or unclear.
http://www.theagitator.com/2011/12/06/from-warfighter-to-crimefighter/
According to a periodical by the government office in charge of equipping law enforcement agencies with surplus military gear, Fiscal Year 2011 was a record year in property transfers from the US military’s stockpiles to police departments around the nation. The transfers took place under a program that explicitly allows law enforcement agencies to acquire such goods for free. In FY2011, the value of these acquisitions amounted to half-a-billion dollars.
You realize there are over 40,000 SWAT raids a year in America right? There were over 800 Humvees and 27 armored vehicles issued to police agencies in 2011 alone. They’re getting armored APC’s to patrol American streets and in my eyes that’s overkill, unless you’re talking Detroit. 
First off you have to understand that this whole show is a fucking joke and everything is staged to make it cool for TV.
My wife was asking me the same question. When I was in the Coast Guard it was pretty standard for us to have M240’s mounted on various small boats and ships. In some cases we also have .50’s.
The only CG units to have the MK19 was my old unit in Bahrain and the Port Security Units (PSU’s.)
They way that they have these set up on the boats is pretty silly and I cannot see them being able to employ them practically. They would have been better off mounting the M240 on the bow.
As for their use of the MK19 I really have to question this. For one where are the police depts going to get quantities of 40MM rounds for the weapon? They are not the same as the rounds used in the M203.
The other thing is the liability factor. Does the sheriffs dept have a written doctrine on how and when the MK19 will be employed? How much training will they have? What about qualification with it?
In this day and age when some depts cannot even buy patrol rifles for their officers/deputies and they are cutting budgets I don’t see how they are able to justify and afford a MK19 and M240 machine gun. Not to mention the other issues I have mentioned.
If it makes you feel better, fell free to substitute “a lot” for “most.” But quite honestly, there are quite a few that would not consider themselves civilians, I have even met “more than a few” who have been offended by the notion.
I wish it wasn’t the case, I consider myself a supporter of law enforcement.
Baton Rouge, LA 70814
In fairness, there is a LOT to that in this particular case. Probably can’t be overstated.
I agree. Wouldn’t a handheld launcher be more versatile?
Additionally, I did not understand mounting the guns on the back of the boat. Do you have to pass a target to engage it? Do you back up to it?
Admittedly I have very limited maritime experience, but I did not get it.
I get the M-240B. You need to be able to disable other watercraft and protect bridges/infrastructure like levees from attack. A Mk-19 does seem over the top.
The APC’s are great for recovering downed officers.
With cartel violence spilling over at an increasing rate, those of us on the southwest border appreciate all the equipment/training we can get.
Well to me the m240b makes sense in a way up front of the boat. But don’t they have the coast guard for that job there to protect their water ways? I really don’t know, ive never been there. And yes a hand held or even a weapon mounted 37mm launcher would work better then those mounted to the boat. But again the mk19 makes no damn sense in the law enforcement world to me any way.
I have yet to hear or see where any PD or SO patrols w/ an APC or DRMO humvee.
APC have a place. Humvees are great to have for inclement weather.
What agency could afford the gas and increased maintenance costs from using those types of vehicles on daily patrol? My agency has become down right draconian when dealing with fuel conservation as of recent.
Sheriff Joe allowed Steven “the Douche” Seagal to use an APC when they raided a “cock fight” in AZ. I think it was silly and surely didn’t help our image in the media or with those that think we are ignorant hicks.
I agree. I’m not privvy to that intell or anything but I imagine that the APC probably wasn’t required.
Mine couldn’t. The hummer will be a great vehicle to have for the bad weather, and rough terrain in my area, though.
This has not been my experience. Maybe certain agencies, or a few officers, but not most.
Here’s a few examples of what I was talking about. I realize some of the stuff is about the Bearcat as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4edk5eqxFew
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyb9kGMaRUM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8AujiWA81U
http://uswgo.com/ventura-ca-police-using-armored-vehicles-in-the-streets.htm
http://www.norcalblogs.com/post_scripts/2011/06/tanks-for-police.html