Continuing lickety-split down the road of militarization of civilian life - and turning what used to be considered straightforward law enforcement policies into gung-ho, army-oriented problem solving -
CBC News brings us the latest:
For the first time since 1817, U.S. Coast Guard vessels on the Great Lakes are being outfitted with weapons - machine-guns capable of firing 600 bullets a minute.
...
The Rush-Bagot Treaty of 1817 allowed each country to station four vessels, each equipped with an 18-pound cannon, to safeguard the Great Lakes. The antiquated treaty has recently been reinterpreted because of U.S. concerns about customs violations, human smuggling and international terrorism.
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Each vessel is now equipped with a 7.62-mm machine-gun, a light military gun that is the same calibre as a deer rifle but capable of shooting 600 bullets per minute.
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Under the reinterpretation, which both sides say honours the spirit of the original treaty, vessels may be outfitted with machine-guns of sizes up to .50-calibre. That would be big enough to bring down a helicopter and shoot through a light-armoured vehicle.
Funny how the Bush administration, chock full of people who declined to serve in the operating theater of a war when they had the chance, seem so enamored with finding military-style solutions to various domestic policing problems.
Feel safer yet?
Update: Many wise commenters here have made me re-think this news article and view it as not a bad thing. I think what so alarmed me when first reading the article was the last sentence in the blockquote ... that weapons are authorized under this treaty that would bring down helicopters or shoot through an armed vehicle.
However, the combined knowledge and great discussion has changed my view of this. The Coast Guard is a superbly trained force (and as one wise commenter pointed out, one of the few agencies involved in Katrina that seemed to know what it was doing).
Thanks for opening up my eyes and mind, particuliarly: chemsmith, TheCrank, snookybeh, JeffSCinNY, Mike S, dannyinla, bosdcla14, Roosevelt Democrat, BoyWonder, Chris Andersen, The Baculum King, bohdi777, catleigh, marksb, philgoblue, lesliet and sterno.
You all are why I love this place.