Fox News reports that the Border Patrol wants one
modern sporting rifle per agent despite the fact that if their weapons officer/ armorer zeroes all rifles regardless of number at a common distance that they would shoot adequately since one assumes that officers train and qualify on the same range at the same distances, for example, at 100 yards. And do you really need to have one at your desk. This comes on the heels of the
increase in NYPD weaponry "to combat terror".
The claim is that each gun has a right to be zeroed a a distance personal to the agent, just like in the military, which is what any self-respecting gun rights advocate would want. This is especially since some border city police departments allow their officers to carry personal long guns, regardless of departmental policies.
OTOH, there are few situations requiring the use of high powered rifles at the ratio of one agent, one rifle. It ain't "One Ranger One Riot", but more like two long guns per vehicle. Also, the hypothetical of a shootout with AK-47 toting smugglers coming over a rise seems remote.
Human rights rather than gun rights seems more important given the risk of collateral damage and the reduction in constitutional rights 100 miles inside the entire US border.
Border Patrol agents say gun sharing puts lives at risk
Guns are in such short supply at the Border Patrol that one agent told FoxNews.com 400 agents share just 100 rifles at his station.
The lack of weapons is more than just a nuisance, according to law enforcement authorities, who say each agent should be able to calibrate his or her gun to individual preferences, a process they call "zeroing."
“We are left to check out rifles that were unzeroed to us," a border patrol agent told FoxNews.com. "This practice needs to be outlawed, as it could cost someone their life."
"Imagine you are out in the mountains of Arizona, walking a trail known to be used by drug smugglers.As you walk up a ridge, a group of smugglers crest over the mountain on the same trail 100 yards away - coming straight toward you, armed with AK-47s," he said.
"What happens when an agent shoots the wrong alien, smuggler, or God forbid another agent because the gun's sights are so far off?" he asked.