If that island has a hollow volcano on it, they might need that vehicle.

I remember my Aunt and Uncle moved from LA to Murrieta, CA. This was maybe 15+ years ago. I remember them driving me around and showing off the ridiculous things the local fire department and police had purchased...all because the state of California had given them cash.

Murrieta is a small, mostly master planned suburban city...at one point it was known as the "Bible Belt" of SoCal. Murrieta and surrounding areas grow and produce good wine and a lot of plants that source out to nursery's are grown there too. Interesting mix of suburbia and farming. At the time, there were more ads in the yellow pages for churches and religious stuff than escort services.

Fire Department - Hook and Latter Fire Trucks - It went up like...80-100 feet, and at the time, the tallest building in Murrieta was like 45 feet. Also, they had to build the building to house said trucks.

Police Department - Purchased a half dozen or so of those armored SWAT style attack vehicles.

Government spending - How does it work?

Wert789: Do any of you have a smoke detector? Why? Your house isn't on fire.

Smoke detectors do not help in stopping a fire, they simply alert you to the fact that there may be a fire. Not a good example.

The idea of emergency equipment is to have it before an emergency happens. In the photo FTA, the vehicle is being driven off a ferry. If something were to happen that needed such a vehicle, It would be a long time before outside help could arrive.

And what could they possibly be "preparing for"? Zeee Germans? Small towns (hell, I would argue most towns/cities) do not need a vehicle like that. It is simply not needed, rather...it is excessive. This is another prime example of the government spending whatever the fark it wants on whatever they want.

Waste of money through and through.

Endive Wombat: Wert789: Do any of you have a smoke detector? Why? Your house isn't on fire.

Smoke detectors do not help in stopping a fire, they simply alert you to the fact that there may be a fire. Not a good example.

Actually, I think that's a good example. Having a smoke detector is prudent, it alerts you to when you need to call in the fire department to fight a fire. Similarly, having a policeman with his truncheon and whistle alerts you to when you need to call in the military.

So, equipping your police department with military vehicles is similar to equipping your smoke detector with a fire hose.

Station: robodog: Station: Does anyone else ever catch Sons of Guns? Every time I see it, I get a good glimpse at the FEMA money at work when some Podunk sheriff's office wants an armored tank carrier with 2 machine guns and 14 grenade launchers. You know, as a "deterrent".

Not that I disagree with your disgust over the militarization of our police (that's my least favorite part of the show, it makes my blood boil in fact) but the armored car was for the Sheriff of New Orleans Parish, hardly a podunk. Oh and if it's federal funds then it's DHS not FEMA which is the emergency response arm of DHS and does not grant police departments funds.

You're right, that specific one was for a large department. I just meant in general, it seems that RJ's primary buyers are people that really don't need it. The tank, the boat, the suppressed rifle to defend our nations "new killer" facilities (who the hell needs a suppressor for that? And are they really at risk?), mounts for machine guns that really serve the police no purpose other than killing large amounts of people. It seems many of their buyers are police / homeland defense groups that don't really need military grade firepower - especially not stuff that is so indiscriminate when fired.

Yeah, the armored car episode pissed me the fark off as well. I can understand their need for armor. From the situations they described, they will use it, and I'll never begrudge anyone (including a cop) putting something between themselves and incoming fire. I accepted the smoke/tear gas launchers. They seemed a bit large, but whatever. Still just smoke/tear gas. I really didn't like the retired military vehicle. Seems like somebody really wants to intimidate civilians with their military hardware. On the other hand, it was probably cheaper than up-armoring an SUV, and will likely function better. So ok. But when they decided to go ahead an put a 30cal in the turret, I damn near launched a remote through my farking TV. That has absolutely no business on that vehicle. The boat, well, I didn't like it, but they are going after drug runners with that. But they made it absolutely clear that their mini-tank was crowd control. They said it many times, they took a ride through a crowded street, they had what's-his-face crying over seeing someone get shot in the crowd, they filled the front of the vehicle with crowd control tools. This vehicle was commission for one job, and that job does not, and never will, require a large machine gun.

Wert789: Do any of you have a smoke detector? Why? Your house isn't on fire.

The idea of emergency equipment is to have it before an emergency happens. In the photo FTA, the vehicle is being driven off a ferry. If something were to happen that needed such a vehicle, It would be a long time before outside help could arrive.

Dude, it's Guernsey, what do you think is going to happen? It's like installing a smoke detector in your swimming pool.

Thudfark: To be fair, the coppers in the UK aren't armed so they need a safe place from which to politely ask that you stop shooting at them.

No need to be armed, there or in the UK (Guernsey isn't the UK). The Channel Islands are Crown Dependencies, and have their own governments and police forces. My brother lives on Jersey, and the last time I visited him the evening news featured a drunk guy stumbling and falling onto the bonnet of a (parked) car. That's how dangerous the place is.

I went to Guernsey once for work. There was nothing to do so I rode the bus around the island.

/csb

Wert789: Do any of you have a smoke detector? Why? Your house isn't on fire.

The idea of emergency equipment is to have it before an emergency happens. In the photo FTA, the vehicle is being driven off a ferry. If something were to happen that needed such a vehicle, It would be a long time before outside help could arrive.

Oh please. Using that line of reasoning I should have my own ambulance. Or an air force. You can never be too safe.