Texas Leading the Way

[Don]

If someone else posted something about this already, my apologies. If not, I'm surprised that we're not making sure we're aware of the strange--and frightening--turns our country is taking.

http://washington.cbslocal.com/2012/05/23/groups-concerned-over-arming-of-domestic-drones/

Chief Deputy Randy McDaniel of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office in Texas told The Daily that his department is considering using rubber bullets and tear gas on its drone.

“Those are things that law enforcement utilizes day in and day out and in certain situations it might be advantageous to have this type of system on the UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle),” McDaniel told The Daily.

 

[freeatlast]

This is just another step closer to military rule as we edge closer to a government run state instead of a government by the people.

 

[saturneptune]

This is just another step closer to military rule as we edge closer to a government run state instead of a government by the people.

That kind of surprises me about Texas. I do not know its politics exactly, but always had the impression of a conservative state that believed in limited government. Not sure what to make of that. I guess there had to be an element of liberalism at one time, as this is where Lyndon Johnson came from.

 

[InTheLight]

If someone else posted something about this already, my apologies. If not, I'm surprised that we're not making sure we're aware of the strange--and frightening--turns our country is taking.

http://washington.cbslocal.com/2012/05/23/groups-concerned-over-arming-of-domestic-drones/

Interesting that the article never states who actually owns the drones. I find it doubtful that local police departments are buying these things. The likely scenario is that the military is leasing the drones to local authorities. If so, that would mean they are probably being used on case-by-case basis. I'd like to know the money trail for the use of these things.

 

[Don]

Interesting that the article never states who actually owns the drones. I find it doubtful that local police departments are buying these things. The likely scenario is that the military is leasing the drones to local authorities. If so, that would mean they are probably being used on case-by-case basis. I'd like to know the money trail for the use of these things.

Good call. I'd go so far as to say, it's probably being done through the Department of Homeland Security. I can't see the military paying for rubber bullets; but I could see it going through DHS.

 

[ktn4eg]

Good call. I'd go so far as to say, it's probably being done through the Department of Homeland Security. I can't see the military paying for rubber bullets; but I could see it going through DHS.

You're probably right.

Maybe it's just coincidental, but my old Tennessee Air National Guard unit [I retired from the ANG in 2005.], the 118th Airlift Wing stationed at the Nashville International Airport (BNA), is in the process of losing its C-130H military transport aircraft, and is going to gain some UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, i.e., drones). This unit will be dropping the word "Airlift" from its designation, and will soon just be called the 118th Wing.

What will exactly be the new mission for the 118th? Well, nobody's publicly saying right now.

I wonder....just wonder. Hmmm.... :tear: