The Toy Police

A lot of people are desensitized to police carrying around automatic weapons. Weapons that, on full auto, will empty a clip of ammunition in less than a minute. These are weapons that the Navy Seals use. Really. Look at this picture. Look familiar? That would be the MP5K. And I see them wandering around attached to Police and their Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force escorts all the time - most recently visiting a toy store last week in Gulf City.

Question: Do we really want anyone with fully automatic weapons visiting toystores? Or what about fetes? I recall going to a Petrotrin fete about 6 years ago and seeing a few police officers, dressed in the 'never can go wrong' style of complete black, with an MP5K. In the middle of a crowded area.

And no one blinked. Probably because they don't know what can come out of that muzzle - or how fast. This is a weapon that earned the nickname, 'room broom' - varying between 700 to 900 rounds per minute, dependent on the model. When you have to 'clear' a room, you can literally sweep with one of these weapons. The magazine is empty within seconds. It can go for single shot and burst as well, but... that's what this weapon can do. It's designed for one purpose. And that purpose isn't visiting toy stores, walking up and down a street or standing around in the center of a fete.

We won't even go into the rifles that the TTDF walks around with when escorting the Police.

And we won't get into the fact that despite this massive armament - more impressive, really, than the weapon and ammunition found during the campaign for the last election - crime has still gone up.

It may not have occurred to anyone but maybe this will remind people... there was a time when a revolver or a 9mm pistol was sufficient. And now, apparently, is a time when this calibre of weapon is ineffective.

So. Why are they being carried around again? 

And while I'm on the topic - why do we insist on having the Police drive around with their lights on? Why not turn them off unless there is an emergency? Is it to warn the criminals? Or is it to confuse tourists? I don't know.

I tell you what I do know. In a country where getting a weapons permit is all but impossible without a bribe or having a connection somewhere, the government has police and soldiers walking the streets with weapons that could easily kill a lot of people. And with the crime situation having increased over this last decade, I am forced to wonder why.

Why? Anyone have a clue?

Oh. The blimps. Can we send those back, please? Maybe we could sell them to Israel or something... well, maybe not Israel. They'd use them effectively and that could be a problem.