Shreveport DA orders 8 M-16's. Sheriff has Issue

I was amazed at the price. Hell I would have payed them at least $60

I listened to an interview with the DA (Charles Scott) and you could tell by his attitude that he was pissed for being called out on this matter.

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What the hell reason does the DA have to have full auto combat rifles? And he doesn't even check with the sheriff? Shitting me?

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Law enforcement agencies don't need permission for weapons. (They are a state entity I believe) While there isn't a need for an automatic, why should they spend 1000 when they can get them for 50? Private citizens have to get with the Sheriff.

Im sure Im going over the top but would the sheriff expect the military to notify him of new weapons they get, i.e. national guard or whatever may be there. Seems to me he is butt hurt cause they didn't tell him not because they couldn't have the guns.

Here the DA is an entity of the state, but they fall under law enforcement. The elected Sheriff of a county/parish is the top law enforcement official. That is what the dust up is about.

I agree with "Who Me".

If it was a simple question you would think a meeting between gentlemen could be made and some sort of agreement could be worked out one way or another. The fact that it went to the media sounds like other motives are involved or the two just don't get along.

Like Who Me said I tend to think the Sheriff raised some valid questions.

I am not a gun expert by any means but these are my assumptions and questions regarding M-16's. Hopefully someone in law enforcement/military can straighten me out if they are wrong. (please do)

Assumptions:

1. A fully automatic M16 would have the option to be semi automatic, burst and automatic? (recently watched a history channel show on Vietnam and the mentioned this when discussing the M16)

2. The use of the automatic function on this weapon is used tactically when you are facing multiple targets at very close range. (got this from a link on google, it was the first one that came up when i used the term "when to use automatic fire" LINK

3. Automatic fire is frowned upon in general with an M16 and burst/semi automatic is drastically preferred for accuracy and ammunition concerns.


My Questions:

1. What odes the DA do to warrant the use of assault rifles? (personally i am not picky, having fire superiority is something I definitely want law enforcement officials to have)

2. Assuming the rifles can be operated in semi automatic/burst is there any way to simply disable the full auto feature. From the article referenced earlier LINK it appears that the tactical use of full automatic is frowned upon and the use of burst or semi automatic fire is preferred. As a citizen I not only frown upon the use but I would be very worried about it. In a military setting I have no problem with throwing lead out there as a tactic, in a urban law enforcement scenario every shot needs to be calculated just a bit more.

3. Training. Are they trained with rifles? If so are they trained/qualified to use an M16?



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In the end it sounds like the Sheriff would have liked to buy the weapons to provide to his staff and the DA sort of 'forgot' to mention it to him and bought them for his department. Who wouldn't want M16's at $50 piece.

Why on earth would anyone be OK with the DA creating his own army without even checking with the chief law enforcement officer of the parish?

He's the DA. If he needs guys with guns on site he can yell down the hall for the deputies.

I agree with the Sheriff.

No way he got them for $50. They sell for close to $20k don't they?