Teens Protest Police Use Of Assault Rifles

Nearly 100 teens marched outside Chicago police headquarters Thursday night to protest the department's plans to equip officers with semi-automatic rifles, saying the weapons could make the streets more dangerous.

Carrying signs like "Stop the War on Youth," teens said they didn't trust police with the high-powered weapons and worried gangs would be encouraged to bolster their own arsenals.

"The only people who need these guns are in Iraq," said Arthur McGraw, 19, an organizer with the nonprofit Southwest Youth Collaborative, which organized the rally.
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Comments

[SinisterK9]

AR's become much more common in PD's throughout America in response to the North Hollywood shootout.

They keep the weapons secured, and out of sight most of the time just like shotguns. They don't simply carry them around the streets at tactical port arms like a Soldier conducting a dismounted patrol in Baghdad.

AR-15's/ M4's are very reasonable and necessary weapons in today's realm of peace officers.

[Tinsdale]

Good Points. Many gang's have more fire-power than law enforcement.

[SinisterK9]

Thanks for looking at it reasonably. Most people act like the police are the Nazi SS or something.

Not every discussion is cut and dry. But this one is. The police need these weapons. This is not something new. Cops all over America are armed with these or similar type weapons, and have been for years. It appears that Chicago is merely behind the curve.

Now one thing I will applaud is that the teens took action for their beliefs. They got together and marched to support their ideal. And they did so in a peaceful manner. I may not agree with their cause, but I applaud the way they went about it.

North Hollywood shootout via the History Channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bw94nN5qc_M

[sunzen]

The police are so full of fear.

[islanbatman]

They have a right to be. When your hope in your comfy bed with your significant other, their out there putting there lives on the line so you don't to. SO if this gives them an edge or at least a fighting chance to get home, They should take it. Nobody's making any noise about the assault style weapons easy procured by the not so law abiding populous.

[RockySoldier]

go home, hippie. we'll take it from here.

[ouroborous]

Courageous teens. The police always get what they want, and it takes guts to stand up to them.

[RockySoldier]

so much melodrama...

[ouroborous]

So little substance.

So you think that it DOESN'T take courage to stand up for what you believe in, when the people you are protesting are armed with automatic weapons?

You don't even have to agree with the teens, but you have to admit that standing up to armed paramilitary operatives (and it's hard to know what else to call a cop with an M-16) takes guts.