A CBS News investigation found dozens of law enforcement leaders — sheriffs, captains, lieutenants, chiefs of police — buying and illegally selling firearms, even weapons of war, across 23 U.S. states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., from the Deep South to the Midwest, Northeast and California coast.

  • AbidanYre@lemmy.world
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    20 days ago

    If I’m guilty of this, every cop in the nation’s going to jail

    That’s not as convincing as he wants it to be.

    Edit: holy hell, everything in that article is infuriating.

  • Maggoty@lemmy.worldOP
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    20 days ago

    I just want to end armed policing at this point. The whole argument about criminals being well armed holds no water when the police are the ones that armed them.

    • Maggoty@lemmy.worldOP
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      20 days ago

      My favorite parts are where the first guy says if he’s guilty then so are all cops. Then the feds guy says they like to educate, not charge and these officers just don’t understand this is like a straw purchase.

      In reality it’s not like a straw purchase, it is exactly that. One of the biggest indicators of corruption is government officials and soldiers selling their weapons on the black market.

  • frezik@midwest.social
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    20 days ago

    The [BATF] agents explained that prosecutors have been generally reluctant to charge these cases, and the bureau stated that “it is our goal to educate, not investigate,” according to a 2017 law enforcement memo obtained by CBS News.

    “Just to let you know, taking the minigun purchased with federal grants by your sheriff’s office and selling it to drug cartels would be illegal. We thought it’d be good if that were clear. Anyway, do you mind if I take a ride in your Corvette?”

  • Theo@lemmy.world
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    20 days ago

    That’s absurd! It’s like dentists giving out candy lol. They want to secure their jobs!

  • Erasmus@lemmy.world
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    20 days ago

    Federal Agents: hold up, running guns is what we do - you local guys cannot get in on the action!