These high-powered weapons are only meant for police. How are they ending up in criminals' hands?
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.
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.
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.
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?"