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Nestled amid plains so flat the locals joke you can watch your dog run away for miles, Fargo treasures its placid lifestyle, seldom pierced by the mayhem and violence common in other urban communities. North Dakota’s largest city has averaged fewer than two homicides a year since 2005, and there’s not been a single international terrorism prosecution in the last decade.

But that hasn’t stopped authorities in Fargo and its surrounding county from going on an $8 million buying spree to arm police officers with the sort of gear once reserved only for soldiers fighting foreign wars.

Every city squad car is equipped today with a military-style assault rifle, and officers can don Kevlar helmets able to withstand incoming fire from battlefield-grade ammunition. And for that epic confrontation—if it ever occurs—officers can now summon a new $256,643 armored truck, complete with a rotating turret. For now, though, the menacing truck is used mostly for training and appearances at the annual city picnic, where it’s been parked near the children’s bounce house.

“Most people are so fascinated by it, because nothing happens here,” says Carol Archbold, a Fargo resident and criminal justice professor at North Dakota State University. “There’s no terrorism here.”

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Originally posted by Zeal Ex Nihilo
Link.

There's more to read at the link. I wonder, perhaps, how long it will be until this equipment is used on the civilian population?

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Originally posted by Lord Lucien
Oh yeah, like you would have any problem with that. Doubtless all the unarmed Zionist Jews that the cops gun down deserve it.

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Originally posted by siriuswriter
Lucien! You changed your avatar! How am I supposed to know you're posting anymore?!

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Originally posted by Zeal Ex Nihilo
You know, if the police decided to storm an AIPAC convention, I would totally support it.