Posted by Mike G on February 14, 1999 at 09:44:43:
In Reply to: Re: Another view! posted by Phil B on February 14, 1999 at 07:53:34:
Why does one wear camo when hunting deer, turkey, ducks etc. Are they so smart that the only way you can hunt them is to hide from them to kill them? No, you wear it because you are looking for all the tactical edge you get out of the situation. Always, I hear so called "gun people" bashing FBI HRT because Ruby Ridge or Waco, blame the local Texas ATF raid team instead. Both cases people made poor judgements based upon given intelligence and or equipment. You never hear how they saved that 10 yr old that watched is father kill his mother during an 12 hr. standoff or hostages they saved during a bank robbery.
There are when hood use is needed. This black BDU/hood, HKMP5 use came about after the highly sucessful SAS raid on the British Embassy . This raid set in motion SWAT tactics and equipment for the "drug war" 80's .One of the many case studies out of that raid was the negative psychological effect that the black tactical uniforms had upon the terrorists. As a result, some SWAT units moved toward wearing black BDU's and using military styled assault tactics with overwheming force. Actually at night blk BDU's don't offer as much masking as one would think, because the blk uniforms are darker than the night so the whole body can cast a silhouette under moon light. However, like it or not, current SWAT tactics has had a positive effect in aiding to negate some of these situations, just ask the saved hostages or the child it saved. It sends a message that these are not your regular officers. In the last 15 years there have been thousands of "call outs" most end with no causalities.
If one is doing drug lab raids, chemicals can ignite from muzzle flash, noise distraction devices(flash bangs) have also caused head, neck area injuries. Protective hoods also protect the identity of tactical officers that also double as regular patrol officers as well protection from cuts & scrapes. Personally, I've gotten 2nd degree burns on the neck and upper back from hot subgun brass, whereas, with a nomex hood it rolls off.
Granted, there have been mistakes!, but lets's put tactics/gear in perspective. Like it or not most of these raids are carried out against criminals. There are several schools that offer some of the best training in the world, by real operators. Today's SWAT training is best it's ever been. My biggest concern is the initial training or lack of training that regular patrol officers receive on a regular basis. The standards that vary around the country are scary, but that's another story.
My nickel's worth