Not all agents are cheap, and many are responsible with their equipment.
I was an FI for several years, and I have seen how uneducated/interested agents can be regarding firearms and training in general. Those people are overshadowed by the agents that take their firearms and training seriously.
If you can qualify expert with a given weapon system and show you are responsible enough to ensure it is maintained and cared for, I see no good reason we should not allow agents to purchase their own rifle, or pistol for that matter. I personally would spend the money to have a rifle I could take home with me everyday that I know hasn't been messed with by some clown in the armory while I was off-duty.
The restriction of agent-owned firearms falls under the preventative policies that were written to protect the Border Patrol from unqualified/stupid people who make it through the hiring process. Instead of preventing stupid people from doing stupid things, we should refrain from hiring stupid people. It's good for the Patrol, good for the country and good for the environment (less paperwork saves trees).
Plus, personally owned firearms are tax deductible, everybody wins.
ETA:
BP Leadership must work under the constraints of the federal bureaucracy. If you gave them all the money they asked for, each agent would get an M4, Ford Raptor, and NVG issued to them. Plus we would have a 50 foot double border fence complete with moat and genetically modified, carnivorous catfish.
The funding issue starts higher up.
Last edited by AZ-Renegade; 02-06-15 at 16:03.
Good judgment comes from experience. And experience… well, that comes from poor judgment.
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