Marion Police Chief Speaks About Plan to Acquire $50,000 of AR-15 'Assault Rifles' for Officers

As legislators in Washington D.C. look to debate the merits of limiting assault rifle ownership, the Marion Police Department is looking to get itself ready to fight criminals that aren't hindered by legislation, current or pending.

That's what the Marion Police Chief told Jason Epner of KWWL regarding the department's plan to acquire $50,000 worth of semi-automatic AR-15 assault rifles for 25 police officers.

The city, though, says the recent school shootings are evidence that the first responders are overmatched should a similar threat hit the area.

Officers would be allowed to carry these weapons in their cars once properly trained. Chief Daugherty says the assault weapons would be used only to neutralize a potential threat.

"For me it's the protection of the citizens and protection of my officers, and this is the best way to do that because now they're going in there with a sidearm and maybe a shotgun and the assailant usually has an assault weapon," Daugherty said.

The hope is that these weapons never have to be used.

Epner reported that these rifles would be paid for by the officers themselves, as they would be taking a deduction in pay to make this happen.

Other police departments accross the country are also arming themselves with the common semi-automatic assault rifle, including officers in Nashville, Tenn. From a USA Today article on the Nashville PD decision:

The AR-15 rifle, the weapon of choice during three U.S. mass shootings, has emerged at the center of a national debate over gun control.

A gunman turned to an AR-15 in the December shooting spree in Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut that killed 20 children and six adults. An AR-15 also was used in a recent shooting at an Oregon mall and the movie-theater massacre last summer in Aurora, Colo.

With its modular design and reliability, the AR-15 is a favorite among some gun enthusiasts. Gun control advocates take issue with the gun's stopping power and bullet capacity. But some who back greater gun control measures applauded Metro Police.

Last night the Marion City Council was scheduled to discuss the purchase of the rifles at their regularly scheduled city council work session.

The official agenda item is to authorize "the city to purchase and payroll deduct the cost of an on-duty assault rifle for 25 officers in the amount of $1,987.00 each for a total of $49,675.00."

The Marion City Council will consider the approval of the weapons purchase at their regular formal council meeting this coming Thursday.