U.S. puts machine-guns on Great Lakes coast guard vessels

[Clara T]

U.S. puts machine-guns on Great Lakes coast guard vessels
Last Updated Wed, 15 Mar 2006 16:00:53 EST
CBC News

For the first time since 1817, U.S. Coast Guard vessels on the Great Lakes are being outfitted with weapons – machine-guns capable of firing 600 bullets a minute. Until now, coast guard officers have been armed with handguns and rifles, but the vessels themselves haven't been equipped with weapons.

The War of 1812 saw violent battles on Lake Erie and Lake Huron between U.S. troops and British forces, which were largely composed of militias from Britain's colonies in what is now Canada. After the war, the United States and Britain – and later Canada – agreed to demilitarize the Great Lakes waters.

The Rush-Bagot Treaty of 1817 allowed each country to station four vessels, each equipped with an 18-pound cannon, to safeguard the Great Lakes. The antiquated treaty has recently been reinterpreted because of U.S. concerns about customs violations, human smuggling and international terrorism.

Live-fire drills conducted near Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
Each vessel is now equipped with a 7.62-mm machine-gun, a light military gun that is the same calibre as a deer rifle but capable of shooting 600 bullets per minute.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/03/15/coastguard-060315.html?ref=rss

[slackmaster]

1. The Canadian Threat is real

Consider it all a joke at your own risk.

:crazy:

[Jackpine Radical]

2. Jeez. I sure feel safer now that we're protected

from invasion by those crazed Canucks.

[BushOut06]

3. Interpretation

The antiquated treaty has recently been reinterpreted because of U.S. concerns about customs violations, human smuggling and international terrorism.

The goddamned piece of paper has recently been scrapped because of US fears about Canadian pot, illegal aliens, and terrahism

[tocqueville]

4. The Canadians won the war last time...

better be prepared...

[MichiganVote]

5. Yup, just blow the shit out of the drunken sailors, that should help/not

[Algorem]

6. escaping Bush's coming death camp America by boat a little trickier now

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

7. I don't care what the Coast Guard carries when they do things like this

excerpt of a Coast Guard rescue this week in my Northern Michigan.


http://www.wluctv6.com/Global/story.asp?S=4632138

We didn't even know we were floating until 5:30," Roll said. "We got about 50 yards from the edge of the ice and then saw that much open water. It was kind of scary."

Fortunately, they had a cell phone and they called 911, but it wasn't until two hours later, as they were drifting southward, that they were plucked from the ice floe by a Coast Guard helicopter.

All three fisherman were okay and were reunited with their families. Roll wouldn't repeat what his wife said to him when she saw him, but he made it clear that his ice fishing days are over for this winter

~~Our Coast Guard is simply the best, ie: Katrina and my remote region in the north. \

Fuck the Government, Bless our Coast Guard.