In Their Defense, Kids Do Love Explosions
From the Columbia Daily Tribune:
A recent demonstration by the Missouri State Highway Patrol SWAT team had students ducking for cover and later upset at least one parent.
On April 8, about 27 students — mostly high school juniors and seniors — were taking part in a Student Alliance Program course in the highway patrol hangar at the Jefferson City airport. As part of a demonstration by Troop F, a SWAT officer rolled a “flashbang” grenade under the seats of the students without their knowledge.
The grenade, a non-lethal weapon used to stun or divert the attention of criminals when tactical teams enter a building, went off, emitting a loud noise, a burst of light and smoke.
Thankfully, no one was seriously injured, but if police officers have become so desensitized to flashbangs that this can be considered normal behavior, the SWAT team is raiding far too many houses.
Via Radley Balko.
