Texas

TexasTowelie

(112,189 posts) Wed Jun 17, 2015, 06:42 PM Jun 2015

Privately owned armored trucks raise eyebrows after Dallas police attack

HOUSTON — Jeff Funicello is selling his black 1975 GMC truck on Craigslist. It would be perfect for a thrifty bank. Or a low-budget SWAT team.

The body is armored, and the windows are bulletproof. It has sliding portholes to point rifles from and a sprinkler system inside. Long ago, it transported money, and it was once the target of a shootout in the 1980s. But now it sits, pockmarked from splotches of automotive-repair putty, on the driveway of Funicello’s home in Mesa, Ariz.

Why does he own it? Funicello, who runs a mixed martial arts gym called the Spartan Academy, said the question should be: Why not?

“This is America,” he said. “I should be able to have a howitzer or a bazooka if I want one. If I wanted to buy a fire truck, I could.”

Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/headlines/20150617-privately-owned-armored-trucks-raise-eyebrows-after-dallas-police-attack.ece

5 replies

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Privately owned armored trucks raise eyebrows after Dallas police attack (Original Post) TexasTowelie Jun 2015 OP

This is why misinterpreting the 2nd amendment is so dangerous. randys1 Jun 2015 #1

I see they are the same HassleCat Jun 2015 #2

“I should be able to have a howitzer or a bazooka if I want one." and you can. Romeo.lima333 Jun 2015 #3

“I should be able to have a howitzer or a bazooka if I want one." Adsos Letter Jun 2015 #4

Yes, the "armored cars" are legal, so what? MicaelS Jun 2015 #5

randys1

(16,286 posts)

1. This is why misinterpreting the 2nd amendment is so dangerous.

Reply to TexasTowelie (Original post)

Wed Jun 17, 2015, 06:43 PM

Jun 2015

HassleCat

(6,409 posts)

2. I see they are the same

Reply to TexasTowelie (Original post)

Wed Jun 17, 2015, 06:48 PM

Jun 2015

A howitzer, a bazooka, and a fire truck all walk into a bar together...

Romeo.lima333

(1,127 posts)

3. “I should be able to have a howitzer or a bazooka if I want one." and you can.

Reply to TexasTowelie (Original post)

Wed Jun 17, 2015, 07:38 PM

Jun 2015

take your dumb ass to somalia you can have what ever you want.

Adsos Letter

(19,459 posts)

4. “I should be able to have a howitzer or a bazooka if I want one."

Reply to TexasTowelie (Original post)

Wed Jun 17, 2015, 07:38 PM

Jun 2015

Well, New Year's Eve would certainly be a lot more spectacular. Every dog's nightmare.

MicaelS

(8,747 posts)

5. Yes, the "armored cars" are legal, so what?

Reply to TexasTowelie (Original post)

Wed Jun 17, 2015, 08:34 PM

Jun 2015

As Funicello’s vehicle illustrates — and the attack on the Dallas Police Headquarters last weekend by a man in an armored van that was apparently bought on eBay makes clear — anyone can buy virtually anything online and drive virtually anything on the road. The Ford van in the Dallas attack resembled a vehicle used by the police or money-transporting companies, with gun portholes, armor plating and outer running boards along the sides to stand on.

It was one of scores of military and police-style vans, trucks and cars offered for sale on Craigslist and eBay, vehicles the owners defend as novelties that are driven for fun, not for assaults. Particularly after the Dallas attack, the vehicles have raised concerns for some law enforcement officials, but they say the vehicles appear to be legal for the most part, so there is little they can do.

"Raised concerns". So we're going to let the police tell us everything that we can do?

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