DHS Contractor Apologizes For Selling Shooting Targets of Children

UchihaTaijiya · 02-24-2013, 02:43 PM

http://www.infowars.com/dhs-contract...s-of-children/

Quote:

A company which received $2 million dollars from the DHS has apologized and taken offline “no more hesitation” shooting targets which depicted pregnant women, children, and elderly gun owners in residential settings as “non-traditional threats,” following an online uproar.

As we first reported on Tuesday, Law Enforcement Targets Inc. (LET), a Minneapolis based company that has received almost $2 million dollars in contracts from the Department of Homeland Security over the last three years, recently began selling cardboard cut-out targets designed to desensitize police to “non-traditional threats,” including pregnant women, mothers in school playgrounds, and little boys, as well as elderly gun owners in their homes.

The company’s relationship with the DHS, along with thousands of law enforcement agencies, led to fears that the targets could be connected with Homeland Security’s purchase of roughly 2 billion rounds of ammunition over the last year, which many fear is linked to preparations for mass social unrest. As we documented, the LET’s contracts with the DHS were for “training aids” and “paperboard”.

In its apology, posted on the company’s website as well as Facebook, LET acknowledged that the targets were requested by law enforcement agencies.

We apologize for the offensive nature of our “No More Hesitation” products. These products have been taken offline due to the opinions expressed by so many, including members of the law enforcement community.

This product line was originally requested and designed by the law enforcement community to train police officers for unusually complex situations where split-second decisions could lead to unnecessary loss of life.

Consistent with our company mission as a training supplier (not a training methods company), we will continue to seek input from law enforcement professionals to better serve their training objectives and qualification needs. We sincerely appreciate law enforcement professionals for the risks they take in providing safety and defending freedom.

The company’s excuse that the targets were designed to help police prevent “unnecessary loss of life” is highly dubious given that the images were all of armed individuals termed “non-traditional threats,” designed to ensure “no more hesitation” from police officers encountering them.

As one respondent to the company explained, “Look, each of the supposed “threats” appeared to be in their own home settings. They were also all holding a weapon….it is obvious these paper targets were never intended to be decoy (don’t shoot targets). It is apparent this was designed to assist in desensitizing the trainee.”

In addition, the company had previously struck a different tone when it told Reason’s Mike Riggs that the targets were designed to combat, “hesitation on the part of cops when deadly force is required on subjects with atypical age, frailty or condition.”

Although the targets have been taken off the company’s website, it’s unclear whether or not they have been removed from sale entirely.

Mike Lilly, a retired 32-year police officer, demanded that the targets be discontinued completely.

“Whomever convinced you this was a good idea needs psychological counseling. Proper training and readiness is NOT dependent on shooting pictures of pregnant women and children. Anyone who says otherwise is seriously mistaken or has another agenda It is noted that you say they were taken OFFLINE. Have they been DISCONTINUED AND RECALLED?” he stated.

Lilly’s concern was echoed by retired City of Houston police officer T.F. Stern, who asked why police officers were being trained “to feel nothing’s wrong in shooting a pregnant lady or an old man with a shotgun inside his own home.”

View the targets that caused the uproar below.

Thoughts?

LonelyNinja · 02-24-2013, 05:26 PM

That's pretty fucked up. It's one thing for a company to design and sell targets like that, but it's something else entirely when police agencies are requesting it. Fault is on both sides, but I feel the latter is more responsible. Hard to put the public at ease when officers are possibly being trained to shoot at pregnant women and the elderly, even if they are armed.

UchihaTaijiya · 02-24-2013, 08:07 PM

What bothers me also is the background setting for these 'non-traditional' targets... in homes, nurseries and at parks... The young mom is still holding her kid's hand... Its definitely unsettling.

LonelyNinja · 02-24-2013, 08:09 PM

I can't see these targets having any practical use by law enforcement agencies, but I could definitely see future psychopaths getting a hold of them and using them for their own training, which will only make them more dangerous and unpredictable.

**Mal** · 02-26-2013, 08:52 PM

Quote:

The company’s excuse that the targets were designed to help police prevent “unnecessary loss of life” is highly dubious given that the images were all of armed individuals termed “non-traditional threats,” designed to ensure “no more hesitation” from police officers encountering them.

As one respondent to the company explained, “Look, each of the supposed “threats” appeared to be in their own home settings. They were also all holding a weapon….it is obvious these paper targets were never intended to be decoy (don’t shoot targets). It is apparent this was designed to assist in desensitizing the trainee.”

GREEN The "unnecessary loss of life" could be that of police officers who are hesitant to fire at a "non-traditional threat." I am all in favour of properly training officers to be able to make appropriate decisions regarding their own safety, regardless of the physical appearance of the person presenting a threat.

RED How often do you see COPS go to a home in response to a Domestic Disturbance call? Most calls these days are exactly that, cops going to someone's home (source: my dad's RCMP). Given that fact and that most gun owners do not take their guns out of their home, it's much more likely a situation like this would happen in someone's home than on the street.

YELLOW How were they holding a weapon? At their side? Pointing it at the officers, themselves, a child? If the gun is present but not an immediate threat then they could very well be decoy/do-not-shoot targets. If they're using the gun in a threatening manner, then why should it matter that they're "obviously not decoy" targets? A threat is a threat.

PURPLE Yeah, desensitizing is exactly what the targets where advertised as doing. This isn't an argument against them unless there is legitimately something wrong with officers being able to properly assess a threat no matter who poses it.

Some people are fucked up, I have no qualms with officers being prepared for anything and everything.

I don't worry about "psychopaths" getting a hold of these. I can't imagine that someone willing to shoot women, children and the elderly will really be made any more dangerous by having matching targets. I mean, I'm no psychologist, but I think that level of crazy goes its own way regardless.

02-24-2013, 05:26 PM	#2
LonelyNinja Fight On, Fight Hard Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fistopia Age: 21 Posts: 399 Thanks: 111 Thanked 4,263 Times in 1,459 Posts	Re: DHS Contractor Apologizes For Selling Shooting Targets of Children That's pretty fucked up. It's one thing for a company to design and sell targets like that, but it's something else entirely when police agencies are requesting it. Fault is on both sides, but I feel the latter is more responsible. Hard to put the public at ease when officers are possibly being trained to shoot at pregnant women and the elderly, even if they are armed. __________________

02-24-2013, 08:07 PM	#3
UchihaTaijiya sublimis ab unda Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2,777 Thanks: 7,387 Thanked 3,312 Times in 1,249 Posts	Re: DHS Contractor Apologizes For Selling Shooting Targets of Children What bothers me also is the background setting for these 'non-traditional' targets... in homes, nurseries and at parks... The young mom is still holding her kid's hand... Its definitely unsettling. __________________ If the elephants have past lives yet are destined to always remember It's no wonder how they scream Like you and I they must have some temper And I am dreaming of them on the plains Dirtying up their beds Watching for some sign of rain to cool their hot heads And how dare that you send me that card when I'm doing all that I can do You are forcing me to remember when all I want is to just forget you If the tiger shall protect her young then tell me how did you slip by All my instincts have failed me for once I must have somehow slept the whole night And I am dreaming of them with their kill Tearing it all apart Blood dripping from their lips and teeth sinking into heart And how dare that you say you'll call When you know I need some peace of mind If you have to take sides with the animals Won't you do it with one who is kind And if the hawks in the trees need the dead If you're living you don't stand a chance For a time though you share the same bed There are only two ends to this dance You can flee with your wounds just in time or lie there as he feeds Watching yourself ripped to shreds and laughing as you bleed So for those of you falling in love keep it kind Keep it good Keep it right Throw yourself in the midst of danger but keep one eye open at night

02-24-2013, 08:09 PM	#4
LonelyNinja Fight On, Fight Hard Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fistopia Age: 21 Posts: 399 Thanks: 111 Thanked 4,263 Times in 1,459 Posts	Re: DHS Contractor Apologizes For Selling Shooting Targets of Children I can't see these targets having any practical use by law enforcement agencies, but I could definitely see future psychopaths getting a hold of them and using them for their own training, which will only make them more dangerous and unpredictable. __________________

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