Armed and dangerous

The NYPD has announced plans to form a new group to handle both counterterrorism and protest control. The group will consist of 350 officers and will be equipped with “long rifles and…machine guns,” according to Police Commissioner Bill Bratton. No word on what sort of protests would necessitate the aforementioned long rifles and machine guns, but better safe than sorry. (NY Post)

Venezuela’s Ministry of Defense has announced that the nation’s military has the right to use lethal force against unarmed protestors, so long as soldiers perceive a threat to public order. It’s like stand your ground, but for a democratic government. (PanAm Post)

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is stumping for a new proposal to expand the state’s counterterrorism powers. Among the proposed changes are reductions in the threshold for arrest and an internet censorship policy aimed at disrupting recruitment efforts. Critics fear that the government may use the net powers to restrict legitimate opinions. (CBC)

Seattle protestor and history teacher Jesse Hagopian is suing the city and its police department for pepper-spraying him as he was walking home from a rally. Thankfully, someone nearby caught the whole thing on video. (Guardian)

A group of protestors was able to disrupt a Senate hearing for several minutes by waving signs and demanding that former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger be arrested for war crimes. John McCain called the protestors “lowlife scum” as they were removed by police. (Guardian)

Our benevolent overlords via Shutterstock