Consider the following:
Coconino National Forest, Arizona-Forest Service officials have been fighting a losing battle with local squirrels, now roaming the forest in large groups. Scientists have been unable to account for this unusual behavior or the recent attacks on hikers by the squirrels.
Attempts to trap the squirrels have only resulted in additional aggressive behaviors and injuries to several Forest Service employees. Hikers have been advised to avoid all squirrels and to travel in groups.
Could there be any other reasonable explanation for the arming of Forest Service employees?
CASH STARVED FOREST SERVICE SPENDS $600,000 TO BUY TASERS — Devices Remain in Boxes Because Rangers Lack Training
Washington, DC — The U.S. Forest Service has bought $600,000 worth of “Electronic Control Devices” without any training program, rules for use or even a written explanation as to why the devices are needed, according to agency records posted today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). The devices, known as Tasers, are sitting in storage and cannot be issued because the agency has yet to develop a training course.
Of course, the squirrel armies are fake, the taser purchase is real. Why are tasers needed and especially at this time?
Due to an intense fire season, the Forest Service is now staggering under a more than a quarter-billion dollar deficit, causing it to begin jettisoning core programs. For example, the agency lacks enough funds to draw up new timber sales. At the same time, the Forest Service law enforcement program is hobbled by more than 200 vacant positions, leaving only one officer to cover each 300,000 acres of National Forest and 750,000 annual million visitors.
In late September 2007, the Forest Service purchased 700 weapons and “related
accessories” from Aardvark Tactical, Inc. of Azusa, California, a subsidiary of Taser International, at a cost to taxpayers of $600,001.52, according to agency records obtained by PEER under the Freedom of Information Act. This represents enough to equip every single Forest Service special agent and law enforcement officer with an Electronic Control system at a cost of $857 apiece.
Perhaps Forest Service employees will be assisting in the GWOT. Or perhaps this is just the latest in agency mismanagement.
I am SO disappointed that the squirrel armies are not real. I thought that was so cool.
But they are real — to find out just go hike and stop and put your pack down. Shoot, they mugged Jim in broad daylight on the Kaibab trail when they thought the moleskin he was trying to put on was beef jerky.
Truth, justice and the squirrely way!
l would posit that, while not as entertaining as the image a rampaging horde of wild squirrels…although a close second…the taser’s may have something to do with the Rainbow Family Gatherings that have been a thorn in the paw of the forest service for many years.
especially in light of the, soon to come, new front in the gwot, Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007.
lTMF’sA
They plan to start tasering the Rainbow gatherings.
The Rainbow gatherings are not illegal. They make use of the fact that the public has a right of (non-destructive) access to public lands.
This public exercise of citizens’ rights does not please the Feds at all.
uhhh, maybe the squirrels they’re refering to are the people who don’t think the “BushCoo” way ; )
they’ll put the forest people in with the homeland security…afterall, they’re not too worried about the foreign threats…there’s another election to steal..again..
NOTE: to future protestor’s…don’t wear anything that resembles a squirrel ; )