Jan 9, 2008 10:10 pm US/Eastern
AK-47 Claims The Life Of Another SOFLA Officer
PEMBROKE PINES (CBS4) ―
Once again an assault rifle is the weapon that took down a police officer in South Florida. If you enter the term "AK-47" in Google, nearly nine million results will appear. The AK-47 is not only a threat to law enforcement but to the common citizen as well.
Many officers in South Florida use a Glock pistol, but the problem is many cop killers are using assault rifles such as AK-47's. If you don't know much about weapons, Rory Fiorentine, of the American Range & Gun Shop, put it in laymen's terms.
"This [AK-47] will go through cinder blocks and still have enough kinetic energy to go through your body," Fiorentini said. "The Glock would not have a chance going through a cinder block, not a chance."
Many officers complain that they are outgunned by the bad guys.
"The streets are full of these killing machines," said Miami Police Spokesperson Lt. Bill Schwartz.
Police got several painful reminders this year that they're falling behind the street thugs. Miami police officer James Walker was the latest of six South Florida officers shot by AK-47's recently--3 were killed.
"We are totally outgunned," said Schwartz. "We don't carry AK-47's; our Glocks are good weapons, but they don't stand much of a chance."
And no matter what protection a cop may wear, the AK-47 bullets are capable of piercing through it.
"Oh, for sure, with not a problem," said Fiorentini. "An officer's Kevlar is like nothing to an AK-47."
Buying an AK-47 at a gun shop requires a background check and restrictions do exist, but this is not where many thugs get the weapon.
"It can be stolen out of a house, out of a car out of a gun shop, or they're going to buy them from people who can buy them legitimately and then sell them on the streets to people who shouldn't have them," said Victor Needelman, of the American Range & Gun Shop.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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