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Coast Guard choppers may have some teeth
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North Coast residents may soon see armed U.S. Coast Guard helicopters along the beaches. To increase the Coast Guard’s firepower for combatting terrorist attacks on ships, bridges and other potential targets in Northern California, helicopters with gun mounts have been added to the Coast Guard’s fleet. “Armed helicopters are another level of protection the Coast Guard can utilize to save lives and protect coastal assets,” a Coast Guard press release stated. Before deploying the gunships, training was conducted in San Pablo Bay to prepare helicopter pilots and crews for hostile boat intercept maneuvers. According to the press release, since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Coast Guard’s role in homeland security has grown. “The Coast Guard is both a federal law enforcement agency and a military service and has always had the authority and capability to employ armed boarding officers and armed boats and ships for law enforcement and security missions,” the press release states. “The new armed helicopter capability will not be used for routine law enforcement missions.” |
