Staff Photo by Shane McMillan
Patrolman Bobby Pamlin and other members of the Chattanooga Police Department test-fire new urban assault rifles at the police firing range on Moccasin Bend today. The department purchased the new weapons partly due to increasingly aggressive shootouts with law enforcement officials, that have been becoming more common around the country.

Members of the Chattanooga Police Department showcased their new urban assault rifles at the Moccasin Bend firing range this morning.

Officers demonstrated the precision of the Bushmaster .223 caliber rifles, which the department purchased with federal asset forfeiture money.

The rifles don’t have the penetration or ammunition projectile of shotguns and allow officers to engage suspects at greater ranges, said Lt. David Roddy with the police department.

“We’re running into individuals whose main mindset is to kill or injure as many people as possible until they’re stopped,” he said.

See tomorrow’s Times Free Press for complete details.

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