Hard on the heels of news that Amtrak police have purchased 100 Bushmaster M4-Type Patrolman’s Carbine rifles comes word that the Maryland-National Capital Park Police are down for 17 of the same. They’ll use them to protect 400 parks, 100 miles of trails, 219 playgrounds and [an unstated number of] swimming pools, campgrounds, golf courses, horse stables, soccer stadiums, and stream valleys. “We are grateful to have the Maryland-National Capital Park Police and other agencies in the D.C Metropolitan regions of Maryland and Virginia, selecting Bushmaster rifles for their departments,” stated Rick Johnson, Director of Law Enforcement sales for Bushmaster, a division of The Freedom Group, headed by former Home Depot and Chrysler CEO Robert “I drive a Prowler” Nardelli. Given that the M-NCPPC employs 95 sworn officers (vs. 450 Amtrak po-po), the odds of encountering a rifle-wielding member of either force are roughly the same. How reassuring is that?