The Texas Department of Public Safety now runs 34′ gunboats equipped with 30 caliber fully automatic machine guns (900 rounds per minute). To herald the fresh water fleet, the DPS gave the mainstream media a ride-along. In its coverage, NBC forgets to mention that each boat costs $580k plus running costs and amortization. Times six. Or that the only reason Texas is patrolling the Rio Grande is that the feds aren’t getting it done—even though the Department of Homeland Security is kicking in an unspecified amount of your tax money to equip the Texas navy. Just sayin’.