Mini-14s!
 

I'm watching coverage of the San Bernardino shootings, and one thing jumped out at me: I can't remember the last time I've seen so many American cops with Ruger Mini-14s. And quite a variety of them too.

I had assumed AR-15s were pretty much the standard long arm for cops nowadays. I guess not.

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California police would never stoop to such a low level as to carry the sneering, evil black rifle that is the AR-15. Such an action (as is the action of the M16 series of rifles, apparently) would be morally reprehensible.

Mini 14s aren't true assault weapons though so it's fine to use them for law enforcement purposes up to and including deadly force encounters which the LEOs have righteously justified as applicable to their codes of conduct in the face of outlaw evildoers. And to that end, they don't mind taking a less scary action (same pun intended) and tacticooling up.

But no AR-15s, they are evil.

I think that a lot of Sheriffs departments purchased the Mini-14 as it was cheaper than the AR-15.

A buddy of mine mentioned that. Are they? Only Ruger makes the Mini-14, but you have dozens of companies making AR-15s. That has to drive the price down.

Our sheriff had the Mini-14 for many years for the deputies on patrol. The county SWAT had H&K MP-5 smg's and M-16A1 rifles. A few years ago the deputies got AR-15 carbines semi-autos (not sure of make) and the SWAT upgraded to the H&K UMP (9mm) and also went to the selective fire AR-15 carbine instead of the full size M-16.

My agency authorizes the AR-15 carbine for patrol and detectives (semi-auto) and issues AR-15 carbines (semi-auto) with all the bells and whistles to the SWAT members. I carry a Remington 870 instead of a rifle. I like the shotgun and don't want to spend the money to buy a rifle. Besides the "old-fashioned" shotgun still has it's place and compliments the rifles carried by the other officers on my patrol team.

Much about what officers will carry has to do with politics and how it will be percieved. Here in Idaho it isn't such a big deal.

Might be for political reasons for the police to look less "militarized"

They can't be trying too hard if they're running around in camouflage and riding in surplus MRAPs.