LAPD use replica rocket launcher to push gun control

Much has been said about the supposed rocket launcher acquired by the LAPD during the December 26th gun buy back program. During a press conference, Los Angeles police chief Charlie Beck held up the outdated training equipment with a lecturing expression on his face, presumably showing the citizens of Los Angeles how dangerous the streets are without government gun confiscation.

The fact that this was only a piece of training equipment, and never was or will be an authentic rocket launcher seems to have escaped the LAPD, despite the word "trainer" being boldly printed just a few inches from where chief Beck's hand is holding the replica. Further dampening this attempt at fearmongering is the fact that even if this were an actual rocket launcher, it is clear that it's already been discharged, and at this point is merely the spent casing of a practice rocket launcher. There are currently no laws against possessing spent practice rocket launcher casings, and for good reason. They cannot be used as an effective weapon. They're even too light to make an effective bludgeoning tool.

One can reasonably assume that the LAPD, who's ranks largely consist of habitual murderers and previously out of work mercenaries, would have been easily aware of these very basic facts regarding this harmless antique. And yet, in a blatant act of terrorism, the Los Angeles police misrepresented harmless objects as weapons of war, presumably ready for use by gang members. The corporate and online parrot media followed suit immediately, with a barrage of foreboding articles and segments showcasing the objects.

A particularly shameless example is Alexander Abad-Santos' article published by theatlanticwire.com, in which he asks "who in Los Angeles had military-grade rocket launchers in their house(s)?" After being spammed with emails pointing out that these were harmless replicas, Santos then tries his best to salvage his article by providing an "update" explaining that: "a few e-mails and comments have pointed out that these rocket launchers are most likely collectibles—which is the most common way people get their hands on rocket launchers." This disingenuous statement is meant to retain the scare factor by implying that criminals modify collectible replica rocket launchers into authentic ones, which is not only untrue but literally impossible. L.A Weekly's Dennis Romero also joined the damage control bandwagon, attempting to mislead people about the the LAPD's acknowledgement that these were not weapons:

They propel rocket grenades, but the official called them "non-working" because they did not have the "projectiles" with them.

This statement is false. The police did not call them "non-working" because they did not have the "projectiles" with them. The police called them "non-working" because they are non-working, with or without projectiles. As the dissolving corporate media continues to rely on outmoded techniques of information control, these embarrassing stunts ironically serve only to quicken the pace of their growing illegitimacy.