Sounds like they were watching the right people.
The Constitution says nothing about monitoring publicly available information, no matter how hard you try to claim it does. And as usual, poor example to hinge your anti-law enforcement beliefs on. Right guys, right tactics, perfectly legal execution.
They're lucky they weren't killed, probably mostly because the "surveillance" revealed them to be bumbling idiots.
With all due respect: Please read what you wrote and think about it long and hard. You are in LE and have just admitted they definitely would have been shot where you work. Are you saying without warning, no commands to stop and or no command not to move, no attempt to disarm them, without an attempted overt move on their part that could be seen as a threat to life or limb, with no questions asked, they definitely would have been shot where you work! Bad thing to say or write in public. It could bite you in the arse later in your career if you ever are involved in a questionable shooting, especially if you kill someone.I'd be scared of these guys too. Honestly, they'd have definitely been shot had they pulled this crap where I work. Even in a place where this type of nonsense is legal, they'd be shot more often than not.
I absolutely stand by my statement. If the same set of facts happened at my stationshouse while I was on the desk, and myself and others elected to fire on them, especting an imminent attack, we'd be justified and 100% supporter by our leadership.
Something smells fishy to me. Either 1) these guys were epically stupid trying to make a point, or 2) this is a set up by the anti gun police chief.
If stupidity is the answer then they should count their lucky stars they weren't shot. Legal or not who goes into a police station with a ski mask pulled down, a rifle and a pistol? Actions have consequences (see kapernich - he had right to say what he believes but now effectively out of NFL). IMO monitoring them on social media is irrelevant. How are the cops to know that the posts weren't a setup? While remote it's not beyond the scope of reality. And the fact they weren't shot will only give losers like fat al another reason to scream discrimination.
Alternately could be a set up. If charges dropped and guys set free that's the most likely scenario but my money on stupidity.
If somebody walks into a playground with your kids in there with a mask body armor rifle and pistol You might get a little tense too.