US rethinks giving excess military gear to police

AP ^ | August 16, 2014 | Tami Abdollah and Eric Tucker

[Slings and Arrows]

About damn time.

[OneWingedShark]

I don’t recall that most libs had much of a problem with the Elian Gonzalez, Waco, and Ruby Ridge incidents.

I found the more I look into those incidents the more disgusted with government agencies and their rampant injustice I get...

[gaijin]

it seems to me amazing that people believe that because Eric Holder simply states he’s reconsidering this that it means he does in fact have serious new reservations.

This is a man who believed that existing US law did give him the power to use a drone strike against a US citizen sitting in Starbucks.

It is incredible to me that people would believe that he is actually reconsidering this.

[Enterprise]

It was just a few short months ago that Federal Officers were in a standoff with supporters of Bundy. The Federal Officers killed some of Bundy's cattle, vandalized his property, and were prepared to kill American citizens because Bundy's cattle ate forbidden grass. I don't recall the liberals being overly upset about the heavily armed Federal Officers.

Fast forward to Ferguson. Heavily armed officers are present as Democrat voters engage in acts of arson and looting. And do nothing.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

Rethinks? I’ve been SCREAMING against it for a decade or more.

[wardaddy]

One good thing from this race baiting media masturbation bullshit

[Olog-hai]

A “rethink” is not a cessation. And of course the problems in Ferguson were not caused by militarized police.

[Vendome]

Excellent point

[huldah1776]

Heard on Fox News interview with a police chief that the military equipment is “purchased” with Federal GRANTS not loans.

[lavaroise]

I always womdered why exo activists and the cool lin kids were always shown driving VW Hitler jeeps with rainbows and scooby VW mobile shacks.

[AlexW]

This is a double edge sword. While I want the police to have what they need, I also see that police in the US have changed over the last 10-15 years. What use to be the “good old boy on the beat” has been morphing into a jack-booted thug decked out in swat gear. I do not know if they are emulating what they see in movies, or if the moves are portraying them as they are.

[2ndDivisionVet]

[AlexW]

I saw that photo just after I posted ...That is a perfect representation of what I said.

[Mogger]

But then where will the excess military gear go to? Why, the Brownshirts, of course!

Errr, no.

We buy it.

It is sold on http://www.govliquidation.com/

Go there, you'll be surprised. Search by state or by equipment.

Some has to be cut up by the buyer upon purchase to de-mil it, others can be taken as-is.

Pick up a copy of Military Vehicle Collectors' Magazine. If you don't want to go through the hassle of buying it yourself, go to: Colemans.com or Kublossurplus.com or to any number of other surplus yards around the country. They buy the large lots, then sell to us. I prefer to go this way as I get to inspect what I buy at leisure.

For European stuff, such as Unimogs, etc:

This is who I buy our Unimogs from:

http://www.unimogcentre.com/index.html

Or if you're out west in Colorado: http://coldwarremarketing.com/

Or if you are further out west:

http://www.expedition-imports.com/

[Gen.Blather]

“Stop making far more than needed.”

Indeed. The real intent is not to supply military hardware to the police. The intent is to keep money flooding into the makers of that equipment. The military need is so small that in some cases, it does not justify the cost of making new equipment. But if you throw in all the thousands of police departments suddenly the market is huge. But since those police generally don’t have the money (or need) for fifty caliber machine guns or armored vehicles the federal government (taxpayers) have to pay for it. It’s a win/win for government and police and a loss for taxpayers.

[WorksinKOP]

I clicked in to see and hear Rep. Hank Johson’s thoughtful insights. Who could forget these timeless classics.

Like,

Hank Johnson: ‘Imagine a World Without Balloons’ .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dP_IzmgW0s

Or,

Hank Johnson Midgets Vs Giants Analogy .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3tySCuhCXk

Hank must have been misunderestimated on the last one, so he clears everything up as only he can.

.”I Had Never Heard Of The The ‘M’ Word” Hank Johnson Apologizes For Using The M-word .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1zc_6FurpU

I’d say “last” but not least however, I have a feeling we’ll all enjoy many more remarks in the future.

Guam will Capsize and Tip Over into the ocean Hank Johnson .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cesSRfXqS1Q

I’m sure many would have already seen these, If you didn’t, your missing out. If you did, you many wish to enjoy once more....

[cripplecreek]

Its also important for people to get out there and lean on their local governments who are receiving the equipment.

Its usually more effective to deal with the local government. My township voted to eliminate our local 5 man force a couple years ago. By law we have to contract with the county sheriff which carries its own problems. We seldom see them out here and this militarized police issue is getting attention on a countywide level.

[Gen.Blather]

The sheriff is the most powerful elected official in the county. In Florida the job’s occupant usually only changes when he dies or retires. Our local sheriff’s are in an arms race to see who gets the most federal loot. The sheriff’s also control some huge budgets as they have the county prison systems under their control. Companies court them as if they were royal princes.

[SkyPilot]

When Obama's Private Army is terrorizing white citizens who were doing nothing more than dwelling in their own homes in Watertown MA, it is a "good thing."

But when the Private Army has to confront blacks who are rampaging, burning, looting, and stealing, the Private Army must back off.

[The_Media_never_lie]

Exactly!