Pity.
Posted on 05/18/2015 6:26:02 AM PDT by DJ MacWoW
WASHINGTON (AP) — Nine months after police in riot gear dispelled racially charged protests, President Barack Obama is prohibiting the federal government from providing some military-style equipment to local departments and putting stricter controls on other weapons and gear distributed to law enforcement.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.myway.com ...
Put aside personal objections and think about a power grab from state and local authorities.
Pity.
So they just have the bullseye gear now. Of course this all leads to a Federal police force.
Much as I hate Obama I agree with this. What do we need cops to be equipped as if they were the 82nd. Airborne?
I would endorse this decision if a conservative president made it, therefore I must endorse it as an Obama decision.
My thinking too.
This is not a one-size-fits-all situation.
In some towns the local police can be lightly armed Peace Officers. But in places like Oakland, Baltimore, Chicago and New York they are outnumbered soldiers in a war zone.
This smells more like a standard Obama power grab - taking advantage of a crisis - than concern over the quality and suitability of local police departments.
Leftists like Obama and Hillary do not want power to reside anywhere other than the federal government.
First they dictated the size of our toilets, then came federal directives on the way our cars are built, then what we can do with mud puddles and ponds on our land, next was the strong arming of the school system, then federal control of our medical care, followed by forced homosexualization of the military, now comes the movement to intimidate, overpower and control local police forces.
What I disagree with is that the Executive branch is telling local government what it can and can’t have/do.
What is becoming more and more painfully clear here is that Obama wants a National Police Force. He is using racist rioters and looters in Ferguson and Baltimore as an excuse to send in Federal Authorities and officials.
Then there’s Jade Helm. If anyone thinks this is just another harmless military exercise then they will be the first in line at the Walmart/FEMA camps to get their free Kool-Aid.
He has the power as commander and chief to keep the military from selling surplus military equipment at all if he wishes.
He could order all surplus equipment to be melted down if he wanted.
I admit to mixed feeling about this.
More info here:
He wants locals (especially if not black) to wear something new called piñata gear.
Ian”t all this just a riot?
And local police live, well, locally. A federal takeover, martial law, would need their cooperation. It won't do to have them able to defend where they live.
True, but it was FedGov that was supplying all that military hardware to them in the first place.
The Lord (Obama) giveth, and the Lord (Obama) taketh away.
Agreed!
Is it up to him or Congress? Honest question. Where is the line? (You know, the one he continually crosses)
Could he? Does Congress have no input?
The President, as Commander in Chief, would seem to me to have authority over the disposition of surplus DOD military equipment. Deciding that it shall not be distributed, gratis, to police departments would seem, to me, to be within the President's authority.
Whether that is a wise decision is a separate question.
Is it up to him or Congress? Honest question.
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Good question. But since Obama has had Congress in his pocket since day one - then what difference does it make?
Does Congress have no input?
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