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Rand Paul: We Must Demilitarize the Police
Time ^ | 8/14/14 | Rand Paul

Posted on 08/14/2014 12:00:52 PM PDT by Valpal1

The shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown is an awful tragedy that continues to send shockwaves through the community of Ferguson, Missouri and across the nation.

If I had been told to get out of the street as a teenager, there would have been a distinct possibility that I might have smarted off. But, I wouldn’t have expected to be shot.

The outrage in Ferguson is understandable—though there is never an excuse for rioting or looting. There is a legitimate role for the police to keep the peace, but there should be a difference between a police response and a military response.

(Excerpt) Read more at time.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government
KEYWORDS: libtardian
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I happen to agree.
1 posted on 08/14/2014 12:00:52 PM PDT by Valpal1
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To: Valpal1

Yep.


2 posted on 08/14/2014 12:01:47 PM PDT by arderkrag (Chaste women, sober men, obedient children, and "sin laws" - the four horsemen of the apocalypse.)
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To: Valpal1

A lot of them can certainly get rid of the Nazi uniforms.


3 posted on 08/14/2014 12:03:19 PM PDT by cotton1706 (ThisRepublic.net)
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To: Valpal1

Rand just touches the surface of what’s happening.

NOAA, the Department of Agriculture, Commerce and EPA all have their own SWAT teams.

Remember those big quantity 9 MM and .40 cal buys by our federal government ?


4 posted on 08/14/2014 12:05:43 PM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (Rip it out by the roots.)
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To: Valpal1

Yes indeed !!!


5 posted on 08/14/2014 12:08:25 PM PDT by Iron Munro (<i>)
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To: Valpal1

I agree.


6 posted on 08/14/2014 12:11:07 PM PDT by Chickensoup (Leftist totalitarian fascism is on the move.)
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To: Valpal1

No bigger threat to our freedom exists than the presence of an overzealous military police state. Their job should be simply to serve and protect the public and enforce laws. Instead they use any perception of threat to their own safety to take out civilians or dogs.

Hey it’s a fine line but my beliefs on this changed enough in the past couple years to feel uncomfortable with putting military hardware in the hands of local police, and I agree with Rand Paul. SWAT teams should be rarely deployed.

Too many police actions are taking on the role similar to a military combat action where the citizens are an expendable enemy. This has evolved in a manner that is not good for America.


7 posted on 08/14/2014 12:14:37 PM PDT by apoliticalone (The MSM has a role to keep Americans divided rather than having a United States)
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To: Valpal1

duh alert


8 posted on 08/14/2014 12:16:18 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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To: Valpal1

I don’t think the cops in Ferguson were in riot gear until the riots and looting started.

Runt Paul is busy pandering for votes he will never get.


9 posted on 08/14/2014 12:19:17 PM PDT by Beagle8U (Unions are an Affirmative Action program for Slackers! .)
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To: Valpal1

Would it be better if towns such as this had their own individual police departments, comprised primarily of people who lived there?


10 posted on 08/14/2014 12:20:15 PM PDT by grania
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To: Valpal1

Gee ya think? Patriot Act killed a Nation. After that passed the Feds gave MAJOR grants (in the ludicrous name of ‘fighting terrorism’) to States to help them militarize the police.

We are in BIG trouble. It may indeed be too late.


11 posted on 08/14/2014 12:20:47 PM PDT by RIghtwardHo
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To: grania

Could they find enough non-felons in the town to fill the jobs?


12 posted on 08/14/2014 12:23:24 PM PDT by Beagle8U (Unions are an Affirmative Action program for Slackers! .)
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To: Valpal1

I agree with the sentiment in the headline, however, I don’t like the fact that Paul just accepts the witness’ story without any confirmation, and then goes and writes a story for Time magazine about it.

It smacks of pandering for “moderate” votes in his unannounced presidential campaign.


13 posted on 08/14/2014 12:26:31 PM PDT by Boogieman
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To: Valpal1

Push back on Obama, didn’t he say he would have some kind of civilian force domestically to rival the US military?


14 posted on 08/14/2014 12:26:40 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (ISIS has started up a slave trade in Iraq. Mission accomplshed, Barack, Mission accomplished.)
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To: Valpal1

This is informative and touching. It makes me uncomfortable using the term “militarization”:

http://www.theagitator.com/2010/05/14/more-militarized-than-the-military/


15 posted on 08/14/2014 12:26:40 PM PDT by Forgotten Amendments (Peace On Earth! Purity of Essence! McCain/Ripper 2016)
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To: Beagle8U
Probably. But could they find enough residents who would "snitch" on their neighbors?

I'm all for challenged communities taking over their own police, maintainence and education responsibilities. Maybe a state subsidy to towns without a good revenue source is okay. Let other towns around them stop the chaos from spreading. If they burn their town to the ground or one of their police does something unwise, NOT MY PROBLEM.

16 posted on 08/14/2014 12:28:48 PM PDT by grania
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To: apoliticalone
"No bigger threat to our freedom exists than the presence of an overzealous military police state"

Indeed. This has been part on obama's plan from the beginning.

It's not about protection of the people but protection of the state.

A corrupt and totalitarian state. We still think this is a democracy, but we the people are actually powerless to change anything.

The elections are 90% rigged and there is barely any difference between the two parties.

17 posted on 08/14/2014 12:28:56 PM PDT by Pietro
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To: Boogieman
It smacks of pandering for “moderate” votes in his unannounced presidential campaign.

Actually, it's the "moderates" and the non-ACLU left along with a few ancient conservatives (O'Reilly watchers) who aren't aware of this issue. The badge worshippers are still the majority. I think it took a lot of guts for him to come out like this.

Now, watch the left and Peter Kings come after him.

18 posted on 08/14/2014 12:34:17 PM PDT by Forgotten Amendments (Peace On Earth! Purity of Essence! McCain/Ripper 2016)
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To: Beagle8U

Just hopping the nearest train.


19 posted on 08/14/2014 12:35:01 PM PDT by cripplecreek ("Moderates" are lying manipulative bottom feeding scum.)
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To: Valpal1

who gave the police the weapons?

class?

did they buy it?

Easter bunny leave them?

Tooth fairy? well maybe a fairy, but not the tooth one.


20 posted on 08/14/2014 12:40:49 PM PDT by hadaclueonce (Because Brawndo's got electrolytes. Because Ethanol has Big Corn Lobby)
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