Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Congressman wants to curb military surplus program
Associated Press ^ | Aug 14, 2014 9:44 PM EDT | Matthew Daly

Posted on 08/15/2014 2:41:30 AM PDT by Olog-hai

A Democratic congressman plans to introduce a bill to restrict a Defense Department program that provides machine guns and other surplus military equipment for free to local law enforcement agencies across the country.

Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., said Thursday that the death of an unarmed teenager who was shot by a police officer in a St. Louis suburb highlights the need for the legislation, which has been in the works for months.

The bill comes as members of Congress have called for the Justice Department to investigate the shooting of a black teen by a police officer in Ferguson, Mo. …

(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia; US: Missouri
KEYWORDS: ferguson; hankjohnson; liberalagenda; militarysurplus
Only in the context of that, eh?
1 posted on 08/15/2014 2:41:30 AM PDT by Olog-hai
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

Congress isn’t really interested in the local police. This isn’t a program to arm them. Arming them is the result of manufacturer’s lobbyists expanding their businesses by moving the limited military demand for their product down market to the police at the expense of the taxpayers. The military has a relatively small need of only x machine guns and armored vehicles. But there’s a police agency at every level of every government. That market is HUGE.

Follow the money.


2 posted on 08/15/2014 3:01:24 AM PDT by Gen.Blather
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

If the military hardware is already bought and paid for by “We the people”, why are they selling it back to us?


3 posted on 08/15/2014 3:02:33 AM PDT by Dixie Yooper (Ephesians 6:11)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dixie Yooper
I am a County Commissioner in a small county with approx. 24,000 full time residents and during tourist season the population jumps to 40,000. Recently our county “inherited” a military type “assault vehicle” equipped with everything short of the machine gun mounted in the turret. (At least that is what we have been told, perhaps the machine gun is somewhere unknown to us.) The vehicle just showed up one day with none of aware it was coming.

What the hell does this small tourist area need with a vehicle (weapon) like that?

4 posted on 08/15/2014 3:43:57 AM PDT by DaveA37
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Dixie Yooper

I am a County Commissioner in a small county with approx. 24,000 full time residents, during tourist season the population jumps to 40,000. recently our county “inheritied” a military type “assulat vehicle” equipped with everything short of the machine gun in the turret. (At least that is what we have been told, perhaps the machine gun is somewhere unknown to us.) The vehicle just showed up one day with nobody aware it was coming.

What the hell does this small tourist area need with a vehicle (weapon) like that?


5 posted on 08/15/2014 3:44:15 AM PDT by DaveA37
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: DaveA37

What did you do with it? Maintenance on something like that can’t be cheap.


6 posted on 08/15/2014 3:50:04 AM PDT by tacticalogic
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

TOO LATE NOW...the cat is out of the bag...
Geez...politicians....


7 posted on 08/15/2014 4:03:56 AM PDT by BCW (ARMIS EXPOSCERE PACEM)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DaveA37

If you don’t need it put it up for sale. Your employers will appreciate reducing the government’s burden upon them.


8 posted on 08/15/2014 4:07:48 AM PDT by Justa
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

No outcry from left after Boston Marathon bombing.

A picture post of rifle pointing up directly at photographer would be a nice addition.


9 posted on 08/15/2014 4:17:21 AM PDT by School of Rational Thought
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

If they give too many weapons to a city, will it tip over?


10 posted on 08/15/2014 4:18:15 AM PDT by Road Warrior ‘04 (Molon Labe! (Oathkeeper))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dixie Yooper
If the military hardware is already bought and paid for by “We the people”, why are they selling it back to us?

"provides machine guns and other surplus military equipment for free"

11 posted on 08/15/2014 4:20:19 AM PDT by jiggyboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Bushbacker1
"If they give too many weapons to a city, will it tip over?"

Beat me to it, ya did...

Ultimately, Johnson's priority is race, which trumps even liberal Democrat dogma. This is all about the perceived 'license to kill black men'.

12 posted on 08/15/2014 4:22:09 AM PDT by DJ Frisat (Proudly providing the NSA with provocative textual content since 1995!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: DJ Frisat

Good ole Hank Johnson. Yesterday he said disarm the police. Also yesterday he said Obama should declare Martial Law.


13 posted on 08/15/2014 5:12:41 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz ("“Manchuria Called. They want their Candidate Back!”")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: DaveA37

Tell whoever sent it that you can neither use it or want it.


14 posted on 08/15/2014 5:48:25 AM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (The cure has become worse than the disease. Support an end to the WOD now.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

Hank Johnson who thinks Guam might tip over is smart enough to figure out we need to stop militarizing the cops. Who knew?


15 posted on 08/15/2014 7:45:09 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose o f a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson