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US rethinks giving excess military gear to police
AP ^ | August 16, 2014 | Tami Abdollah and Eric Tucker

Posted on 08/16/2014 8:07:05 PM PDT by EveningStar

After a decade of sending military equipment to civilian police departments across the country, federal officials are reconsidering the idea in light of the violence in Ferguson, Missouri.

The public has absorbed images of heavily armed police, snipers trained on protesters and tear gas plumes. Against that backdrop, Attorney General Eric Holder said that when police and citizens need to restore calm, "I am deeply concerned that the deployment of military equipment and vehicles sends a conflicting message."

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., said police responses like that in Ferguson have "become the problem instead of the solution." Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., said he will introduce legislation to curb the trend of police militarization.

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


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Missouri
KEYWORDS: ferguson; missouri; police
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To: null and void

About damn time.


21 posted on 08/16/2014 8:55:02 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows ("Your Daddy Was Drunk and Your Mama Was Lonely" - http://youtu.be/4HYy62qiOwA)
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To: Steve_Seattle
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...

22 posted on 08/16/2014 9:05:17 PM PDT by OneWingedShark (Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.)
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To: EveningStar

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.


23 posted on 08/16/2014 9:50:58 PM PDT by gaijin
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To: EveningStar; 2harddrive; The_Media_never_lie; cripplecreek; MichaelCorleone; manc; Pox; ...
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.

24 posted on 08/16/2014 11:09:33 PM PDT by Enterprise ("Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." Voltaire)
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To: EveningStar

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


25 posted on 08/16/2014 11:57:21 PM PDT by Freedom_Is_Not_Free (Free goodies for all -- Freedom for none.)
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To: EveningStar

One good thing from this race baiting media masturbation bullshit


26 posted on 08/17/2014 12:03:39 AM PDT by wardaddy (we will not take back our way of life through peaceful means.....i have 5 kids....i fear for them)
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To: Slings and Arrows

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


27 posted on 08/17/2014 12:28:43 AM PDT by Olog-hai
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To: agrarianlady

Excellent point


28 posted on 08/17/2014 12:59:31 AM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway-Enjoy Yourself ala Louis Prima)
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To: agrarianlady

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


29 posted on 08/17/2014 1:05:05 AM PDT by huldah1776
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To: MichaelCorleone

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.


30 posted on 08/17/2014 1:42:02 AM PDT by lavaroise (A well regulated gun being necessary to the state, the rights of the militia shall not be infringed)
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To: EveningStar

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.


31 posted on 08/17/2014 1:58:07 AM PDT by AlexW
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To: EveningStar

32 posted on 08/17/2014 2:21:25 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out for himself.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

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


33 posted on 08/17/2014 2:26:28 AM PDT by AlexW
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To: MichaelCorleone
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/

34 posted on 08/17/2014 2:52:59 AM PDT by Mogger (Independence, better fuel economy and performance with American made synthetic oil.)
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To: cripplecreek

“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.


35 posted on 08/17/2014 3:59:27 AM PDT by Gen.Blather
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To: EveningStar

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....


36 posted on 08/17/2014 4:14:54 AM PDT by WorksinKOP
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To: Gen.Blather

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.


37 posted on 08/17/2014 4:20:30 AM PDT by cripplecreek ("Moderates" are lying manipulative bottom feeding scum.)
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To: cripplecreek

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.


38 posted on 08/17/2014 4:35:09 AM PDT by Gen.Blather
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To: EveningStar
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.



39 posted on 08/17/2014 4:40:02 AM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: Enterprise

Exactly!


40 posted on 08/17/2014 11:15:08 AM PDT by The_Media_never_lie (The media must be defeated any way it can be done.)
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