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 ...
About damn time.
I found the more I look into those incidents the more disgusted with government agencies and their rampant injustice I get...
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.
Fast forward to Ferguson. Heavily armed officers are present as Democrat voters engage in acts of arson and looting. And do nothing.
Rethinks? I’ve been SCREAMING against it for a decade or more.
One good thing from this race baiting media masturbation bullshit
A “rethink” is not a cessation. And of course the problems in Ferguson were not caused by militarized police.
Excellent point
Heard on Fox News interview with a police chief that the military equipment is “purchased” with Federal GRANTS not loans.
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.
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.
I saw that photo just after I posted ...That is a perfect representation of what I said.
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:
“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.
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....
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.
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.
But when the Private Army has to confront blacks who are rampaging, burning, looting, and stealing, the Private Army must back off.
Exactly!
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