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 ...
Didn't bother him in Boston where white folks were "threatened" by an well armed Police force.
But this new "power grab" is for areas that are dominated by Obama's sons.
Bet the Muzzies are chomping at the bit.
That's in every way the appropriate and Constitutional method.
I disagree with pretty much everything the Executive branch in just about everything. At least this current Executive branch does.
Also, what's the point in voting for Congress Critters if Obama is Supreme Authority?
When one branch of government believes themselves to be all powerful and Congress allows it, the last group to holler is the people. Are you suggesting we simply whimper?
Of course they do. They could mandate such distribution, they could forbid it, or anything in between. Absent specific legislation, the disposition of surplus hardware is generally governed by the agency which "owns" the hardware. Bam-Bam can't, for example, legally shut down the CMP; it's a creature of Congress.
Put aside personal objections and think about a power grab from state and local authorities.
I think all this EO does is prohibit the federal government from providing certain military equipment to state and local government agencies. I suspect that is within his power. If your city or county wished to contract with suppliers of military hardware to purchase same with their own taxpayer-provided funding, and Obama tried to prevent the sale, that then might be a different matter. He'd probably try anyway, of course.
Agreed, police should be allowed no more or less equipment that citizenry.
This is not necessarily restricting the police forces, but just refusing to give them all kinds of free military goodies for their no-knock "let's play soldier" raids, which most of us have been complaining about for years.
So, yeah, I'm OK with Obama's order here. Cruz would do the same thing.
Consider the fact that no military equipment was used in the racially exploited deaths.
Obama puts stricter controls on military-style for police
With scrutiny on police only increasing in the ensuing months after a series of highly publicized deaths of black suspects nationwide, Obama also is unveiling the final report of a task force he created to help build confidence between police and minority communities in particular.
The federal government also is exploring ways to recall prohibited equipment already distributed.
His power grab over local agencies is a separate issue than a militarized police force............unless, of course, Obama gets his Rand Corp suggested Federal Police.
“I would endorse this decision if a conservative president made it, therefore I must endorse it as an Obama decision.”
ONLY if civilians can acquire the same equipment, if only to remind the feds why the Founding Fathers loathed standing armies (which DHS et al is per understandings thereof some 239 years ago) and wrote the 2nd Amendment as it is (to wit: “the legitimate creation of governmental [para-]military agencies notwithstanding, citizens may own military weapons without restriction”).
Hooking politicians on toys is like hooking voters on Obamaphones. Pull the toys away until they learn to do your bidding!
This didn’t start with good intent and it certainly won’t end with good intent.
Times change no doubt. My best friends father was a policeman back in the days when cops were still using .38 Police Specials, so we’re talking way back. He wore the double breasted police tunic and peaked cap. That was a long, long time ago.
Congress has the sole authority in directing what the CIC can do. Congress can write laws telling Obama he must paint the equipment pink if they wanted. The President has a minor role in rules and regulations of the military.
I thought the Constitution was clear on that too.
That thought crossed my mind as well.
So, Mr. policeman, just sell it to me, and I'll let you borrow it when you need it (If I'm not out 6-wheeling in it)
Congress must release funds to originally purchase the equipment. But the president can do anything he wishes with it after they have paid for it.
The president could take every surplus tank and helicopter in the military and push it all off an aircraft carrier to create a artificial reef if he wanted.
Cities could still purchase any equipment they want from other sources. This would only affect their ability to get US military surplus.
Apparently there are a few of us thinking that way.
I actually agree that police departments don’t need all this military type gear....they also don’t need to send a swat team to serve warrants!!!
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