House Unveils Bill To Demilitarize Local Police

House Unveils Bill To Demilitarize Local Police

By SAHIL KAPUR Published AUGUST 14, 2014, 2:44 PM EDT

Georgia Rep. Hank Johnson proposed legislation on Thursday aimed at demilitarizing domestic police forces, amid national criticism of heavily armed cops going after protesters in Ferguson, Mo.

"Our main streets should be a place for business, families, and relaxation, not tanks and M16s," the Democratic congressman wrote in a "Dear Colleague" letter to members of Congress. "Unfortunately ... our local police are quickly beginning to resemble paramilitary forces."

The Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act (PDF File link) would prevent the transfer of certain military-grade equipment from the Department of Defense to local law enforcement agencies. That includes some automatic weapons, armored vehicles, armored drones, silencers and flash-bang or stun grenades. Johnson boasted endorsements from the Friends Committee on National Legislation, American Civil Liberties Union and Defending Dissent Foundation.

"Before another small town's police force gets a $700,000 gift from the Defense Department that it can't maintain or manage, it behooves us to reign in the Pentagon's 1033 program and revisit the merits of a militarized America. I hope we can work together on this important issue," he wrote to colleagues.

I think in many ways this is just an extension of the military-industrial complex. Arm sales to police has to be a big business. It's also an escalation of arms, the momentum which can also be traced back to gun manufacturers and big government. With arm sales to civilians including AR15s and other paramilitary style weapons and hi-cap magazines, police are looking to increase their tactical profile.

At least there are some looking to reverse the trend.

SCORE!!

Now this needs to pass.

a reply to: Iamthatbish

It won't. Guarantee you those Congressmen/women who vote against this have some military/armament special interests in their district. Those who do vote for it will probably have districts under siege by our paramilitary police.

a reply to: Blackmarketeer

The truth is a police office doesn't need a silencer. Some of the things they got must not have been for regular military usage. And yet our police have them?!

They should never be on top a truck pointing guns at unarmed women and children. They need to figure out what can stay and what can go.

So is this the beginning of a shift from what people call a 'police state' to martial law or a military dictatorship?

it is the Department of Homeland Security who has bought all the ammo with plans to buy even more. Police aren't soldiers, they're citizens. The guys with the ammo are soldiers.

Edit: Where is all gifted stuff going to go, back to the DoD? That's rich, maybe it will be re-gifted to the DHS so that THEY can protect everyone.

Do they paint "To Protect and Serve" on those MRAPS?

Cause you know there are so many IED's going off in the states...

a reply to: BABYBULL24

Someone needs a smack in the back of the head.

"If tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.”


(James Madison)

a reply to: Blackmarketeer

I'm glad to see this but it will never pass. We stand a slightly better chance if somebody can get in front of the SCOTUS and make the argument that the Posse Comitatus Act's prohibition that "any part of the army of the united states" be used as law enforcement applies to hardware.

Unfortunately the PCA does allow congress to authorize such a use of the army, which congress actually did, however the authorization must be specific, and it is specific to fighting drugs in this case- which leaves an opening. Any non drug enforcement use of DOD 1033 hardware would not be authorized, and any person who had caused it to happen would be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by $10,000 fine and 2 years in prison.

So let's make a deal. Let's compromise. Let's Democrats and Republicans together demand that the SCOTUS enforce the law, with the result being twofold. 1. President Obama and a great many police chiefs will go on trial facing a misdemeanor charge that carries a 2 years sentence. 2. The police will lose their military armament.

a reply to: Blackmarketeer

Rand has gone on record slamming the militarization of the police.

The first thing the government can do is to STOP ARMING THEM.

best news all week. good on you, america, let's hope this bill doesn't die on the floor.

Look at you all, you complain when ISIS get the equipment, now you complain cos the police have it too.

You complain when you arm Israel.

Next you'll be complaining when they send their surplus equipment over to N. Korea.

What on earth are the US govt supposed to do with all this equipment they have bought with your tax dollars?




END SARCASM.

I hope this bill passes, Im not in the US, but once a country adopts this kind of strategy, others will follow. I suspect they may be testing the waters in the US, before implementing this militarisation across the western hemisphere.

a reply to: Blackmarketeer

Damn that mission creep huh?

I'd guess that the militarization began as cops wanted to increase their odds of surviving a career and seeing the family after each shift. Hand-me-downs brought back from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Then there's always corporations pushing their products and seeking new markets. A little graft for the politicians and here we are today with storm-troopers.

It's an interesting list of equipment that the Bill seeks to prevent being donated to law enforcement:

originally posted by: pennydrops
What on earth are the US govt supposed to do with all this equipment they have bought with your tax dollars?

OH! OH! I know what to do with it!

Give me ALLZ TEH GUNZ


But in all seriousness, I couldn't agree more with the premise of this bill. However since it is in the best interest of the republic you can count on it receiving bipartisan support...straight to the trash can.

Actually, I would hope SWAT has silencers for breach and clear tactics in a hostage situation.

originally posted by: Iamthatbish
SCORE!!

Now this needs to pass.

It won't pass because in the U.S. congressmen don't need to reside in the district they run for. Meaning lobbyists of rich, wealthy suppressors will ensure that poor, suppressed and exploited communities remain "in check" by hiring minions to enter the ballot for the poorer and ignorant districts.

Money is free speech, according to recent rulings, but free speech is illegal depending on what community you're from (according to recent police action)

That this congressman SHOULD BE DOING if he cared is trying to pass an amendment mandating that any congressman representing a district MUST LIVE IN THAT DISTRICT.

This prevents the issue of lack of representation. Most Americans are hurting and the system is broken and any intelligible person can EASILY fix it if they cared. Those in power have other interests and this is clearly evident since this problem never ends.

It's really getting out of hand. Take a look at this small town in Michigan


Link to Article

Pierce’s critics say there have been other examples of aggressive policing lately, and question why Pierce needs nearly three dozen, non-certified reserve officers to protect a population of 3,900 with the most serious crimes generally theft and burglary.....

The department also has two Humvees and two armored personnel carriers received free of charge from the U.S. Department of Defense for a township with only four full-time officers......

The show of force, he (Pierce) told the Free Press, is necessary because of the threats of terrorism, barricaded gunmen and mass shootings.

This is a small town of 4,000 people that has 4 full duty officers, with no major crime to speak of. That they need 2 Humvee's and 2 APC's for this town is incredulous, especially when they pull out the terrorism/mass shooting card as the reason for it.

They haven't unveiled crap on the floor because they (Congress) are on mandatory vacation!

a reply to: Blackmarketeer

Dang it! So they get to ride the tide while the issue is hot then tank the bill and say - we tried .

a reply to: Blackmarketeer

This is some of the best news I have see all week!!
Even my tiny little Alaskan town was gifted with an MRAP. We don't even need a swat team, I never understood why we needed this.