Obama announces restrictions on distribution of military-style equipment to police

Can't believe this hasn't been posted already. I have no problem with Law Enforcement being equipped with the A.R., Kevlar or sniper rifles. Why? Because we have them too. I believe they should not be placed at a disadvantage when it comes to dealing with armed offenders. On the other hand, they Do Not need "mine resistant vehicles" with a .50 cal mounted on top. I mean jeez, this ain't the M.E. The LEOs you see standing around at protests sometimes look like they're going after a terrorist camp. They're like little kids at the candy store. If you put it in front of them, they want it, whether they actually need it or not. I do not like Obama and I believe he's done a terrible job, but in this case, I'm glad to see he finally did something right. The police still have too many lethal toys, but this is a start to demilitarizing our cops and maybe get them to stop acting like we are the enemy.

www.foxnews.com...

WASHINGTON – President Obama is banning local police departments from receiving a range of military-style equipment from the federal government -- from grenade launchers to bayonets to certain armored vehicles -- as he implements the recommendations of a panel that examined the controversial gear giveaways in the wake of the Ferguson riots.

The White House announced Monday that Washington would no longer provide some military-style gear while putting stricter controls on other weapons and equipment distributed to law enforcement. The details were released as Obama prepares to travel to Camden, N.J., Monday afternoon to meet with youth and law enforcement, and give a speech.

In previewing the president's trip, the White House said that effective immediately, the federal government will no longer fund or provide armored vehicles that run on a tracked system instead of wheels, weaponized aircraft or vehicles, firearms or ammunition of .50-caliber or higher, grenade launchers, bayonets or camouflage uniforms. The federal government also is exploring ways to recall prohibited equipment already distributed.

Good job. Those items never belonged on our streets to begin with. I especially like the recall idea instead of letting the current inventory remain out there. Now lets see how this pans out.

Hilarious

Obama carriers on Bushs policy of arming the police like a paramilitary group and gets blasted for it as a tyrannical dictator trying to install Marshall law.

Obama starts disarming then, now I bet he is a weakling who is betraying the police......

This was a bad idea from the outset. What were they thinking?

a reply to: DAVID64

The White House announced Monday that Washington would no longer provide some military-style gear…

Now that they are armed with those items… a bit late?

Then theres the spare parts and maintenance contracts. Win, win for defense contractors.

a reply to: DAVID64

I like the idea. Let's hope it can actually be done. I'm not necessarily as anti police as most on ATS, but all that equipment costs a lot and doesn't need to be funded by the taxpayers so it can sit in a garage all its life.

a reply to: crazyewok

I see you edited your post. The last line asked the question "What do you Americans want ?"
Just wanted to clear that up for the folks who read this and think my reply is odd.

To be able to protest without a swivel mounted .50 cal pointed at us by a guy who looks like he belongs storming an ISIS camp?

a reply to: ArnoldNonymous

18 BILLION dollars! Much of that should have been spent training officers how to deal with the public, instead of how to better intimidate and subdue.

But he did not announce a ban in December with the publication of the review, which showed five federal agencies spent $18 billion on programs that provided equipment including 92,442 small arms, 44,275 night-vision devices, 5,235 Humvees, 617 mine-resistant vehicles and 616 aircraft

a reply to: intrptr

Yeah....I don't hold out much hope for this little gem. They'll kick, scream and cry like a kid with a lollipop to keep from losing their toys, but maybe.........

The federal government also is exploring ways to recall prohibited equipment already distributed.

originally posted by: DAVID64
a reply to: intrptr

Yeah....I don't hold out much hope for this little gem. They'll kick, scream and cry like a kid with a lollipop to keep from losing their toys, but maybe.........

The federal government also is exploring ways to recall prohibited equipment already distributed.

Exploring ways? They shouldn't have done it in the first place, but they did. Now they are talking about stopping or recalling it?

They are always talking about stopping stuff thats already a done deal.

a reply to: intrptr

That's why this whole thing has that.....well, you know when you just go through the motions of getting the monster out of the closet to placate your kid? Yeah.

No more small town Sheriffs with APCs and other such armoured vehicles?

Thanks Obama!

a reply to: DAVID64

Also, from earlier this month, he wants LEO's to also be more accountable.......

(Reuters) - The Obama administration will provide $20 million in grants to local police departments to help buy body cameras for officers, the U.S. Justice Department said on Friday.

www.reuters.com...

Except during anti-government uprisings and demonstrations and anything deemed not in keeping with what the government wants you to see, then cameras malfunction, armoured vehicles roll out and military style equipment is donned.........

He is a muppet......

Apple, 2 years ago patented technology to disable smartphones from using camera,speaker and data transfer. Other Tech giants are probably fine-tuning that tech to the nth degree by now. For instance, during protests and/or public gatherings when the use of excessive force is more likely, the LEO cameras could be disabled

which would allow government and police to block transmission of information, including video and photographs, from any public gathering or venue they deem “sensitive”, and “protected from externalities.”/ex]

a reply to: DAVID64

I can't believe I am going to say this, but....g..g.good j..JJ...good job obama

That was tough, those words don't seem to sit together very well in my normal speech patterns.

About flipping time our local Leo aren't being armed like a marine battalion in Iraq.

I wonder how or if the recall will go.

a reply to: DAVID64

So, here we have the Fed Govt that has for a long time now, offered local PDs this stuff and now 0bama wants to retract that offering.

First off, the fed Govt had NO business in doing this in the first place.
Secondly, why has it taken so long to be stopped.
Thirdly, even with a turd like 0bama does something right, I will commend that person. Good on ya 0bama.

Now, here is an issue though. With LE meeting more and more heavily armed gang members, supplied by actions like Fast and Furious, how do we deny LEOs the weaponry to combat those bad guys?

a reply to: DAVID64

Finally, some common sense coming from the Federalies! Unfortunately I think they can still get MRAPS right? The policy only stated tracked vehicles would be prohibited, so, in my mind, it's not restrictive enough.

Cops should be cops and military should be military....I shouldn't have to guess who is who.

Does this apply to just "cities"?

Remember the Ferguson militarized police were "County" police.

Be wary of anything Obama says and/or does.

a reply to: Feltrick

Yup, MRAP's not covered which seems to be the predominate armored vehicle in civilian police use which is overkill for all but hostage rescue.

I welcome the camo uniform ban as well, our police do not need to be dressed in black like SS nor do they need to appear as they belong to SS panzer division in splotchy camo.

Bringing back neighborhood policing out of the cars and using small substations would go a long way towards better overall results.

The gulf between citizens and police has been widened to far.

This is not the Obama I typically mock and ridicule, what the hell is going on?
Well, never the less I'll save face by continuing to mock and ridicule him, one agreeable deed doesn't mean he is on my side.

You have pleased me Obama, for once. Don't get cocky, you have only met the standard which means S*** to me. Now surpass it or get out of office.

a reply to: macman

We should all go back to swords and knives, no one wants to get hacked to death.
If only there was a way to enforce this with out being tyrannical. lol