In a surprise announcement Monday, the White House said, effective immediately, the federal government will no longer fund or provide to police a number of military-grade weapons: 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. A longer list of equipment will be more tightly controlled, including wheeled armored vehicles like Humvees, manned aircraft, drones, specialized firearms, explosives, battering rams and riot batons, helmets and shields.
The federal government also is exploring ways to recall prohibited equipment already distributed. The move comes after police used heavy equipment to quell protests in Ferguson, Mo., last summer. President Obama will discuss the measures during a visit to Camden, N.J., one of the country’s most violent and poorest cities.
I’ll highlight steps all cities can take to maintain trust between the brave law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line, and the communities they’re sworn to serve and protect
President Barack Obama
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 issue of police militarization rose to prominence last year after a white police officer in Ferguson fatally shot unarmed black 18-year-old Michael Brown, sparking protests.
The substantial risk of misusing or overusing these items, which are seen as militaristic in nature, could significantly undermine community trust and may encourage tactics and behaviors that are inconsistent with the premise of civilian law enforcement.
Report from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services at the Department of Justice
http://yahoonewsdigest-us.tumblr.com/post/119271940569/obama-no-more-tanks-or-grenade-launchers-for
Police militarization won’t stop! The President is encouraging (BRIBING) police departments to adopt the recommendations!
“The president will visit police headquarters and meet with officers before giving public remarks. He will also announce $163 million in grants to encourage police departments to adopt the recommendations of the White House working group report. ”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/18/obama-military-equipment-police_n_7304504.html
Watch what his left hand is doing. Pay no attention to the right hand. It’s for the drooling idiots to stare at. The militarization will go on unabated. We are all Palestinians now.
Reduce the civilian chances of resisting the eminent usurpation of the nation
“A longer list of equipment will be more tightly controlled, including wheeled armored vehicles like Humvees, manned aircraft, drones, specialized firearms, explosives, battering rams and riot batons, helmets and shields.”
Damn! All the stuff we’re planning on using against them.
Guess we’ll have to make do with what they already have on hand.