Amid widespread criticism of the deployment of military-grade weapons and vehicles by police officers in Ferguson, Mo., President Obama recently ordered a review of federal efforts supplying equipment to local law enforcement agencies across the country.
So, we decided to take a look at what the president might find.
NPR obtained data from the Pentagon on every military item sent to local, state and federal agencies through the Pentagon's Law Enforcement Support Office — known as the 1033 program — from 2006 through April 23, 2014. The Department of Defense does not publicly report which agencies receive each piece of equipment, but they have identified the counties that the items were shipped to, a description of each, and the amount the Pentagon initially paid for them.
We took the raw data, analyzed it and have organized it to make it more accessible. We are making that data set available to the public today.
Here's what we found:
This is such a big can of worms. In the event of a terrorist attack, the mrap's could be downright handy under some circumstances. I also dont have a problem with LEO's (law enforcement officers) having weapons equal to or better than the terrorists or drug cartells (which will be soon commiting more acts of violence on US soil). But on the flipside, it does seem downright scary that the sheriffs dept in bumfuct nowheresville USA has an mrap and 25 m4's and a few grenade launchers for a county of 15000 people. I say let the leo's have a few mraps and if they get out of line we'll take em away.
ReplyDeleteif they get out of line we'll take em away.
DeleteYes and this has been mentioned. Thanks.
Again, we live in a land run by idiots. The PTB knowingly, by design leave our borders undefended, reward and give incentive to those who ILLEAGALY cross our borders. But, at the same time police departs have been turned into paramilitary units, given combat weapons to "protect" the public from "terrorists". I will not be suprised to read that some major cities PD will be M-1 Abrams tanks, for you know, "just in case". for officer Safety needs to stop a guy speeding. Mean while back at the ranch....we still have a war going on against, crime, drugs and poverty.
ReplyDeleteI will not be suprised to read that some major cities PD will be M-1 Abrams tanks, for you know, "just in case"
DeleteJust absurd.
Sorry my friend but I must disagree. These weapons should never be in the hands of the police. SWAT is a failed idea. The idea was a special weapons unit designed to handle extreme situations. About the only thing SWAT is not assigned to do now days is issue parking tickets. You simply cannot give a man a machinegun, dressed in body armor, his identity hidden and expect him not to change. The local LEOs do not deal with terrorists they deal with ordinary citizens.
ReplyDeleteWith the militarization of the police, there has been a changing mindset by the police. Police no longer go on patrol they are assigned missions. They no longer work a shift but instead a tour. Those changes in the descriptions of their job make a difference the way an officer thinks. The people he deals with are no longer citizens they become combatants or the enemy. Since September 11, 2001 over 5000 citizens were killed by police. You are eight to nine times more likely to be killed by the police than a terrorist.
I know television shows and the news make it seem like the police are in a nonstop war with terrorists and drug dealers. The truth is they are not. While that makes a good show it is not reality I know several officers. A police officers job is days of driving with the occasional interaction at a traffic stop and mountain of paperwork. It simply is not that dangerous of a job in 2012 according to FBI statics only 73 police were killed in the line of duty and in 2013 that number dropped to 50.
Please do not misunderstand I want our police to be safe. However, giving them machineguns and grenade launchers is not the answer. The military mindset needs purged from our police. We have full-scale military type SWAT units with machineguns, grenades, full body armor and faces hidden issuing no knock warrants on $200 misdemeanor charges. That should never be allowed to happen in America. Yet it does everyday and citizens are being killed.
Badger
We have full-scale military type SWAT units with machineguns, grenades, full body armor and faces hidden issuing no knock warrants on $200 misdemeanor charges.
DeleteNeeds to end immediately.
No need to appologize for your opinion Badger. I stand a bit more educated by your opinion and find that my opinion has changed. If the need comes for mraps and m-16s and grenades, they should be in the hands of our armed services in defense of our homeland. Thinking about it, Im not sure there has been an incident in our country that required a tank or mrap to resolve a situation. Im reminded of tanks used at the Branch Davidian compound. That was equal to using a stinger missle for a mouse infestation. I still have no problem with leo's having semi auto ar 15s for cases like the Los Angeles shoot out. But that situation could have been well dealt with through use of a scoped 308. You are correct. No reason for all of this military hardware for leo's. Thanks for being informative.
DeleteIm reminded of tanks used at the Branch Davidian compound. That was equal to using a stinger missle for a mouse infestation.
DeleteWell said.
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I still have no problem with leo's having semi auto ar 15s for cases like the Los Angeles shoot out. But that situation could have been well dealt with through use of a scoped 308.
Absolutely and as I remember, you are the first who has mentioned this in all these years. I was in California at the time watching it live. Thanks.
A jacked up police state is necessary in a fascist tyrannical non-representive oligarchy. The sheep must be kept in line and paying their dues to the ever enlarging bureacracy and state. This is always under the guise of 'for OUR safety' .its really for THEIR safety. We outnumber them.
ReplyDeleteAnd meanwhile our children are being conditioned to ask permission for everything. Bringing chapstick to school. Had enough yet?
Insane.
Delete