On balance the Obama administration has been awful on most things. They seem to be getting one right in this instance:
The White House on Monday announced new limits on federal programs that supply local police with military-style equipment.I really can't think of any reason a local constabulary would need grenade launchers or bayonets, to say nothing of some of the other toys. We have a lot of issues with policing in this country that go well beyond the hardware, but it's still worth noting when the administration does something positive.
After four months of study, a Cabinet working group tasked by President Obama to reform the initiatives unveiled eight categories of military supplies local law enforcement will be banned from acquiring from federal agencies or with federal funds.
The list includes grenade launchers, tracked armored vehicles, armed aircraft, bayonets, and guns and ammunition of .50 caliber or higher.
There is a “substantial risk of misusing or overusing these items,” which “could significantly undermine community trust,” the group’s report reads.
Other federally supplied equipment, such as wheeled armored vehicles, drones, helicopters, firearms and riot gear, will come with new strings attached for local police to ensure officers are trained in their use and in “community policing, constitutional policing and community input.”
4 comments:
I'm most impressed the did this after only four months' study! That's breakneck speed in the federal government.
Now comes the bill as the military is forced to pay for storing or dismantling obsolete equipment.
But that said, I'd love to hear out the rocket scientist who decided to get rid of surplus bayonets this way. They're cheap, don't wear out often, adaptable to different platforms, and actually using one apparently generates PTSD like no one's business. There is a big reason you keep that kind of thing to people with resources to deal with PTSD.
good move, though largely insignificant. baby steps i guess.
take a stand against the police unions. that would help more.
and stop hiring cowboy types who like to play 'green beret' whenever there's a protest.
Just talked with a coworker in the army reserve, and he's of the view that apart from SWAT teams, you don't want anything that's even full auto. Using it well simply requires a different skill set than you're training for among police.
For that matter, he and a bunch of other soldiers tend to keep their M16s in semi-auto mode simply to train their tactics better--lots of bad things happen when you spray and pray. Afghans even tracked our soldiers by the number of single shot kills they heard. So if a police officer loves that full auto, he's doing many things, but playing "Green Beret" is not one of them.
Post a Comment