House Democrat Readies Bill To Demilitarize Local Police

[Stephanie]

You can thank him and his comrades for our police becoming militarized

[ame=http://youtu.be/Tt2yGzHfy7s]Obama Civilian Security - YouTube[/ame]

7 Ways The Obama Administration Has Accelerated Police Militarization

whoa, from the hufferpufferpost
7 Ways The Obama Administration Has Accelerated Police Militarization

 

[CaféAuLait]

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) announced Thursday that he plans to file legislation aimed at stemming the militarization of local police -- something on full display this week in Ferguson, Missouri, where officers in riot gear have been showering largely peaceful protesters with tear gas and rubber bullets.

In a letter to his Democratic colleagues, Johnson asked for support for his bill, the Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act. The measure would rein in a Defense Department program that provides Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, M16 assault rifles and other surplus military equipment to local law enforcement, free of charge.

"Our main streets should be a place for business, families, and relaxation, not tanks and M16s," Johnson says in his letter. "Our local police are quickly beginning to resemble paramilitary forces. This bill will end the free transfers of certain aggressive military equipment to local law enforcement and ensure that all equipment can be accounted for."

Johnson will file his legislation in September. His office said he has been working on it for months but decided to expedite it in light of this week's events in Ferguson. Protests began there Saturday after a police officer killed Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager who was walking down the street.

"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 rein in the Pentagon's 1033 program and revisit the merits of a militarized America," reads his letter to colleagues. "I hope we can work together on this important issue."

The Georgia Democrat isn't the only lawmaker who wants to scale back local police forces' access to military weapons. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) said Thursday that it's "time to demilitarize this situation" in Ferguson, and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) wrote a Thursday op-ed titled, "We Must Demilitarize The Police."

House Democrat Readies Bill To Demilitarize Local Police

I couldn't agree more! Local police forces must be demilitarized. Their role is to protect and serve - not bully and intimidate.

Hank "GuamMayTipOver" Johnson?




A pen in his hand or a thought in his mind is more dangerous than ensuring cops have guns and vehicles to keep them safe.

 

[CaféAuLait]

 

[Stephanie]

Lakhoka has to be a paid troll for the Dnc

It's one thing after another on Democrats no matter the contradiction

 

[Old Rocks]

Cops don't want to get shot, so they get armored vehicles.
Cops don't want to miss if they shoot back, so they use 5.56 rifles instead of pistols or shotguns.
Cops don't want to get hit in the head with rocks or bottles, so they wear a helmet.

Maybe I'm missing the point, but what the fuck does it matter?

If people would stop shooting at police, stop burning down gas stations, stop looting car rim stores, stop throwing maltov cocktails......well, maybe cops wouldn't feel the need to mimic the military.

Because the military is GREAT at protecting themselves from bullets, and being very accurate with the ones they shoot back. So can you blame the police for wanting to get the BEST protection possible and best defense capabilities as well?

Local police forces have gotten progressively out of hand. Instead of friendly neighborhood cops trying to protect and serve - they've become tough guys (militant). It's time to reverse the trend.

As a former Atlanta Police officer, 8 years, in Zone 3 (South Atlanta) let me just say.......YOU go try to be the "friendly neighborhood cop" like Andy Griffith.

You go get spit on. You get sucker punched. You have your family threatened, and have the felon show up on your front lawn; You go out to dinner with your wife and have a felon recognize you; You GET SHOT AT, or worse, get hit.

Go do the job for a fucking month, and tell me how that Andy Griffith bullshit works out.


Hell yes they've become tough guys. They always have been. They tried the "friendly neighborhood police officer" who hugs babies and gives out candy. How did society react? With all the above bullshit I listed. SO now they aren't playing that game anymore.

Don't like it? DONT commit crimes; If cops tell you do stop doing something, just stop doing it. Don't try to talk back and resist or any of that shit. Just follow the rules. This whole mess started because some smart ass kids walking in the middle of the road talked back and didn't want to get out of the road (which is illegal). A tragedy occurred, hell, maybe even a crime because they cop may have committed murder.

But regardless, a stupid act started it.

America isn't Mayberry anymore.

With an attitude like that, I am glad that it is former. It is this very attitude that creates situations like the tragedy that just occured.

 

[Plasmaball]

Man how anyone can belong to the Democrat party is beyond me

one wants martial law and now one want to leave our police with what, squirt guns?

or we can just call them, bobbies

don't think they start with our police they will STOP THERE ....you citizens will be next

everytime you post someone becomes a democrat.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Cops don't want to get shot, so they get armored vehicles.
Cops don't want to miss if they shoot back, so they use 5.56 rifles instead of pistols or shotguns.
Cops don't want to get hit in the head with rocks or bottles, so they wear a helmet.

Maybe I'm missing the point, but what the fuck does it matter?

If people would stop shooting at police, stop burning down gas stations, stop looting car rim stores, stop throwing maltov cocktails......well, maybe cops wouldn't feel the need to mimic the military.

Because the military is GREAT at protecting themselves from bullets, and being very accurate with the ones they shoot back. So can you blame the police for wanting to get the BEST protection possible and best defense capabilities as well?

Local police forces have gotten progressively out of hand. Instead of friendly neighborhood cops trying to protect and serve - they've become tough guys (militant). It's time to reverse the trend.

As a former Atlanta Police officer, 8 years, in Zone 3 (South Atlanta) let me just say.......YOU go try to be the "friendly neighborhood cop" like Andy Griffith.

You go get spit on. You get sucker punched. You have your family threatened, and have the felon show up on your front lawn; You go out to dinner with your wife and have a felon recognize you; You GET SHOT AT, or worse, get hit.

Go do the job for a fucking month, and tell me how that Andy Griffith bullshit works out.


Hell yes they've become tough guys. They always have been. They tried the "friendly neighborhood police officer" who hugs babies and gives out candy. How did society react? With all the above bullshit I listed. SO now they aren't playing that game anymore.

Don't like it? DONT commit crimes; If cops tell you do stop doing something, just stop doing it. Don't try to talk back and resist or any of that shit. Just follow the rules. This whole mess started because some smart ass kids walking in the middle of the road talked back and didn't want to get out of the road (which is illegal). A tragedy occurred, hell, maybe even a crime because they cop may have committed murder.

But regardless, a stupid act started it.

America isn't Mayberry anymore.

So, you're one of the "tough guys" who "jacks up" a handcuffed guy, "helps" someone into the cruiser with a nightstick to the balls, goes out of your way to stomp house pets to death, and considers 'contempt of cop" a capital crime? Yeah, figured.

Let me guess: you are one of the cops who react to a camera like a cockroach to a floodlight, right?

 

[Jarlaxle]

The gangs are also well armed. So we let them take over?

It isn't one-size-fits-all. Intelligent people know when and where SWAT tactics are called for.

When rioters are burning down gas stations, smashing windows and looting business, throwing maltov cocktails and pulling guns on cops..........

Yeah, that's SWAT time.

No, that's National Guard time.

 

[Lakhota]

I'm not a Rand Paul fan, but I agree with him on this.

Senator Rand Paul on Ferguson: We Must Demilitarize the Police - TIME

 

[Rikurzhen]

Cops don't want to get shot, so they get armored vehicles.
Cops don't want to miss if they shoot back, so they use 5.56 rifles instead of pistols or shotguns.
Cops don't want to get hit in the head with rocks or bottles, so they wear a helmet.

Maybe I'm missing the point, but what the fuck does it matter?

If people would stop shooting at police, stop burning down gas stations, stop looting car rim stores, stop throwing maltov cocktails......well, maybe cops wouldn't feel the need to mimic the military.

Because the military is GREAT at protecting themselves from bullets, and being very accurate with the ones they shoot back. So can you blame the police for wanting to get the BEST protection possible and best defense capabilities as well?

Local police forces have gotten progressively out of hand. Instead of friendly neighborhood cops trying to protect and serve - they've become tough guys (militant). It's time to reverse the trend.

I too think there is a problem but it's not as simple as you paint it.

If you want policing to go back to the way it was during the Leave it to Beaver era then you need to return America's population back to the standard of that era. Wally and Beaver never had to hand over their lunch money to some tatted up MS-13 gang members.

So, towns and municipalities where there is low crime, high levels of human capital, and high levels of community involvement certainly can return to the "cops trying to protect and serve" model you advocate.

However, in multicultural hellholes, where there is a lot of crime, where police are targeted, where things are going to hell in a handbasket, the "cops trying to protect and serve" model just won't work. In these towns the police need to show who is boss, because if the boss is not law and order then we get the criminals taking over the city, see the Mexican cartels.

 

[bucs90]

It isn't one-size-fits-all. Intelligent people know when and where SWAT tactics are called for.

When rioters are burning down gas stations, smashing windows and looting business, throwing maltov cocktails and pulling guns on cops..........

Yeah, that's SWAT time.

I can see your agenda, so I won't split hairs with you. You obviously really like militarized jackbooted thugs in unform.

Also, the Ferguson Mayor said the burning and looting were done by out-of-towners. So why should the peaceful 1st Amendment protesters of Ferguson be treated like animals?

Of course he said that. But were they ID'ed? Nope. It could have been anyone, out of towner or not.

I don't like it. But it is a necessary element of society these days. Just how it is. Society has become very violent and unstable. As a left winger, you often have mentioned the big ass assault rifles that the NRA and right wing have supported and flooded our streets with.

Well, now you criticize the police for armoring themselves against the very weapons whose existence you have damned?

 

[Lakhota]

Cops don't want to get shot, so they get armored vehicles.
Cops don't want to miss if they shoot back, so they use 5.56 rifles instead of pistols or shotguns.
Cops don't want to get hit in the head with rocks or bottles, so they wear a helmet.

Maybe I'm missing the point, but what the fuck does it matter?

If people would stop shooting at police, stop burning down gas stations, stop looting car rim stores, stop throwing maltov cocktails......well, maybe cops wouldn't feel the need to mimic the military.

Because the military is GREAT at protecting themselves from bullets, and being very accurate with the ones they shoot back. So can you blame the police for wanting to get the BEST protection possible and best defense capabilities as well?

Local police forces have gotten progressively out of hand. Instead of friendly neighborhood cops trying to protect and serve - they've become tough guys (militant). It's time to reverse the trend.

I too think there is a problem but it's not as simple as you paint it.

If you want policing to go back to the way it was during the Leave it to Beaver era then you need to return America's population back to the standard of that era. Wally and Beaver never had to hand over their lunch money to some tatted up MS-13 gang members.

So, towns and municipalities where there is low crime, high levels of human capital, and high levels of community involvement certainly can return to the "cops trying to protect and serve" model you advocate.

However, in multicultural hellholes, where there is a lot of crime, where police are targeted, where things are going to hell in a handbasket, the "cops trying to protect and serve" model just won't work. In these towns the police need to show who is boss, because if the boss is not law and order then we get the criminals taking over the city, see the Mexican cartels.

No one said it's one-size-fits-all. Different areas and situations require different tactics. But the current trend of militarized cops must be reversed.

 

[1776]

Hank Johnson....the same dumbfuck that said adding Marines to Guam would flip the island over....

 

[BluesMistress]

Local police forces have gotten progressively out of hand. Instead of friendly neighborhood cops trying to protect and serve - they've become tough guys (militant). It's time to reverse the trend.

I too think there is a problem but it's not as simple as you paint it.

If you want policing to go back to the way it was during the Leave it to Beaver era then you need to return America's population back to the standard of that era. Wally and Beaver never had to hand over their lunch money to some tatted up MS-13 gang members.

So, towns and municipalities where there is low crime, high levels of human capital, and high levels of community involvement certainly can return to the "cops trying to protect and serve" model you advocate.

However, in multicultural hellholes, where there is a lot of crime, where police are targeted, where things are going to hell in a handbasket, the "cops trying to protect and serve" model just won't work. In these towns the police need to show who is boss, because if the boss is not law and order then we get the criminals taking over the city, see the Mexican cartels.

No one said it's one-size-fits-all. Different areas and situations require different tactics. But the current trend of militarized cops must be reversed.

So what is it?? Just a little Martial Law in some places?? You said you want Martial Law & now you're all about current trend of militarized cops must be reversed. You've started 2 completely opposite threads.
Which one????

 

[ScienceRocks]

So we're going to disarm our police in the face of massive gangs in our innercities. Are you fucking nuts?

 

[Lakhota]

So we're going to disarm our police in the face of massive gangs in our innercities. Are you fucking nuts?

It ain't one-size-fits-all. Is Ferguson, Missouri a gangbanger city?

 

[bucs90]

So we're going to disarm our police in the face of massive gangs in our innercities. Are you fucking nuts?

It ain't one-size-fits-all. Is Ferguson, Missouri a gangbanger city?

All-but-Dead City : E. St. Louis: Hope Amid Hopelessness - Los Angeles Times

Yep, sure is. Historically, most of North/East St Louis has been a gang and violent crime infested area. A lot of the worst of the worst from Chicago have traditionally used this area as a hideout or escape from charges in Chicago.

BUT YEAH......lets get Andy Griffith and Barney Fife to patrol the streets

 

[Lakhota]

So we're going to disarm our police in the face of massive gangs in our innercities. Are you fucking nuts?

It ain't one-size-fits-all. Is Ferguson, Missouri a gangbanger city?

All-but-Dead City : E. St. Louis: Hope Amid Hopelessness - Los Angeles Times

Yep, sure is. Historically, most of North/East St Louis has been a gang and violent crime infested area. A lot of the worst of the worst from Chicago have traditionally used this area as a hideout or escape from charges in Chicago.

BUT YEAH......lets get Andy Griffith and Barney Fife to patrol the streets

Well, reportedly, this dead kid was about to head off to college.

 

[Rikurzhen]

So we're going to disarm our police in the face of massive gangs in our innercities. Are you fucking nuts?

It ain't one-size-fits-all. Is Ferguson, Missouri a gangbanger city?

That's a good question. The city has had pretty significant white flight between the decennial census reports.

In 1990 the racial makeup of the city was 73.8% White, 25.1% African American.
In 2000 the racial makeup of the city was 44.75% White, 52.41% African American.
In 2010 the racial makeup of the city was 29.3% White, 67.4% African American.

There's also been a reduction in the number of married couples living in the city, from 37.0% in 2000 to 29.6% in 2010. During the same time frame the number of households with children has increased, from 36% of all households in 2000 to 39.1% in 2010.

The crime rate is pretty significant. Here's data:

1. The Ferguson crime index is 37% higher than the Missouri average and and the Missouri crime index is 15% higher than the National average.
2. The Ferguson violent crime rate is 7% higher than the Missouri average and and the Missouri violent crime rate is 16% higher than the National average.
3. The Ferguson property crime rate is 41% higher than the Missouri average and and the Missouri property crime rate is 15% higher than the National average.

 

[R.C. Christian]

I approve this bill.

If some of you police shills want evidence of the militarized police state I'll gladly point you to a document that will provide you with all the evidence.

Crime is the lowest in decades. There is no need for SWAT teams to serve no knock warrants on people in the middle of the night, killing their animals, and pointing their AR's children's heads just to serve a warrant for a misdemeanor drug charge. That isn't police work, but hard tyranny.