http://www.politico.com/story/2014/08/ro...10112.html

 

Figured we could shift the discussion over here to not derail the Ferguson thread. Dr. Paul sums up my feelings on this issue, the local police are supposed to network with the community and work towards peace keeping. When you have a police force become militarized it sets in a battle mindset both with the public and officers themselves. 

 

The police shouldn't be battling the community they are the peacemakers apart of the community. I think programs like the pentagons 1033 program are extremely dangerous and only work to push the police more apart from the local communities.

 

Unfortunately events like Ferguson, the Boston bombing, and 9/11 create an image with the public that local police forces need to be militarized, but that's what the National Guard is for. Each state has their own "military" equipped division for these unique events. under 1033 it's not the national guard getting this equipment it's local police and sherrifs. 

 
For those unaware the 1033 program passed in the 90's by congress has been used to distribute retired military equipment to local police and sheriff departments.
 
here's a link that list everything transferred in the last 2 years
 
https://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2...gram-data/
 
A few highlights:
 
 
-MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicles (cost roughly 700k each we gave away 13,000)
-Lenco BearCat (Armored personal carrier designed for evacuations)
-Grenade Launchers (Massachusetts)
-LRAD (Long Range Acoustic Device)
-M113 (Armored Personal Carrier equipped with 1 to 2 machine guns ranging from 20mm to 5.56 and 7.62 rounds)
-GTX Boxer (Another Armored Personal Carrier)
-Peacemaker (amphibious machine gun mounted tank in Cobb County Georgia.)
-Body Armor
-M16 Fully Automatic Rifles (not your standard semi-auto fully automatic military grade M16)
-Helicopters
-Humvee's
-Stingray (Milwaukee Police) suit case sized device that acts as a mobile cell tower hacking any cells within range
-Surveillance Drones

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