House Democrat Readies Bill To Demilitarize Local Police

[LordBrownTrout]

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.

Sounds good to me.

 

[Londoner]

The Bush Administration supported the militarization of police departments by strategically using the War on Terrorism to convert police departments into the kind of army units seen in Iraq. He also left in place structures that would allow the Government to take over any state in "crisis".

If you want to understand how the Republican Party has destroyed State's Rights, look at the Reagan War on Drugs and the Bush War on Terrorism. Each of these structures gave government more control over the states and made it easier for law enforcement to watch, detain and suppress free people, especially those exercising their first amendment rights.

Here is the worse part. The Republicans will likely take the White House in 2016. If they get one more Homeland attack, they will be able to use our collective fear to militarize every large city.

Google "Bush & Martial Law"

They just need one more homeland attack to end our right to protest or collect in public spaces. They just need one more Homeland attack to shut down the free press. We now have the kind of police forces seen in the third world, where the wealthy and the political class are protected from the masses by legalized state violence.

 

[Rikurzhen]

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.

Sounds good to me.

The problem here is that the guy sponsoring this legislation is also the one who feared that Guam would tip over if we put too much military materiel on the island.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orswrcoZieU]The island will tip over and capsize! - YouTube[/ame]

 

[LordBrownTrout]

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.

Sounds good to me.

The problem here is that the guy sponsoring this legislation is also the one who feared that Guam would tip over if we put too much military materiel on the island.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orswrcoZieU]The island will tip over and capsize! - YouTube[/ame]

Maybe he thinks these cities that have bought military hardware may start to sink.

 

[Lakhota]

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.

Sounds good to me.

The problem here is that the guy sponsoring this legislation is also the one who feared that Guam would tip over if we put too much military materiel on the island.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orswrcoZieU]The island will tip over and capsize! - YouTube[/ame]

The problem here is that Guam is unrelated to his proposed legislation.

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

Alan Grayson introduced an amendment to a defense spending bill back in June to do exactly this and it failed overwhelmingly. It will be interesting to see now post Ferguson how the bill goes, though I still expect it to fail.

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

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.

Maybe if cops stopped killing and/or brutally assaulting non-violent offenders or completely innocent people, well, maybe people would stop shooting at police, stop burning down gas stations, stop looting car rim stores, and stop throwing molotov cocktails.

The increased militarization of police and the rising violence they are inflicting against the citizenry has been getting a lot of attention in the media this year. The American public hold their most negative opinion of police in 20 years.

 

[Katzndogz]

The Ferguson police are not militarized. Rubber bullets is not militarization. What he might object to are the helmets and body armor the police wear. The rioters are not using rubber bullets but real bullets. They are throwing bricks and real molotov cocktails. Should the police be unprotected while they shoot their rubber bullets?

 

[Lakhota]

The Ferguson police are not militarized. Rubber bullets is not militarization. What he might object to are the helmets and body armor the police wear. The rioters are not using rubber bullets but real bullets. They are throwing bricks and real molotov cocktails. Should the police be unprotected while they shoot their rubber bullets?

Well, they sure as hell quickly became militarized after Michael Brown was shot. Have you not watched any TV coverage or seen any videos? Wolf Blitzer was watching some TV coverage while he was still in Israel and said it was shocking that this was happening in the U.S.

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

The Ferguson police are not militarized. Rubber bullets is not militarization. What he might object to are the helmets and body armor the police wear. The rioters are not using rubber bullets but real bullets. They are throwing bricks and real molotov cocktails. Should the police be unprotected while they shoot their rubber bullets?

You must be talking about a different town called Ferguson than the rest of us.

 

[R.C. Christian]

The Bush Administration supported the militarization of police departments by strategically using the War on Terrorism to convert police departments into the kind of army units seen in Iraq. He also left in place structures that would allow the Government to take over any state in "crisis".

If you want to understand how the Republican Party has destroyed State's Rights, look at the Reagan War on Drugs and the Bush War on Terrorism. Each of these structures gave government more control over the states and made it easier for law enforcement to watch, detain and suppress free people, especially those exercising their first amendment rights.

Here is the worse part. The Republicans will likely take the White House in 2016. If they get one more Homeland attack, they will be able to use our collective fear to militarize every large city.

Google "Bush & Martial Law"

They just need one more homeland attack to end our right to protest or collect in public spaces. They just need one more Homeland attack to shut down the free press. We now have the kind of police forces seen in the third world, where the wealthy and the political class are protected from the masses by legalized state violence.

Um, actually that started in 1990 with NDA, the war on drugs, and the pentagram program to arm police pussies with military hardware that they're not remotely qualified to use responsibly.

When you say Bush, you're obviously thinking of Dubya and not the senile Herbert Walker stooge so don't try an cover your tracks! Fact fail.

 

[Lakhota]

Some interesting food for thought.

American Police State(s)

 

[Rikurzhen]

The Ferguson police are not militarized. Rubber bullets is not militarization. What he might object to are the helmets and body armor the police wear. The rioters are not using rubber bullets but real bullets. They are throwing bricks and real molotov cocktails. Should the police be unprotected while they shoot their rubber bullets?

Well, they sure as hell quickly became militarized after Michael Brown was shot. Have you not watched any TV coverage or seen any videos? Wolf Blitzer was watching some TV coverage while he was still in Israel and said it was shocking that this was happening in the U.S.

Here's Wolf Blitzer's house. I don't think he experiences the joys of multiculturalism too much in his neighborhood.

 

[jon_berzerk]

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.

"We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded."-Obama During the 2008 presidential campaign

all the sheeple cheered and cheered

 

[jon_berzerk]

The Ferguson police are not militarized. Rubber bullets is not militarization. What he might object to are the helmets and body armor the police wear. The rioters are not using rubber bullets but real bullets. They are throwing bricks and real molotov cocktails. Should the police be unprotected while they shoot their rubber bullets?

You must be talking about a different town called Ferguson than the rest of us.

oh they are militarized

 

[Missouri_Mike]

Disarm the police, aren't these the same people you left wing assholes wanted to be the only ones to have guns? Get rid of the second and only arm government and military is your call for gun control right?

 

[Rikurzhen]

Disarm the police, aren't these the same people you left wing assholes wanted to be the only ones to have guns? Get rid of the second and only arm government and military is your call for gun control right?

Exactly.

 

[The2ndAmendment]

I agree with this bill.

Remember that Rand Paul suggested it first.

 

[Stephanie]

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.

"We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded."-Obama During the 2008 presidential campaign

all the sheeple cheered and cheered

yep, and now listen to them..HE FRIKKEN told them what he was going to do, but he's such a smooth snake oil salesman they drooled when he said this
[ame=http://youtu.be/0ecDxMQcsLg]Obama's Brown-shirts Are Coming - Gestapo - SS - Civilian National Security Force - YouTube[/ame]

 

[jon_berzerk]

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.

"We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded."-Obama During the 2008 presidential campaign

all the sheeple cheered and cheered

yep, and now listen to them..HE FRIKKEN told them what he was going to do, but he's such a smooth snake oil salesman they drooled when he said this
[ame=http://youtu.be/0ecDxMQcsLg]Obama's Brown-shirts Are Coming - Gestapo - SS - Civilian National Security Force - YouTube[/ame]

they jumped for joy

in hearing the proposal