I think this police controversy should re-open the discussion on giving military hardware...

[kentuck]

...to local police forces.

Only a fool would put their full trust into any police force without sufficient citizen oversight. Only a bigger fool would give military equipment to these forces.

Should Congress re-visit this issue?

[FiveGoodMen]

1. How in the f**king world did that EVER sound like a good idea?!?!?

[Fred Sanders]

2. When the citizenry was allowed to heavily arm itself with military hardware it sounded good too.

[Sherman A1]

3. Agreed

I believe that military weaponry belongs in the hands of the military. There may be times (and those would be few and far between) that some types of this equipment might be needed in local communities, but that can be done by the National Guard in cooperation with local authorities.

I see nothing wrong with surplus support equipment (thinking office equipment, exercise equipment or alike) being allocated to local police forces, but even that should still be property of the National Guard and should be audited regularly. I don't care if a police department gets some desks or treadmills to use, but MRAPS, Sniper Rifles and Military Uniforms should not be outside the military.

[pinboy3niner]

4. Our President agrees

Obama seeks more federal oversight of military equipment for police
By/Rebecca Kaplan/CBS News/December 1, 2014, 1:54 PM

In the wake of the police response to protests in Ferguson, Missouri last August, President Obama is using an executive order to standardize the way the federal government distributes military-style equipment to state and local law enforcement agencies, the White House announced Monday.

...


http://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-seeks-more-federal-oversight-of-military-equipment-for-police/

[kentuck]

5. I hope it is enough.

This is a scary proposition, in my opinion.