Obama Orders Review of Police Use of Military Equipment

[IDemo]

Source: NBC

President Barack Obama ordered a review of federal programs and funding that allow state and local law enforcement to acquire military equipment following concerns over the use of such gear during the recent unrest in Ferguson, Missouri. Obama has directed that the review consider whether dissemination of the military guns and armor to local law enforcement agencies is appropriate, according to a senior White House official. The review will also analyze whether local officials are properly trained to use the weapons and whether the federal government properly audits the use of the supplies, the official said.

Local law enforcement agencies around the U.S. are eligible to receive surplus military equipment through the Defense Department’s 1033 program. But there was outrage after photos and videos taken in Ferguson over the past week showed officers on tanks brandishing military-style firearms during protests over the fatal shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown by a police officer. The review will be led by White House staff, and relevant U.S. agencies — including the departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Justice and Treasury — and will be carried out in coordination with Congress, the official said.

Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/obama-orders-review-police-use-military-equipment-n187606

[DonCoquixote]

1. OK, watch the Blue Dogs slam him

and spout a bunch of nonsense which, translated into honesty, will read "Obama, you are gonna scare off da Saboiban whites!"

[iamthebandfanman]

11. thats why we need to be active

and around to slam them for slamming him

I know a lot of people don't think emails and phone calls do much.. and they don't for the most part.. but it does let his/her staff/office know there is backlash .. and that does get to him/her.

[raven mad]

2. Good!

Rock ON, Mr. President! 1033 sucks large green donkey dicks.

[IDemo]

3. My over-the-horizon political radar can detect what the RW response will be

"Obama is weakening our crime-fighters, enabling domestic terrorists, blah blah blah.."

[Judi Lynn]

4. Hope they have it in them to avoid coming to the wrong conclusion. n/t

[blkmusclmachine]

5. BHO is still putting 30,000 Spy Drones in the US skies to spy on us in our homes and neighborhoods.

So, meh.

[Sherman A1]

6. Good

I think all military style equipment should be withdrawn from local police forces and immediately sent to the State's National Guard Units or local Reserve Units for storage. Then whatever is surplus to requirements can be disposed of in a manner that brings the most for it as it is scrapped.

We exited WWII sending large fleets of ships and aircraft to the smelters, we can do it again.

[mopinko]

7. let these jurisdictions buy their own damn guns.

i dont want my tax dollars going to any of this shit, down to the bazillion hand guns that are part of this program.
all justified by the need to outgun the drug dealers.
fuck this shit.
do something different.

[OnyxCollie]

8. Obama's gonna take our gunz!1!

[ancianita]

9. It's about damned time. Exactly what a CIVILIAN commander-in-chief should do.

[littlemissmartypants]

10. Kicking. Thank you. nt

[rickyhall]

12. If the military has too much stuff

maybe we should stop buying them so much stuff.

[IDemo]

13. That's just crazy talk right there.

[moondust]

16. So...

somebody got into Cheney's basement and snapped a picture? Or perhaps the Halliburton warehouse?

[truthisfreedom]

14. Idiots.

[whereisjustice]

15. wtf, schools go without books and teachers and now tax money is going to be used to

train police how to properly attack us with all that butch military gear they like to play dress up with?

It takes money to secure and maintain all that shit. There is only one use for this shit - intimidate and silence dissent.

[valerief]

17. It will be deemed appropriate and the slaughtering of lives and rights will continue.

Cuz, you know, liberty and freedumb and protection and shit. Oh, yeah, and terrah!

[EX500rider]

18. "videos taken in Ferguson over the past week showed officers on tanks"

This is a tank:


This is a armored car, commonly know as a MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected)


This is a APC (armored personnel carrier) Some have tracks, some have wheels




Just having tracks does not make it a tank, having a turret with a large main gun makes it a tank, this is a bulldozer: