What would a police officer do with a grenade launcher? While the notion may seem wild, we’re about to find out.
Congress initially authorized the Pentagon to give surplus military gear to police in 1990 to help fight the drug war, but complaints about the militarization of police and the belief that it tends to escalate police violence rather than curb it were continuous and bipartisan. Then, after police responded to Black Lives Matter protests in Ferguson armed to the teeth and deploying vicious dogs and tear gas onto civilians while brandishing loaded assault rifles, President Obama limited the military surplus program via executive order.
While running for President, Trump promised the Fraternal Order of Police that he would do away with Obama’s executive order and revive the military surplus program in exchange for their endorsement. Now Donnie and company are ready to provide your local police department with bayonets, armored vehicles, grenade launchers, weaponized aircraft, and .50 caliber ammo that could drop an elephant.
Trump wants to be viewed as a Law and Order President. His administration, along with Justice Department Head Jeff Sessions are claiming that militarizing police will, “help state, local, and tribal law enforcement better protect public safety and reduce crime.”
Both the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the ACLU have released statements against Trump’s order to provide military gear to police. The NAACP Legal Defense Fund called it, “exceptionally dangerous and irresponsible,” for People of Color, especially. The ACLU said that, “weapons of war do not belong in our neighborhoods.”
After seeing law enforcement’s reaction to the effort to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock, I have concerns- and yes, that is an understatement.
Police are being armed like the military without receiving the compulsory military training that soldiers in the armed forces who normally utilize said gear receive. Forgive me if I have questions about Barney…