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Congressman Hank Johnson Will Introduce Bill To Stop The Militarization Of Police
Submitted by Michael Krieger of Liberty Blitzkrieg
Congressman Hank Johnson of Georgia Will Introduce Bill to Stop the Militarization of Police
As I pointed out yesterday in my detailed thoughts on Ferguson, President Obama has once again proved his irrelevance and uselessness by failing to say anything meaningful on the disturbing events of the past week. In fact, he only decided to address it personally and publicly yesterday after being heavily criticized for issuing a press release about the party he attended in Martha’s Vineyard as civilians in Missouri clashed with a paramilitary police force.
Despite Obama’s complete apathy, there are some Congressmen forcefully speaking out against the trend from “both sides” of the increasingly meaningless Republican and Democrat divide. The most noteworthy thus far appears to be Democrat Rep. Hank Johnson of Georgia’s 4th Congressional district. In fact, he has sent a Dear Colleague letter to fellow representatives of his intention to introduce the Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act in September when Congress returns from recess.
The Hill reports that:
A Democratic congressman from Georgia is drafting legislation to limit a Pentagon program that provides surplus military equipment to local law enforcement.
Rep. Hank Johnson is pushing the legislation amid the situation in Ferguson, Mo., where an armed police presence has taken to the streets after mass protests over a police shooting.
“Our main streets should be a place for business, families, and relaxation, not tanks and M16s,” Johnson wrote in a Dear Colleague letter sent Thursday to other members of Congress.
“As the tragedy in Missouri unfolds, one thing is clear. Our local police are becoming militarized,” Johnson’s office said in a statement.
Johnson said he will introduce the bill in September, when Congress returns from a five-week recess. He has been worked on the legislation for months, but his office said the current situation highlights the need for the bill.
Johnson criticized the Pentagon’s ’1033? program, which offers surplus military equipment to state and local law enforcement, including M16 rifles and mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles (MRAP).
Considering that most mainstream media watching Americans had no idea how out of control the police militarization had become, perhaps Rep. Johnson’s bill has a fighting chance. If it is to pass, bi-partisan support is crucial and this is hopefully one of those issues libertarians and progressives can find common ground on. There is reason to be somewhat optimistic considering Rand Paul’s op-ed in Time yesterday titled: We Must Demilitarize the Police. Here are some excerpts:
If I had been told to get out of the street as a teenager, there would have been a distinct possibility that I might have smarted off. But, I wouldn’t have expected to be shot.
The outrage in Ferguson is understandable—though there is never an excuse for rioting or looting. There is a legitimate role for the police to keep the peace, but there should be a difference between a police response and a military response.
The images and scenes we continue to see in Ferguson resemble war more than traditional police action.
When you couple this militarization of law enforcement with an erosion of civil liberties and due process that allows the police to become judge and jury—national security letters, no-knock searches, broad general warrants, pre-conviction forfeiture—we begin to have a very serious problem on our hands.
The militarization of our law enforcement is due to an unprecedented expansion of government power in this realm. It is one thing for federal officials to work in conjunction with local authorities to reduce or solve crime. It is quite another for them to subsidize it.
Americans must never sacrifice their liberty for an illusive and dangerous, or false, security. This has been a cause I have championed for years, and one that is at a near-crisis point in our country.
However, passing such a bill will be no easy task. For example, in June Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) introduced an amendment to H.R. 4435, the National Defense Authorization Act, which would have prohibited funds from being used to transfer certain kinds of military surplus to local police departments. Sadly, the vote wasn’t even close. It failed 62-355, including a no vote from Rep. Lacy Clay (D-Mo.), whose district includes Ferguson. Reason reported on this tragedy:
In June, the House of Representatives voted on a series of amendments to H.R. 4435, the National Defense Authorization Act. Among the amendments was one by Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) which would’ve prohibited funds from being used to transfer certain kinds of military surplus to local police departments. The amendment failed by a wide margin, with only 62 votes for and 355 against.
Among those voting against this bill, which would slow down the militarization of America’s police forces, was Rep. Lacy Clay (D-Mo.), whose district includes Ferguson, Missouri, where many Americans have gotten their first glimpse of America’s militarized police in action.
House leadership on both sides also voted against it, including Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Eric Cantor (R-Va.), and Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
Establishment bipartisan criminality, as usual.
Supporters of the amendment include the usual civil libertarian suspects, such as Reps. Justin Amash (R-Mich.), who called attention to this vote on Twitter earlier today, John Conyers (D-Mich.), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Walter Jones (R-NC), Raul Labrador (R-Idaho), John Lewis (D-Ga.), who nevertheless called for martial law in Ferguson, Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), and Mark Sanford (R-SC). Fourteen other Republicans and 43 other Democrats voted for the amendment.
See how your representative voted here.
Optimism for Rep. Johnson’s bill should come from the fact the issue has been thrust front and center due to recent events in Ferguson. That said, like anything else in American politics, actually passing legislation in the best interests of the American public is almost impossible due to the overwhelming influence of special interest money. Indeed, David Sirota noted earlier today that:
According to data compiled by Maplight, the lawmakers “voting to continue funding the 1033 Program have received, on average, 73 percent more money from the defense industry than representatives voting to defund it.” In all, the average lawmaker voting against the bill received more than $50,000 in campaign donations from the defense industry in the last two years. The report also found that of the 59 lawmakers who received more than $100,000 from defense contractors in the last two years, only four voted for Grayson’s legislation.
Given the reality of defense company spending, this battle will not be an easy one. This is why I ask you to spread this post around and contract your Senators and Representatives to make it clear this issue is very important to you and you will be watching how they vote.
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Stop?
Reverse.
Ebola will solve all our problems.
"You didn't loot that"
LMFAO... judging by the emotions of the sheep on these threads ...I fully expect a cry for tanks on every street of AmeriKa by end of next week..........save us from those hoodlum thugs Uncle Sam.....call in the Marines....too fkn funny
I'll worry about my own safety but what are you planning on using to keep those gentle giants under control?
I'm here from the guberment and I'm here to protect you........hehehehehhehe
CONgressman Johnson needs to stay away from passenger aircraft, Mercedes, hot tubs, sheer ledges, nailguns, and Albanian Midgets.
...or else.
"In fact, he has sent a Dear Colleague letter to fellow representatives of his intention to introduce the Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act in September when Congress returns from recess."
Nice gesture but deceptive acting as if he really gives a shit. This bill will be of no consequence, since the police are already loaded to the gills with every high tech weaponry one can think of!
You might be surprised. Even the hacks at Fox News were genuinely shocked when they saw snipers in camo targeting civilians. Something good is going to come from this tragedy. Bitchez.
Police Terrorism: Brutality And Killings By Cops Are Off The Charts
We might see another great big battle at Kenessaw Mountain. Another Civil War in the works; we are witnessing side-taking in real-time. Usually, that means we aren't far off.
"Side taking in real time." Interesting observation, and +1. The middle class has largely chosen sides already.
Oh please...Hank is an idiot. As a Georgian myself it embarrasses me people like Hank and Cynthia McKinney get elected to anything higher than Dog Catcher. I mean Jesus, this is the same guy that thought if too many military personnel are on Guam it would tip into the ocean.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=v7XXVLKWd3Q
Well yes he is an idiot and a political whore like most of the rest of them. However, that doesn't mean he couldn't stumble onto legislation worth supporting.
What you are missing, my dear Abaco, is that the powers that be suggested this legislation to Hank, not someone else, for a reason. If the legislation ever had a chance (it didn't), they knew if someone as amoeba-brained as Hank Johnson sponsored it no one of any real clout would want to be associated with him as it had to be a bad idea if this moron brought it up. This is how they ensure it goes nowhere.
Larry Kudlow on the Radio now:
A) He is against Individual Savings
B) He is against higher Compensation
C) He is against higher employment, or government education, or low cost education, or partnership with industry, or creating environments for worker hiring, or for government education of itself on the skills levels of US Work Force
D) He is against high interest rates to aid fixed income people, he is Fascist
Thanks Larry Kudlow: 90 Million unemployed is on your head
TV88s,
I concur.he is a toothlesds,unprincipled kazar,luciferian monster.Fuck him and his ilk i.e Kramer.
kliguy38 - shouldn't u post a Bitcoin push anytime about now?
Are you sure your on the same website? I haven't seen anyone asking for that.
Some people here definitely want tanks on certain streets in DC but not for crowd control.
...for crowd support
Why does the US military have so much surplus equipment? If they don't need it, then why did they buy it in the first place? This stinks to high heaven.
Now you're starting to ask the right questions. If the military is downsizing, who will the weapons manufacturers sell to? The police, thats who.
The military is not downsizing. The MIC wants to sell them newer equipment so they can all buy that 5th vacation home and continue to generate cash for buying off politicians, so they're selling off the 3-4 year old stuff that still works just fine to make way for the new toys. No doubt they sell the cops some new stuff, too, but that's primarily how it works.
I am totally committed to the concept that freedom is more important than security and I am committed to the right to bear arms. The problem law enforcement has is the loss of civility and the markedly increased firepower of the criminal element.To subdue such weapory in criminals requires similar weapons, unfortunately. I am sure the level of fear , cynicism and jaded mind of police officers is far greater in urban settings. It is not all about race. The general loss of respect for life by our society since the 1970's and family deterioration are greater factors IMO. Restoring our society will require a paradigm shift that I fear will only occur after substantial bloodshed. Riegning in central government will be necessary to assuage the anger increasing in America. God have mercy on Ferguson and the USA.
Dontcha think part of the whole "loss of respect for life" has something to do with how minorities are held back and then over enforced by the police?
Here, you're black. You are born in a shitty place and you are going to live there pretty much forever unless you have something special. You are feared such that you are always a suspect for whatever happened even if nothing happened at all.
Mike Brown apparently was a thug and a criminal. If the eyewitnesses are to be believed, he was murdered. We'll find out with the autopsy.
Obviously the po po is not up to the challenge. They teargas protesters and ignore looters. Sure shop owners are setting a good example and protecting their property by bearing arms (no shots fired). Perhaps if the rest of the community were to arm themselves they could control the place and keep the criminals in check.
Again, obvious the police are not able. This is the point of the right to bear arms.
Complete bullshit, the statistics don't support it. Being a cop barely makes the top 10 most dangerous professions, barely edging out taxi drivers, in fact, a large majority of police killed on the job, are due to traffic accidents. It is actually more dangerous to be a sanitation worker than a cop, and 3 times more dangerous to be a farmer. I can see the necessity for SWAT teams and specialized weaponry in large urban areas, but when was the last time an MRAP was used for anything other than joy rides by the SWAT team, certainly, every podunk police department doesn't need to look like a national guard armory.
Same group funding the police state!
What else would anyone expect from the incompetent corrupt arrogant narcissistic illegal indonesian kenyan alien muslim sociopathic pathological liar in chief only interested in its grand imperial golf lifestyle off the backs of hard working tax paying U.S. citizen serfs and peasants.
MMMMMM, adjectives, mmmm. A few more and we would have a feast for the ear.
Good luck. Won't make it out of committee
Especially after the ISIS flag suddenly makes an appearance over Fergazan
EDIT: Sarc tags need a font size commensurate with the hyperbole...tho sadly one day's hyperbole can be the next day's programming...
hank "i hope Guam doesnt capsize" johnson....
Noooooooooooo!!!! Please tell us it is not the same dude!
Johnson: See, if too many people are on one side of the island it might tip over.
Military Man: We don't foresee that happening, sir.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqyfWFYBXxI
the exact same dude, ...man
as in, "that rug really tied the room together, Man"
Perfect wingnut to introduce legislation to limit government overreach. He's a loon. His ideas are crazy. This is a nonstarter.
"That was my odd sense of humor. Everyone knows it would take all those personnel AND at least 6 circus elephants to capsize the island and Guam doesn't have a circus. DC however, now that's a circus!"
Onewayticket2, Thanks for the reminder. Weeee're Fucked.
A strongly worded letter.... yeah, that'll get it done.
Hank Johnson
D-GA
$448,223
Industrial Unions $31,500
Lawyers/Law Firms $30,300
Building Trade Unions $30,050
Transportation Unions $23,000
Insurance $21,750
Public Sector Unions $21,000
TV/Movies/Music $19,000
Food & Beverage $17,500
Beer, Wine & Liquor $17,000
Commercial Banks $15,500
by Greenhouse | data OpenSecrets.org
This doesn't go far enough. Take away their guns entirely. If we can save the life of even one person then it's worth it. I'm sick and tired of reading about people being wrongly shot/killed by police.
Cops should be charged $500 a bullet every time they shoot. That way they'll only shoot if their life really is in danger.
I was thinking every convenience store clerk should get to waste one thug per month, no questions asked.
Over time, it would really settle things down.
Screw that! Why should one man get all the fun? Let's bring back the guillotine to every town square so we can all enjoy it
Hanging would be better. Takes longer. Better show.
There is no statist solution to the problem of statism.
Too late
Armed (law abiding) Citizens and a Fascist Police State cannot coexist.
Which is why the government either scales back, or there will be a fight.
fuck that. the national guard should have opened up with machine gun fire last night.
Just be patient, bloodthirsty. These are all for your family, goose.
"fuck that. the national guard should have opened up with machine gun fire last night."
Cordoning off the area and arresting everyone that wasn't an Owner or Employee trying to protect the business would have sufficed. -& for once I don't think a little extra baton swinging would have been unwarranted for those that resisted.
IF you are gonna join in a fucking RIOT then you should at the least be ready to get the living fuck beaten out of you and end up in the paddy wagon, if not much worse.
IF you go out to burn it all down then you can only expect to burn with it all. Embracing chaos is embracing chaos.
Now, that said; IF I had been a small business owner watching the looters take my property apart and the police standing back watching: I would have been pumping rounds into those covered faces until shit was dead quiet. Government or no government: a person does have a right to protect their property.
When hell comes to breakfast you serve it up lest you be served up.
I agree totally-looters should be shot on sight. The kid was a violent felon-the security footage shows it-thus I believe the cop's statement-the kid jumped him-tried totake his gun-cop yelled freeze-kid turned back to attack cop, Kid was huge-as was evident in the video. He begged to be shot when he attacked the cop.
Now, as for the looters-shoot them. They are animals. The shooting was just an excuse to "get theirs" on the backs of society.
Further-this is our fault. we keep electing retards who are easily bought...they give our money to the lazy, to buy their votes. Thus we are stuck with 90 million lazy fux who don't work a day in their lives, are criminals, and dregs on our society. So, they want to loot-fine-but shoot the fuckers so they can't steal from any more hard working americans.
Fact they will do that in their own communities shows they don't care about anyone. So, why should we give two shits about them? A 7.62 round costs a buck. That's a hell of a lot less than 3 squares and a cot, medical, etc.
Dude, ever heard of slickguns.com? You can buy high quality .308 and 7.62 for .60-.70/rd. Make your money go further so you can have more on hand when you need it. Otherwise, excellent post.
"Dude, ever heard of slickguns.com? You can buy high quality .308 and 7.62 for .60-.70/rd."
No match grade. No 175 grain.
The other ammo aggregator sites have a wider selection and also have better features:
http://www.wikiarms.com/group/308win
http://ammoseek.com/ammo/308-winchester
So you're gonna use a 175gr SMK to kill rioters? What a waste. A 175 is a sniper round and only really outshines other weights past 500yds. I mean would you honestly be able to tell the difference between a rioter shot with a garden variety 147gr or top shelf 175gr inside 100yds? Hell no! They're both DRT from one round of either, so you're just gonna pay 2x as much so, what, he's "deaderer"?!
However, good site suggestions.
Is Rep Johnson worried about MO tipping over and sinking because of the weight of the military equipment being absorbed by the police there? Ooopps, my bad...
Korea was a "police action" Vietnam was a " police action" . Were any of the Middle East expeditions declared?
There is the problem. The police are just confused. They see a police action, and it looks just like a war. So when they have a " police action" they just show up properly attired and ready to rock. With a tank.
Ah ha!! I got it!! Eetz a kehk, I know.
Ferguson was a war action because it had police.
Police action = Soldiers
War action = Police
Put a flower pot in it. She feexed it!
......Snowball meet hell... yeah he'll get far with that....
A good idea, but this will not stop until all drug laws are repealed. There is no way to morally enforce an immoral law, and all prohibitions of the production, ownership, or sale of property are immoral laws. The drug enforcement caste among the police are the center of militarization and of the arrogant attitudes of superiority over the people, after all how can you not feel superior to someone who you have the power to lock in a cage for what they choose to use for recreation or medication. Drug laws are the ultimate cause of this problem and it will not go away until they do.
Correct.
Nice connection. This is at the heart of the police genuinely on an individual level feeling one of two things: 1) false moral superiority for "keeping the drugged animals at bay", or 2) paranoia and terror at being caught for dealing or using the very drugs they are supposed to be enforcing the ban of in society. Either leads to bad cops. Our society's idea of how to handle a social issue (drug use) needs to change to a social solution rather than a punitive solution. The punitive solution not only doesn't "work", it makes things significantly worse, as the incentives and the bureaucracy in charge of this crusade are now insane. End the drug war yesterday.
Yeah, but HOW is the CIA gonna compete with low-cost drugs available from dispensaries?
One aspect of what I was trying to get at when I said the incentives are completely out of whack.
This guy?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cesSRfXqS1Q
This guy is certainly brighter than most of the people elected to go to Washington. He'll probably be Hitlery's running mate in 2016...
(rolls eyes)
I dont know if anybody noticed but the doctor with ebola was cured, they have a drug to cure it- just no market to sell it in, "those people" can not pay, so they do not market it. Now if Africa had something we wanted, let's say gold......
They gave the same drug to a Spanish priest, and he died anyway. Seems as if ZMapp is effective, it needs to be given within a short period after symptoms appear.
If the Doctah were cured, he would have a book deal and be doing the talk show circuit by now.
Things are way too quiet in Hotlanta. Hope I'm wrong, but this does not feel right.
Not physically ill, but still communicable perhaps?
Turn him loose on the USSA.
Give us your Ubangee women
Lord god almighty,
anything but that;)
Good luck with that, Hank.
Any TRUE threat to the PTB and you will get
WELLSTONED.
Sen. Paul Wellstone: More Proof of AssassinationAnd then shot the day before it happens
"as civilians in Missouri clashed with a paramilitary police force" whoever wrote this needs to get a grasp on the definition of the word "civilians". those were not civilians burning down businesses and looting stores, those were not civilized people capable of being governed by our Constitution. the only appropriate response to those animals was to send out a paramilitary style police force because that's all that can govern them and based on their animal like behavior that's all they're entitled to.
Rioting followed when peaceful protests were prohibited.
NOZZLE , At least the black people of Ferg did somhing when one of there own get murderd , not like you white boys armed to the teeth with guns and tacticool shit and never do a dam thing when one of your own gets murderd by the cops ," o well he must of been a nut jub" you say and go back to eating donuts and polishing your trophys sorry guns that will only ever be used at the range.
Abit, the white boys have all become wage, tax and usary slaves, far more chained than slaves of old. Have some pity for them.
deleted
Unfortunately, the robo-cops were absent from the scene during the looting. They only came out later to intimidate the peaceful protesters, regardless of race, religion, or sexual preference.
Reasonable point you made. But why isn't there the same outrage when black boys get gunned down every day by other black boys? Is the murder of a young black man only offensive if it is done by a white person?
Hey this bill sounds like a great idea. Do you think AIPAC will allow it?
This shit is farcical What the FUCK ever happened to grey matter? AKA The HUMAN MIND! The ability to reason!
Yen, the grey matter is now called Oatmeal.
Moatmeal.
All perfectly fine.
It's just that their reason and our reason are not quite the same.
And they have MRAPS, body armor and fully automatic weapons so they pretty much control the conversation.
For now.
How do you think the resistance arms' itself?
You didn't comment on the Japan post, Yen.
Do you see any hope on Fukushima?
I was having lunch with my Mother.
Wisdom can't be bought/
"I was having lunch with my Mother.
Wisdom can't be bought/"
The mere passage of time does not make a fool become wise.
Hank needs to put down his pipe .... If the FSA wasn't living so well in the ATL they would be torching things tonight!
How about stopping the militarization of the military first
Odd how the batshit crazy Dems are tossing this out there. Johnson and Grayson are fucking nutters. Add them to looneys like Wasserman-Schulz, Rangel, etc. and you have to wonder to what length these deranged fucks will reach to grab a vote...
Reality is hard on deluded Democrats and Republicans.
First the militarized police came for the despicable vermin in Ferguson.
Then, the militarized police caught every terrorist.
Later, the militarized police came for ardent militarized police supporters.
Fat chance.
It's all a silly charade anyway. If there was a genuine nationwide SHTF event everybody in government and law enforcement would be running for their lives from the guillotine... or doing the low crawl to avoid the bullets.
It doesn't really bother me that they have it, there are parts of this country that I wouldn't enter without an APC or equivalent myself. My problem is that as soon as they get it they start thinking like rambo and bashing in every door they see.
Hank, don't worry about passing a bill. Most of Americans are already militarized. We can stop you and this unlawful Government before you can pass the bill.
Think about that. Now walk to a mirror and look at yourself. You and other Congressional colleagues are a fucking disgrace to this country.
Kill a few to prove your point, then let the "Bad Guys" do some MOAR Killing " Vicariously" to prove your point!
Central Banking at it's finest...(SIC)
No, they just need to be reminded they work for us. If NSA has shit on any elected officials, and this is being used as coercion to carrot feed votes. Then, the NSA has just opened Pandora's box.
Come forth elected officials, we can protect you.. Spill the beans.
I FUCKING "give-up".
???
I Fucking " Give -Up" What part of that noun/verb phrase<> Did you miss?
I'm tired of the bullshite' children that THINK they know the markets.
I'll trade my own game, in No Where,Ville
DONE
I understood, just needed your clarification.
Don't quit now, the fun is just beginning. Goto bed, tomorrow is another day.
(he caught the rash from DoChen)
I know, received the same info. I'm too much of a prick to give up now.
;-)
Edit
For those who are close, wish a happy anniversary to he & his wife.
"A Democratic congressman from Georgia is drafting legislation to limit a Pentagon program that provides surplus military equipment to local law enforcement."
Let me know when they pass a law ending the program and recalling all the equipment already doled out.
Surplus auctions. Stop making me laugh. Brilliant post.
"Let me know when they pass a law ending the program and recalling all the equipment already doled out."
Let me know when they pass a law ending the program and recalling all the equipment already doled out and then actually do it. In the mean time I am continuing my hunt for unicorns.
An American, not US subject.
Johnson discredits this because he is a straight-up idiot. Great cause, retarded ambassador.
Almost like it was planned that way, ya think?
It won't work, because it is simply the easiest reaction to a most glaringly obvious and on-the-table issue, put on the table not by legitimate leadership but by social pressure and forces...
the underlying motivation and decision-making that led to this militarization situation remains intact.
"If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever."
George, rather Eric, said that.
Police? Why not start with all those billions of rounds of ammo and assault rifles in the hands of the Health and Human Services? You know - the agency that will look out for the health of the Ebola survivors?
"Am I not merciful?"
Anyone here who is serious about this shit simply needs to draft a letter to their county sheriff with copies to the county commissioners asking for a complete listing of all weapons in the Sheriff's dept inventory. I've just done that and will be mailing the letter - certified return receipt on Monday. The only way to defeat the militarization of the police is to make them account for their weapons, and then to publicly question their need for the weapons and the scenarios in which they plan to use them. Make the debate local, not national. Hold your own police department accountable. Make them reveal what their weapons are and what plans they have for using them. Do not rely on Congress to do the job. If you don't write that letter then don't come on ZH and bitch about the militarized police. Every state has some kind of open records law. Find out what your state's law is and goddamn use it!
I live in Kerr county Texas and by god I am going to find out exactly what weapons the county has and how they plan to use them. Then I will be showing up at the monthly county commissioners meeting and asking the commissioners what they intend to do about any excessive weaponry- on the record. and I don't intend to stop until we are back to basics - handguns and a few shotguns, plus body armor and pepper spray. Beyond that I intend to see the police around here de-militarized.
It's been a pleasure knowing you...
"The only way to defeat the militarization of the police is to make them account for their weapons, and then to publicly question their need for the weapons and the scenarios in which they plan to use them."
They won't respond. If they do they will lie. If they respond and don't lie, they will make you look like a ignorant fool.
Regardless, the only thing that you will accomplish is getting pulled over and harassed much more often and possibly dead.
What you need to start doing is: Guns, gold, grub, ground, and guillotines.
Start making your list of pols, crats, funcs and banksters that have committed oath violations, treason, murder, theft, etc. against the American people for later "trial and punishment."
An American, not US subject.
If you think local paramilitary is going to reveal anything to you, you are mistaken.
Arms and tactical force is obscured through DHS, FBI, OSI and ICE cooperation. Your local thugs will reveal they have pea shooters and maybe some kevlar. All else is a phone call away by design - ommission. Frankly, it's NOT your right to know what law enfarcement is up to due to perverted war on terrorism (and national insecurity). This keeps the local face on force and protects the Federal bands of lawless that are truely pervasive. It's corrupt from top to bottom.
Be prepared to see a list of radios and shoelaces.
Let me know when they pass a law ending the program and recalling all the equipment already doled out.
Never going to happen, its white wash time.
Original poster of this comment is above and here: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-08-16/congressman-hank-johnson-will-i...
Something went wrong and I ended up with an un-editable plagiarized comment.
Oh well, I don't think that he knows where I live : - )
The photo of the guy in full armour lying on top of the van finger on the trigger sighting down the M16 on a tripod at civilians is the photo which would make my blood boil if I was there and I was in front of him, who the fuck do these Nazis think they are lining up civilians in the street who are doing nothing illegal with military weapons!
How about somebody puts a cross hair on him, see how he likes it.
About 5 to 10 laser sights on his chest ought to do it.
"With all the protective gear worn by the police, the number and weight of the armored vehicles, I am concerned the city of Ferguson might capsize" Rep. Hank Johnson
I suppose I'll my useless comment also....Rick Perry is indicted for abuse of power and Obama is STILL president? There's a konundrum for you.
I don't care what this parasite's bill says, because unless it bans federal funds to states that allow their peace officers to be armed with firearms, it literally can't stop the militarization of the police.
How about him passing a law tour prohibiting the government from tipping over Guam
I blame Star Wars action figures
Dungeons and Dragons, man. Makes people crazy!
Certainly the Ferguson and St Louis County police. Recent reports are that they stood down when looting occurred and refused to protect businesses. Some demonstrators, on the other hand, tried to interpose themselves between the looters and shops.
Disband the police department and allow the people to protect themselves.
OK stop the police from inheriting military M16s and military APCS personnel carriers and let them buy civilian semis and civilian made armor clad vehicles for defensive purposes. I dont mind police well armored in my ready to riot city. Go ahead and send your police out into Ferguson,Detroit,south Chicago with rubber tipped bows and arrows.
Wake up we have Fergusonites ready to riot everywhere - and that is NOW more of a concern than a Fascist Looking police for e.
Citizens should inherit this equipment under teh Civilian Marksmanship program like they did with the old M1's.
Soon they'll have armed drones. No need for patrols; some fat-ass gorging himself on a jelly donuts can just gun down perps from an air-conditioned room.
The movie "Terminator" will turn out to be prophetic.
Yank my Johnson? Is this a yiddish joke?
Dear Congressman Johnson,
You were asleep at the wheel.
It's a bit too late now.
Go back to sleep.
You'll wake up at the next crash.
Like everything else these clowns do...........stop it after it's already happened.
This is the same dumb-ass that thinks Gaum will flip over if we station more troops there. Why can't they just shut the hell up and go away!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17429786
"which is the world's biggest employer?"
"And the top spot is taken by the US Department of Defense with a cool 3.2 million-strong workforce."
The US bully is the world's biggest employer of thugs to kill and torture
I say let them have the war toys. Just have all such equipment repainted pink. Bright bold pink. And require them to have the likeness of Hello Kitty prominently displayed somewhere on the equipment.
And sew big plastic flowers to the balaclavas, ala Esther Williams.
For all of those that think this law would mean anything if passed, check out what this defense lawyer has to say:
http://www.caseyresearch.com/cdd/special-edition-our-highest-rated-speec...
Hank "Guam is Sinking" Johnson to the Rescue! I feel so much better...
Try not to laugh, I dare you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs23CjIWMgA
Wow, Ive never seen that video before. That kind of stupidity from an adult is astounding. Only a child could use that kind of logic. And to think hes a leader of our country.
Hank Johnson, so breathtakingly stupid he thinks Guam could tip over because there are too many troops
on it....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7XXVLKWd3Q
Hank is especially incensed over any floatable devices going to any Police force in the continental US. Guam needs all the help it can get.
Where's "Present" Obama, the Absentee Executive, in all this?
Oh that's right! He's on the golf course, coming close to matching the number of golf rounds that Tiger Woods has accumulated over the past five years! He's accumulated over 200 now!
Barack Obama, the Permavacation President!
While I'm also opposed to the militarization of the police, I question this Congressman's true motives in doing this. I'm convinced his purpose is to empower the lawless ones who would plunder and loot. His motive is to weaken law enforcement, not encourage public order and civility! His intent is to create more disorder rather than to just prevent overmilitarization of law enforcement.
His motive doesn't matter if the bill does the right thing.