Obama restricts police military gear, says it can alienate
May 18, 2015 17:11:47 GMT -6
Glencairn likes this
Post by Deleted on May 18, 2015 17:11:47 GMT -6
Well, this is the upside of having a progressive in office. They do a few things which help, when specific areas of the system are out of whack. Obama dislikes and distrusts local authority (and may not feel much better toward Federal, as he nears the point where he'll return to being under someone else's control of it), so I had a feeling something like this would be coming.
So they'll basically need a note from their mothers, or that is how this reads for multiple levels of unrelated authority having to agree. I can't say that I disagree a bit though. At one time, I thought the LAPD having a single armored vehicle was a pretty neat idea. When it became a fleet, and with a variety of level for paramiitary response? There was nothing cute, any longer. It just became disturbing in the extreme for where things have come.
Yup.. That is where a progressive shines. Reactionary policy change to events already past, and often with complete overkill. Once in a great while? It might even be called for. (Sounds like others too, I know, and there are some "Conservatives" who re-define the term in the worst ways, too). Anyway.... In this case, I do think he did a good thing, despite cops everywhere probably now seeing him as squarely against them for making life harder in getting military grade hardware in US city streets (Too bad they cannot take BACK what they gave, on top of it).
It started with the report though, and the results didn't leave a self respecting progressive much choice in what to do, honestly. U.S. Police have gone WAYYYY overboard in trying to be Cop on the beat and Soldier on the march when needed, for either hat. They need to just wear that Police Officer hat, and leave soldiering to soldiers.
Source
Well, even the President can get it right occasionally, and even if he never really meant to do us any favors. I'll take this kind of rolling back any way it comes for reasoning right now.
In addition to the prohibitions in his order, Obama also is placing a longer list of military equipment under tighter control, including wheeled armored vehicles like Humvees, manned aircraft, drones, specialized firearms, explosives, battering rams and riot batons, helmets and shields. Starting in October, police will have to get approval from their city council, mayor or some other local governing body to obtain such equipment, provide a persuasive explanation of why it is needed and have more training and data collection on its use.
So they'll basically need a note from their mothers, or that is how this reads for multiple levels of unrelated authority having to agree. I can't say that I disagree a bit though. At one time, I thought the LAPD having a single armored vehicle was a pretty neat idea. When it became a fleet, and with a variety of level for paramiitary response? There was nothing cute, any longer. It just became disturbing in the extreme for where things have come.
The issue of police militarization rose to prominence last year after a white police officer in Ferguson fatally shot unarmed black 18-year-old Michael Brown, sparking protests. Critics questioned why police in full body armor with armored trucks responded to dispel demonstrators, and Obama seemed to sympathize when ordering a review of the programs that provide the equipment.
Yup.. That is where a progressive shines. Reactionary policy change to events already past, and often with complete overkill. Once in a great while? It might even be called for. (Sounds like others too, I know, and there are some "Conservatives" who re-define the term in the worst ways, too). Anyway.... In this case, I do think he did a good thing, despite cops everywhere probably now seeing him as squarely against them for making life harder in getting military grade hardware in US city streets (Too bad they cannot take BACK what they gave, on top of it).
It started with the report though, and the results didn't leave a self respecting progressive much choice in what to do, honestly. U.S. Police have gone WAYYYY overboard in trying to be Cop on the beat and Soldier on the march when needed, for either hat. They need to just wear that Police Officer hat, and leave soldiering to soldiers.
The review, published in December, showed five federal agencies spent $18 billion on programs that provided equipment, including 92,442 small arms, 44,275 night-vision devices, 5,235 Humvees, 617 mine-resistant vehicles and 616 aircraft. At the time, the White House defended the programs as proving to be useful in many cases, such as the response to the Boston Marathon bombing. Instead of repealing the programs, Obama issued an executive order that required federal agencies that run the programs to consult with law enforcement and civil rights and civil liberties organizations to recommend changes that make sure they are accountable and transparent.
Well, even the President can get it right occasionally, and even if he never really meant to do us any favors. I'll take this kind of rolling back any way it comes for reasoning right now.
