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Trump Reverses Restrictions on Military Hardware for Police - Printable Version +- Cincinnati Bengals Message Board / Forums - Home of Jungle Noise (http://thebengalsboard.com) +-- Forum: Off Topic Forums (http://thebengalsboard.com/Forum-Off-Topic-Forums) +--- Forum: Politics & Religion 2.0 (http://thebengalsboard.com/Forum-Politics-Religion-2-0) +---- Forum: P & R Archive (http://thebengalsboard.com/Forum-P-R-Archive) +---- Thread: Trump Reverses Restrictions on Military Hardware for Police (/Thread-Trump-Reverses-Restrictions-on-Military-Hardware-for-Police) |
Trump Reverses Restrictions on Military Hardware for Police - GMDino - 08-29-2017 And by "reverses" I mean he made it seem like they couldn't get everything anyway by following a few rules and then eliminated the rules so it seemed like he did more than he really did. Surprise! https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/28/us/politics/trump-police-military-surplus-equipment.html Quote: Police departments will now have access to military surplus equipment typically used in warfare, including grenade launchers, armored vehicles and bayonets, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced on Monday, describing it as “lifesaving gear.” RE: Trump Reverses Restrictions on Military Hardware for Police - BmorePat87 - 08-29-2017 ![]() RE: Trump Reverses Restrictions on Military Hardware for Police - GMDino - 08-29-2017 (08-29-2017, 09:24 AM)BmorePat87 Wrote: That...and image over substance. RE: Trump Reverses Restrictions on Military Hardware for Police - Benton - 08-29-2017 (08-29-2017, 09:24 AM)BmorePat87 Wrote: A local sheriff's department bought five Humvee's through the program a while back (maybe a decade or so now?). I noticed them parked out back and — looking for a story — asked one of the deputies about them. I'd never heard of the program. He told me they were surplus military units they bought in case the department needed them. I asked if they'd used them. He shrugged and said "I don't know why we would." All five units are in the same exact spot now. They've never moved. Which as a taxpayer bugs the heck out of me. That same sheriff exceeds his budget by hundreds of thousands of dollars every year, and basically acts like the county is trying to murder people if they ask him to spend more responsibly. One year the guy went about 800% over on his "bullet allowance." His fuel expense is always over the budget, but he doesn't stop deputies from using public vehicles for personal use. RE: Trump Reverses Restrictions on Military Hardware for Police - Sociopathicsteelerfan - 08-29-2017 When they use the term military hardware they apparently mean anything that the military used to use. So, by that definition a molle vest is "military hardware". One thing that really annoys me is when the media report that the police have "tanks" and they're referring to an armored infantry vehicle. RE: Trump Reverses Restrictions on Military Hardware for Police - GMDino - 08-29-2017 (08-29-2017, 11:49 AM)Sociopathicsteelerfan Wrote: When they use the term military hardware they apparently mean anything that the military used to use. So, by that definition a molle vest is "military hardware". One thing that really annoys me is when the media report that the police have "tanks" and they're referring to an armored infantry vehicle. And from the report I heard on NPR this morning a lot of that stuff wasn't restricted at all. Like vests and helmets. RE: Trump Reverses Restrictions on Military Hardware for Police - Millhouse - 08-29-2017 Bayonets are handy for cutting seatbelts in an emergency... I mean, wouldn't it be safer to use a knife that you can buy at walmart? I dont mind if police have gear handy for an extreme situation to help protect them better, like helmets and vests. But as noted above, this is a gateway for more taxpayers dollars being wasted overall. Wouldn't it be more ideal to allow the state to buy extra military stuff for extreme situations, then they can deploy when needed which would be rare and at most a few hours away depending on the size of the state? As opposed to the local yocal cops getting it? RE: Trump Reverses Restrictions on Military Hardware for Police - TheLeonardLeap - 08-29-2017 I have always felt conflicted on this topic. Con: I don't like the idea of our police being equipped like a military group. Pro: Some of that stuff would just be placed in storage or destroyed, so it's basically recycling. Con: Like Benton said, it leads to them buying things they might not ever use. Pro: If a large armed terrorist group attacks, or a country invades, our police will be able to hold on until support arrives. I am probably more against it than for it. RE: Trump Reverses Restrictions on Military Hardware for Police - Bengalzona - 08-30-2017 (08-29-2017, 12:02 PM)Millhouse Wrote: Bayonets are handy for cutting seatbelts in an emergency... I mean, wouldn't it be safer to use a knife that you can buy at walmart? Wasn't this the whole reason why many municipalities created SWAT teams? Oh, well. Guess some folks need a police state to help them feel safe, eh. RE: Trump Reverses Restrictions on Military Hardware for Police - Benton - 08-30-2017 (08-29-2017, 05:14 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: I have always felt conflicted on this topic. Maybe it's my lack of understanding their function or watching too many movies, but I always thought that was the function of the National Guard. Which, in my inexperienced opinion, should be armed as well as the military. I know some view them as 'temp workers' for the military, but they're supposed ot fit more into that role of an armed militia. All in all, I'm not opposed to some of it. If there's helmets, vests, or whatever that can protect an officer, even if it's not something the guy is likely to ever use, then it's better to have it and not need it. On the other hand, there's not reason for some municipalities to spend taxpayer money on something a department is likely to never need/use. Surplus it at that point. RE: Trump Reverses Restrictions on Military Hardware for Police - PhilHos - 08-30-2017 Meh, better that American police departments get the military stuff than some third world dictator. ![]() RE: Trump Reverses Restrictions on Military Hardware for Police - TheLeonardLeap - 08-30-2017 (08-30-2017, 11:42 AM)Benton Wrote: Maybe it's my lack of understanding their function or watching too many movies, but I always thought that was the function of the National Guard. Which, in my inexperienced opinion, should be armed as well as the military. I know some view them as 'temp workers' for the military, but they're supposed ot fit more into that role of an armed militia. Joe Blow from Cincinnati is sitting at his desk, doing TPS Report covers at work. An attack happens. Police respond, but find out it's too much for them to handle. They report that up the chain, and it reaches the Governor. They make the call to activate the National Guard. Joe Blow gets a call saying he needs to report. He leaves work and makes the 1 hour, 30 minute drive from Cincinnati to the Springfield National Guard Armory. His unit gets assembled, briefed, armed, and then has a however long drive to where the actual problem is. Total time, probably like 5+ hours. I am not saying it's a frequent or reasonable need, but just one that I could see on my pro/con list. I wasn't saying that the NG couldn't handle it, I was more going off the time required to respond to something unexpected. But yeah, I agree that the cost versus probability of actually needing it means it's probably a waste of money for anything other than things like vests, helmets, and maybe some rifles. Plus for cities, maybe some bomb suits and robots. RE: Trump Reverses Restrictions on Military Hardware for Police - Millhouse - 08-30-2017 The tin-foil in me is saying this is a step to help enforce martial law when that time comes for the country. RE: Trump Reverses Restrictions on Military Hardware for Police - Benton - 08-31-2017 (08-30-2017, 09:12 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Joe Blow from Cincinnati is sitting at his desk, doing TPS Report covers at work. An attack happens. Police respond, but find out it's too much for them to handle. They report that up the chain, and it reaches the Governor. They make the call to activate the National Guard. Joe Blow gets a call saying he needs to report. He leaves work and makes the 1 hour, 30 minute drive from Cincinnati to the Springfield National Guard Armory. His unit gets assembled, briefed, armed, and then has a however long drive to where the actual problem is. Total time, probably like 5+ hours. Balance that with: Joe Blow sitting at his desk has military training versus the sheriffs deputy who -- with his personal revolver firearm -- in the course of three years managed to accidentally shoot another officer on scene and his own mother a wedding. No shit, it's a true story. Nice guy, but it's amazing he was ever given live ammunition. But, according to the scenario here, he's more capable to utilize equipment because he ****s up with a better response time? |