The 1033 program is the department of defense which was a way to let state and local law enforcement stock up on excess U.S. military equipment free of charge. The program began in 1997 which created a pipeline for the DOD to pass surplus military gear to local precincts. In 2009 Keene’s city was granted $28,933 from the department of defense in 2012 to purchase balletic engineered armored response, counter attack trucks and bearcats. Giving such a small town so much power is unsafe. How many times will a small town use equipment like a bearcat? For example, the bearcat truck in Keene’s city was used only 21 times in 2013, 19 time for training, another time for response for a person that was barricaded in their house and for a person who tried to commit suicide. Police militarization in small towns using military grade equipment is outrageous because the amount of time needed to use the equipment is slim and they are forced to use the equipment once a year on family disputes or low conviction crimes.
According to the Obama administration and pentagon data information, the police departments have received ten thousand machine guns with 200,000 magazines ammunition. In the United States we have small towns with a population of 5,000. Why is it necessary for small police departments to have so much extensive equipment? Giving bigger cities such as New York or Chicago. Access to military is more reasonable because their crime rate will be high but small town crime is not as high.
The United States wants its police officers to act like drug warriors, then they should be equipped like warriors. In the 1960 Ruby Ridge event which showed how small local police departments should not use military equipment. When you use military equipment on a person that is barricaded in their house with their family and refuses to come out it is completely wrong. Police officers who have access will shoot not on command and break into family homes until the threat is eliminated. However, what they don’t realize are the lives that are lost during the process.
In my opinion, police militarization in small towns using military grade equipment is outrageous. In small towns everyone knows everyone. The problem with big cities is that everyone is seen as a threat. Police officers should be there to protect- you not harm you. I believe that by giving all local and state police department’s access to military equipment when there are no rules then problems will arise. The police will put too much force against their citizens.
Rebecca Hoffman
http://www.wnd.com/2014/10/why-does-a-small-town-need-a-mine-resistant-tank/
http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Policy-Politics/Armored-vehicles-in-small-town-America-trigger-debate
http://www.dailydemocrat.com/general-news/20140830/militarization-of-small-town-america-gets-mixed-reviews
According to the Obama administration and pentagon data information, the police departments have received ten thousand machine guns with 200,000 magazines ammunition. In the United States we have small towns with a population of 5,000. Why is it necessary for small police departments to have so much extensive equipment? Giving bigger cities such as New York or Chicago. Access to military is more reasonable because their crime rate will be high but small town crime is not as high.
The United States wants its police officers to act like drug warriors, then they should be equipped like warriors. In the 1960 Ruby Ridge event which showed how small local police departments should not use military equipment. When you use military equipment on a person that is barricaded in their house with their family and refuses to come out it is completely wrong. Police officers who have access will shoot not on command and break into family homes until the threat is eliminated. However, what they don’t realize are the lives that are lost during the process.
In my opinion, police militarization in small towns using military grade equipment is outrageous. In small towns everyone knows everyone. The problem with big cities is that everyone is seen as a threat. Police officers should be there to protect- you not harm you. I believe that by giving all local and state police department’s access to military equipment when there are no rules then problems will arise. The police will put too much force against their citizens.
Rebecca Hoffman
http://www.wnd.com/2014/10/why-does-a-small-town-need-a-mine-resistant-tank/
http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Policy-Politics/Armored-vehicles-in-small-town-America-trigger-debate
http://www.dailydemocrat.com/general-news/20140830/militarization-of-small-town-america-gets-mixed-reviews