Trump Lifts Ban on Military Equipment for Police

[Ben]

One of the what, three things Obama did right? Trump is lifting the ban on surplus military gear for police. I guess it's not unexpected. I wouldn't mind so much if it was limited to non-combat materiel, but it looks to be back to the old program of everything from APCs to M4s.

I do not like not being able to distinguish cops from warfighters.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/08/27/trump-plans-to-lift-obama-era-ban-on-giving-local-police-military-equipment.html

[Scout26]

Yep, for every 20 good things he does, there's one bad thing.

The exact opposite of the Obama ratio. (times ten)

[Ben]

Yep, for every 20 good things he does, there's one bad thing.

The exact opposite of the Obama ratio. (times ten)

Yup - it's definitely one of those things where you have to weigh the good against the bad. Like I said, not unexpected (to me anyways). Trump will pretty much always side with LE regardless of the topic or the constitutionality of the subject.

[just Warren]

I perused one of the lists of things various agencies got and was surprised by the number of .45s Uncle was giving away and confused by the number of popcorn machines.

I get weapons and vehicles but what the Hell is military doing with so many popcorn machines?

[Frank Castle]

I get weapons and vehicles but what the Hell is military doing with so many popcorn machines?

MWR items. (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation )

[Perd Hapley]

I perused one of the lists of things various agencies got and was surprised by the number of .45s Uncle was giving away and confused by the number of popcorn machines.

MWR items. (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation )

A .45 in hand would definitely meet all three of those goals.

[Frank Castle]

What program was used to give the police departments MRAPS ?

[Blakenzy]

Gearing up to fight an insurgency.

[Perd Hapley]

As long as the MRAPs have pepperball canons, and the muzzles can be depressed sufficiently to target the groin at the appropriate range, I'm OK with it.

[Jamisjockey]

Of course everyone's pointing at MRAPs being used in Houston as justification for Law Enforcement receiving them.   

[cordex]

Assuming the program is open to private citizens as well then I'm all for it.

[BobR]

I have always wanted to buy a town in one of those states where they come up for sale every now and then. Then appoint myself head LEO of that town and start applying for federal giveaways of dollars and equipment. I think it would work, I could have a choice of MRAP or HUMVEE to drive to work and all of the surplus arms and ammo I could lay my hands on. Maybe even finagle a surplus helicopter, the Sheriff here was able to get two of them.  :)

bob

[T.O.M.]

I have always wanted to buy a town in one of those states where they come up for sale every now and then. Then appoint myself head LEO of that town and start applying for federal giveaways of dollars and equipment. I think it would work, I could have a choice of MRAP or HUMVEE to drive to work and all of the surplus arms and ammo I could lay my hands on. Maybe even finagle a surplus helicopter, the Sheriff here was able to get two of them.  :)

bob

That would probably work.

I'm on an advisory committee for the local sheriff's department.   A couple of years ago, they showed up with paperwork for 2 surplus UH-1 helicopters.   Wanted to use them for assorted reasons, including medevac.  Another committee member was a Navy rotor pilot.  It wasn't until we explained staffing and maintaining the birds would cost around half the cost of the entire patrol division that they gave up.  Feds called a month later and wanted to know why the applications were withdrawn, and couldn't understand the reason...

[wmenorr67]

Yeah, go and see how many of the "free" MRAPs are sitting around unused due to the cost of maintenance.

[TechMan]

Assuming the program is open to private citizens as well then I'm all for it.

MRAP would make the commute fun.

[MechAg94]

I find it hard to get worked up over this.  Outside the tanks, police already have much of that stuff.  The problem with police getting that stuff is the laws, regulations, and court decisions that allow them to misuse it.  Even if you could take away a bunch of their hardware, it wouldn't even slow down the misuse/abuse. 

[Pb]

Our small town PD got a APC... I don't know if they ever used it, but my kids liked climbing in it during PR police events.

[MechAg94]

Amphibious vehicles might be useful come to think of it.   

[Jamisjockey]

Amphibious vehicles might be useful come to think of it.   

The problem with most military amphibs is they are designed around landing troops on shore.  The ramps aren't conducive for rescuing people because the vehicle must be out of the water to use them.  Something like the classic Duck is probably more useful.

[Scout26]

The problem with most military amphibs is they are designed around landing troops on shore.  The ramps aren't conducive for rescuing people because the vehicle must be out of the water to use them.  Something like the classic Duck is probably more useful.

Since DUKW's have been out of production since 1944-45, and the modern bass boat seems to be doing a pretty good job, how about those instead ??

[Jamisjockey]

Since DUKW's have been out of production since 1944-45, and the modern bass boat seems to be doing a pretty good job, how about those instead ??

My people are telling me there are dozens of boats that were stranded by receding water 😂
Not that ceding wateris a bad thing!

[MechAg94]

Someone told me they saw LEO's off loading a big drug enforcement pursuit boat in an area that had just flooded.  I guess it should work, but receding waters and depth would be a big issue.

[wmenorr67]

The problem with most military amphibs is they are designed around landing troops on shore.  The ramps aren't conducive for rescuing people because the vehicle must be out of the water to use them.  Something like the classic Duck is probably more useful.

Actually read somewhere that the DUCKs from Branson, MO were heading that way.