Congressman wants to curb military surplus program

http://www.stltoday.com/news/state-and-regional/missouri/congressman-wants-to-curb-military-surplus-program/article_ef2dd907-047e-5045-82bd-3bd7cccf5df5.html



Congressman wants to curb military surplus program
3 hours ago • By MATTHEW DALY

WASHINGTON (AP) — Images of police outfitted in paramilitary gear clashing with protesters in suburban St. Louis after the weekend shooting death of unarmed black teenager is giving new impetus to efforts to rein in a Pentagon program that provides free machine guns and other surplus military equipment to local law enforcement agencies.

Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., says he plans to introduce legislation when Congress returns in September to curb what he describes as an increasing militarization of police agencies across the country.

"Our Main Streets should be a place for business, families and relaxation, not tanks and M16s," Johnson said Thursday. "Militarizing America's Main Streets won't make us any safer, just more fearful and more reticent."

Attorney General Eric Holder said he's concerned that use of military equipment by police in Ferguson, Missouri, is sending a "conflicting message." Holder said authorities there have accepted the Justice Department's offer of crowd-control help as it continues to investigate the Saturday shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown.


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When the US starts looking like Gaza or Egypt, perhaps we should pay attention.