Discussion: The Federal Program That Turned Police In Ferguson Into An Occupying Army

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Discussion for article #226383

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‘Plucked out of Iraq and Afghanistan’-----

without benefit of training and fearful.

What could possibly go wrong?

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This is the Bundy Militia’s wet dream.

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The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, still in effect, was passed to prevent U.S. military personnel from acting as law enforcement agents on U.S. soil.

The way fascists have gotten around this law, is to simply reverse the process for the same end; Instead of turning the military into law enforcement, they turn law enforcement into the military

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Next step, purple hearts for damage to fists and elbows caused by civilian faces.

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As Baldwin said, “… it’s the fire next time.”

The biggest problems facing America today all have to do with EQUALITY, or the lack of it.

Voting rights, when you are disenfranchised your only solution is to take to the streets.

Income inequality, this is how many revolutions have started.

Gender inequality, much like voter rights, if you are disenfranchised your only recourse is to take it to the streets.

Racial inequality, you are seeing how it is handled and the results. People are taking it to the streets.

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Why isn’t anyone asking the obvious question…as in, why does a police department for a town of approximately 20,000 people need this much of this kind of advanced equipment? Do they think Al Qaeda has a sleeper cell there or something??

The chief of police in Ferguson finally admitted last night that none of his officers have even done drills with any this stuff you are seeing deployed on the news. That scares me more than anything, you have rank amateurs out there shooting tear gas canisters, flash bang grenades and using LRAD on citizens…WITHOUT ANY TRAINING.

Anybody need yet another reason to complain about the overbloated DoD budget that conservatives absolutely refuse to cut? Here ya go.

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Give me a hammer and you can just imagine how many nails I now see.

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It took this violence to wake up white suburban America…whether they care is another story, but it is funny to see people shocked at this. It’s almost as if the Pentagon’s anticipating social violence in the future and wanna get a leg up on protecting the One Percenter’s interests.

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The militarization of police has been a creeping phenomenon, largely out of the public eye, as the military gets rid of it’s surplus urban fighting gear.

But it is absolutely the wrong way to build public relations. Their mission is public safety. But I can’t see much safety in these pictures. Safety goes out the window the minute these cops arrive. They are the problem with public safety, not any kind of solution. They’ve turned the cops into the National Guard.

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Great, so Democrats are, in fact, partially responsible. Thanks, Bill. And yeah, Barack? Maybe time to take a look at this, dontcha think?

But as to Josh’s question about why the cops are in camo in the middle of a city–100% fashion statement. Go take a look at the Navy’s blue camouflage pattern–whose only possible purpose is to make it harder to see you if you fall overboard–if you doubt for a minute that’s what it is.

Yes, surplus camo is cheaper than real uniforms, but most of these forces are buying it from uniform supply houses, not the DLA. It’s all about the statement. And about how cool they think it makes them look, of course.

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Great. So the MIC is also culpable, which means, it will only get worse.

Time to end the 1033 program completely.

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The 1033 program is more “Welfare for the Defense Industry”.
Once the material is transferred to the local P.D., where do you think they have to turn for spare parts and accessories?
I don’t think the local gas station is equipped to fix an MRAP.
This kind of equipment only accelerates the change from “protect and serve” to “search and destroy”.
“When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.”

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Has NOBODY been paying attention?!?

April 18th, this year – http://www.nationalreview.com/article/376053/united-states-swat-john-fund

June 24th, this year – http://news.yahoo.com/as-wars-wind-down--small-town-cops-inherit-armored-vehicles-233505138.html

This is not a new phenomenon, people! Just like folks were outraged, Outraged, OUTRAGED at the reports of the NSA super-mighty-gigantic-awesome-ultra-mega-powerhouse cyber-spying facility in Utah last year, when Wired had that story covered back in 2010.

Nobody should say that there weren’t warnings given!

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Yes, and Ferguson police have undeniably demonstrated why militarizing the police is a very bad idea and must be reversed.

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Until a few nights ago I found myself empathizing with police militarization, not defending it but at least understanding it.

When we have assault rifles flying off the shelves and retail outlets having to put restrictions on the amount of ammunition people can buy at one time it’s a good sign that things are dangerous out there.

These statistics and what I’ve seen in Ferguson the last few days make me think that NRA supporters and militarized police forces are really two sides of the same coin.

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When the political process is rigged, what else is there but violence? If these people didn’t take to the street to riot…would we be having this conversation? Would white suburbanites care?

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I have been a supporter of gun legislation…until now I think. I’m not sure, but I’m starting to see the argument a little more clearly.

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I think we need to own a piece of this as a people too. Since 2001, everyone has become a “hero”, and once elevated like that its hard to com back down. That word needs to revert to its intended use, and deflate some self important schmucks.

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For the umpteenth time. These are not Ferguson city cops. These are St. Louis County Police Department Tactical Unit cops. Read the lettering on the side of the armored vehicle. It’s right there.