Pentagon halts free guns for police

AP via Yahoo ^ | June 8, 2012 | Holbrook Mohr

[Rennes Templar]

The Defense Department has stopped issuing weapons to thousands of law enforcement agencies until it is satisfied that state officials can account for all the surplus guns, aircraft, Humvees and armored personnel carriers it has given police under a $2.6 billion program, The Associated Press has learned.

The department's Defense Logistics Agency ordered state-appointed coordinators in 49 states to certify the whereabouts of that equipment that has already been distributed through the long-running arrangement overseen by the agency's Law Enforcement Support Office. The temporary halt on transferring weapons applies to all states, agency officials said Thursday.

The program provides police departments and other law enforcement agencies with military equipment ranging from guns and helicopters to computers and air conditioners and even toilet paper. The equipment is cheap or free for law enforcement agencies to acquire, but much of it comes with strict rules that prohibit it from being sold and dictate how it must be tracked.

The military decided to conduct a "one-time, clean sweep" of all state inventories instead of reviewing them piecemeal, said Kenneth MacNevin, a spokesman for the federal agency. While some gear, including guns, has been stolen or otherwise gone missing over the years, MacNevin said the reporting requirements themselves aren't new and that the review wasn't prompted by anything specific.

-snip-

The Arizona Republic reported last month that the Pinal County Sheriff's Office has stockpiled millions of dollars' worth of equipment through the program, distributing some of the gear to non-police agencies, and intended to sell other property, which would violate the program's rules.

-snip-

The surplus program has grown exponentially in recent years, with a record $498 million worth of property distributed in fiscal year 2011. That includes $191 million in aircraft alone and more than 15,000 weapons worth nearly $4.8 million.

[Rennes Templar]

It's a good thing our local police are stockpiling planes, armored personnel carriers, Humvees etc, to protect us against...?

Right?

[Hardraade]

Waiting for the first news that MS13 now has self-propelled artillery, the guns that you don’t even have to walk.

[Idaho_Cowboy]

It's a good thing our local police are stockpiling planes, armored personnel carriers, Humvees etc, to protect us against unconstitutional action by the Federal government.

Sentence completed. Let's hope states would have the required intestinal fortitude when the time comes.

[Rennes Templar]

“Let’s hope states would have the required intestinal fortitude when the time comes.’

I’m sure they have fortitude, the question is, to whom will they have allegiance?

[blueunicorn6]

I was wondering how our local police got that B-52 that they use for traffic enforcement.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Let’s start a new program. Free guns for everyone.

[Ratman83]

Yeah, I want an M2, a M4 and a Barrett.

[piroque]

http://zanylol.com/speed_sign.html

Now I know !)

[piroque]

http://zanylol.com/speed_sign.html

[puppypusher]

I feel safer already.The Police should NOT have access to military hardware that the public is banned from possessing.

Otherwise what controls can the civil population put on a militaristic,Out of control Police Departmant?

[1010RD]

Is there a government giveaway program that actually can keep track of what’s given away? This happens every time.

[Grammy]

Just out of curiosity..... which state doesn’t have to report and why?

[bjorn14]

Yep. I bet they won’t account for half the stuff. It’s military surplus.

[RandallFlagg]

I don’t know, but I REALLY like that Pinal County Sheriff’s first page on the site:

http://pinalcountyaz.gov/Departments/Sheriff/Pages/Home.aspx

[voicereason]

I feel safer already.The Police should NOT have access to military hardware that the public is banned from possessing.

If the police have it and the SHTF, then I know where I can get it. Given the ineptness, coupled with a high degree of arrogance, of many police departments; being able to acquire it shouldn't be problem.

I landed last night at the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre airport only to see if the local law enforcement officials wearing his blouses BDU pants. It is actually kind of comical watching these Commandos wannabes parade around.

[Rennes Templar]

That’s what I was wondering - was the review ordered because the weapons were getting into the “wrong hands”.

[Rennes Templar]

“Otherwise what controls can the civil population put on a militaristic,Out of control Police Departmant?”

You mean Obama’s civilian military corpse? Not much; only control would be the allegiance of the police, hopefully they would side with the populace when the SHTF.

[Macgedos]

Could be that all this missing equipment and weapons are in the hands of Obam’s private army that he talked about in 2008.

Now that he has given himself the power of a dictator to declare Martial Law for any reason he may deem necessary and
control every aspect of citizens lives witch is totally unconstitutional and forbidden by our constitution , but yet
his executive order remains law of the land. Where are our leaders that are trying to repeal this executive order ? Folks, this is for real and should concern every American !

[teeman8r]

as long as the checks keep cashing, the LEO will side with the train car loading ilk...

when the actual SHTF, they will try to return to their families to protect them, but the residents will not want them around, fearing their loyalties lie elsewhere.

t

[WilliamRobert]

If the police have it and the SHTF, then I know where I can get it.
<><>
My thoughts exactly, there are to few cops and way to many of us. As to your BDU comment I wear them as work pants, blue with plenty of pockets to carry tools. Plus they are comfortable and I don’t have to worry about wear in the knees and other areas. They go great with my blue striped work shirt.