Obama will restrict grenade launchers, military equipment from local police

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/18/politics/bayonets-police-white-house/index.html

Washington (CNN)The Obama administration plans to prohibit federal agencies from providing to local cops certain kinds of military equipment such as grenade launchers, high-caliber weapons and bayonets, in the wake of controversy over a "militarized" police response to unrest last summer in Ferguson, Missouri.

The new prohibitions are part of an executive order President Barack Obama issued for federal agencies to review the types of equipment they provide to local and state police.

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The banned list includes: tank-like armored vehicles that move on tracks, certain types of camouflage uniforms, bayonets, firearms and ammunition of .50 caliber or higher, grenade launchers, and weaponized aircraft.

The presidential order will establish a "controlled equipment" list, with tightened requirements before federal agencies can transfer equipment to local cops. These will include riot control equipments and drones. Federal agencies will also require local police to provide more data so the government can better track equipment.

~ more at the link ~

One problem here, this doesn't stop police departments from buying these types of equipment elsewhere.

[arcane1]

1. Who the hell thought PD's needed bayonets and grenade launchers in the first place?

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

2. I have also noticed an LBN thread which is apparently about the same issue

That from the AP: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141096315

I could be wrong but I've not heard of local PDs buying and certainly not using either bayonets or grenades.
I think the real issues are some of the armored vehicles and high explosives.

I have a problem with PDs spending on these items since, I assume, the National Guard already has this equipment. I think some PDs are off empire building at taxpayer expense and return to cities and mayors asking for funding like this. In some cases IMHO PDs are to busy asking "Can we have...?" they never think about "Should we have...?".