Keith Johnson
Revolt of the Plebs
January 6, 2012
Since Sept. 11, 2001, thousands of communities across the nation have taken advantage of more than $34 billion in central government grants to equip police and sheriffs’ departments with assault rifles and exotic weaponry.
In 2011 alone, approximately $2 billion in grants were awarded by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), along with $500 million more allocated to existing programs.
The accounting for this expense was recently compiled by the Center for Investigative Reporting and detailed in a report, “America’s War Within: Homeland security and the first 10 years of the war on terror.” After reviewing records from 41 states and interviewing over two dozen police officials and terrorism experts, researcher G.W. Schulz concludes that police departments “have transformed into small army-like forces.”
Federal grants are just one avenue police are using to get weaponry like armored vehicles, grenade launchers and M-16 assault rifles, suited to use on a battlefield. In fiscal year 2011, the Department of Defense gave away a record total of more than $500 million worth of military surplus to law enforcement through its little-known (to the public) “1033 program.”
“Passed by Congress in 1997, the 1033 program was created to provide law-enforcement agencies with tools to fight drugs and terrorism,” writes Benjamin Carlson in a recent article for The Daily. “Since then, more than 17,000 agencies have taken in $2.6 billion worth of equipment. . . paying only the cost of delivery.”
That trend is showing no signs of slowing, according to Carlson.
So why is the government supplying cops with these dangerous toys? The much-touted threat of terrorism is no justification. The National Safety Council notes: “You are eight times more likely to be killed by a police officer than by a terrorist.”
Federal Grants Pay to Militarize Local Cops
It appears the cops won’t be nice and gentle like they use to be and are prepping for the major riots that will probably start to trickle through out the country as the job loss gets worse, job hiring is getting worse, homes are being lost, and these guys are working on buying equipment like this.
Think of all the tax dollars that would be saved, if they would just legalize lets say pot.
Extra manpower wouldn’t even be needed.
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