The Failed 'War on Drugs' Is Militarizing Law Enforcement, Fueling Police Violence

The Failed 'War on Drugs' Is Militarizing Law Enforcement, Fueling Police Violence
Posted: 10/24/2014
Rep. Hank Johnson
U.S. Representative for Georgia's 4th District


This equipment, including Mine Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicles (MRAPs), grenades, launchers, and other weapons, is turning America's local police forces into something closer to an army. The so-called War on Drugs has failed to stop drug use, diverted resources from addiction treatment, and had the absurd and dangerous effect of militarizing our law enforcement and our police. Fortunately, Americans are waking up to this new reality, and they are raising their voices online at DontMilitarizeMainStreet.com. Congress is also considering passage of the Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act, which would curtail the types of equipment that local law enforcement agencies can procure from the DOD.

Some background:

In June 1971, President Nixon declared a "War on Drugs." After that declaration, federal drug control agencies' resources and authority were dramatically increased and Congress implemented measures such as mandatory sentencing and no-knock warrants. Then, in 1996, Congress mistakenly gave the Department of Defense expanded authority to provide excess military equipment to law enforcement. Today, the program known as "1033" has provided a large number of small towns with tank-like MRAPs while others have received grenade launchers and high-caliber assault rifles. Even campus police are receiving advanced equipment and weaponry from the program for free.

The combination of expanded police authority and expanded access to military-style weapons has created a perfect storm for police violence. This year alone, in Georgia, a baby was badly burned when police dropped a "flash bang" grenade in his crib during an early morning drug raid and a grandfather was killed by police in a commando-style raid on his house in October. Authorities did not make any arrests, nor did they find anything at the house during the raid where the baby was burned. The evidence supporting the raid on the grandfather's house is in question . These are just two instances where the misguided War on Drugs has escalated to horrific levels due to law enforcement militarization.

As these stories and countless others indicate, militarization of law enforcement can lead to excessive force during the execution of residential drug raids aimed mostly at street-level, low-volume drug dealers. Furthermore, militarization fails our country by not solving the addiction problem while simultaneously blurring the line between police and military personnel.

Our founders opposed using a "standing army" to patrol our streets. In fact, James Madison called this "one of the greatest mischiefs that can possibly happen." Under the "1033" program, however, America's streets are increasingly patrolled by police forces with all the trappings of an army ready for war. Congress must end this unchecked expansion of military weapons into our civilian law enforcement agencies by passing the Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-hank-johnson/the-failed-war-on-drugs-i_b_6043558.html
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For real we need to reign in and dismantle the outta control military police state.





Rep. Hank Johnson

Tanks? Grenade launchers? What the fuck. Are they going to take out an entire block? I knew you had it bad in the states but I didn't think it had gone this far.

Do you have the original link?

Also the militarization of the police force is COMPLETELY unnecessary, they already have task forces dedicated to high risk scenarios.
When it comes down to it police officers ARE NOT trained to be able to use this weapon safely, and their tactics, as said, are excessive to say the least.
I can see why automatic weaponry and such may be needed when large raids on dangerous cartel members are executed, but this article make it seem like these were nothing of the like.
Or we could simply think proactively and eliminate the whole black market demand for drugs through legalization so that there will be no need for such high risk raids.

Thanks for pointing that out.. its up now

How many of these police officers just can't fuckin' wait to use their new (to them) toys.
I mean a grenade launcher, sounds like a lot of fun to be had, whooWHhheee!

If they have it, they are going to use it.

I've got the Molotov cocktails ready....who's got the gas masks?

Because I can see it happening. Especially with the way police are treating people. Something needs to be done in order to stop these assholes. Protesting and rioting has worked in other countries. They saw a great deal of change in Egypt through these measures. Maybe we should take a chapter from their play book?

I live in a small town, not far from where I was born & raised... And those douche bags have fully automatic weapons, an armored truck similar to an MRAP, and all kinds of bullshit. & you know what the most common disturbance is DUIs and shit.

Fuck the police.

I've got the Molotov cocktails ready....who's got the gas masks?

Click to expand...

I love your spirit But the first line of action when fighting a fecal monster is not to throw feces at it.

I would encourage everyone in the US to take ten minutes and write your representatives expressing the importance and backing of the "Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act."

Online Directory for the 113th Congress

Compose a polite well written forum letter, and then send or email it off to the representaives from your state. Get involved with some of the fine orginizations found in this thread List of harm reduction organizations or groups.

Take that passion and get involved.. they will keep doing this until we stop them.. sounds like you have a lot to offer.. take up the fight the right way, no need to sink to their level at this point.

neversickanymore said:

I love your spirit But the first line of action when fighting a fecal monster is not to throw feces at it.

I would encourage everyone in the US to take ten minutes and write your representatives expressing the importance and backing of the "Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act."

Online Directory for the 113th Congress

Compose a polite well written forum letter, and then send or email it off to the representaives from your state. Get involved with some of the fine orginizations found in this thread List of harm reduction organizations or groups.

Take that passion and get involved.. they will keep doing this until we stop them.. sounds like you have a lot to offer.. take up the fight the right way, no need to sink to their level at this point.

Click to expand...

I used to agree with this 100%, but the older I get, the more I feel like I've been so naive to expect to be able to use the system to fix the corruption within it. But I do like knowing we've increased the ranks of those willing stand up for liberty and are ready for a leader to organize and say GO.