A
bill that would heavily diminish the effect of federal surplus
equipment programs that militarize local police was given final approval
by the Montana House today.
The vote was 79-20.
Introduced by Rep. Nicholas Schwaderer
(R-Superior), House Bill 330 (HB330) bans state or local law enforcement
agencies from receiving drones that are armored, weaponized, or both;
aircraft that are combat configured or combat coded; grenades or similar
explosives and grenade launchers; silencers; and “militarized armored
vehicles” from federal military surplus programs.
The bill was passed by a 46-1 vote in the Senate
last month and will now go to the Governor’s desk. Also last month, New
Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signed a bill into law that, while not as
comprehensive as the Montana bill, made his state the first to take a
step towards stopping federal militarization of police.
FEDERAL SURPLUS AND GRANT MONEY
Through the federal 1033 Program, local police
departments procure military grade weapons, including automatic assault
rifles, body armor and mine resistant armored vehicles – essentially
unarmed tanks. Police departments can even get their hands on military
helicopters and other aircraft.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) runs
the “Homeland Security Grant Program,” which in 2013 gave more than $900
million in counterterrorism funds to state and local police. According
to a 2012 Senate report, this money has been used to purchase tactical
vehicles, drones, and even tanks with little obvious benefit to public
safety. And, according to ProPublica, “In 1994, the Justice Department
and the Pentagon funded a five-year program to adapt military security
and surveillance technology for local police departments that they would
otherwise not be able to afford.”
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