MORE THAN 100 COLLEGE POLICE DEPARTMENTS RECEIVE ARMORED VEHICLES, ASSAULT RIFLES

 

Almost 13,000 agencies in all 50 states and four U.S. territories participate in the military “recycling” program, and the share of equipment and weaponry gifted each year continues to expand. In 2011, $500 million worth of military equipment was distributed to law enforcement agencies throughout the country. That number jumped to $546 million in 2012. 

Since 1990, $4.2 billion worth of equipment has been transferred from the Defense Department to domestic police agencies through the 1033 program, in addition to various other programs supposedly aimed at fighting the so-called War on Drugs and War on Terror. For example, the Department of Homeland Security has delivered roughly $34 billion to police departments & colleges.

According to a December 2011 report, “The homeland security market for state and local agencies is projected to reach $19.2 billion by 2014, up from an estimated $15.8 billion in fiscal 2009.”

Since 2006, through the 1033 program, the Pentagon has distributed:

• 79,288 assault rifles
• 205 grenade launchers
• 11,959 bayonets
• 3,972 combat knives
• $124 million worth of night-vision equipment, including night-vision sniper scopes
• 479 bomb detonator robots
• 50 airplanes, including 27 cargo transport airplanes
• 422 helicopters
• More than $3.6 million worth of camouflage gear and other “deception equipment”

Now colleges & universities are acquiring armored vehicles & assault rifles!