2nd State Resisting Militarization of Cops -New Law Cracks Down On Grenade Launchers, Armored Vehicles, Drones

Bob Unruh / WND

A second state has joined a growing effort to curb the militarization of local police departments by the federal government.

WND reported last month New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signed into law a bill that bans local law-enforcement agencies from obtaining nightscopes, military assault rifles, grenade launchers and 14-ton Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicles through a federal program without local oversight.

The issue drew national attention when law-enforcement officers in Ferguson, Missouri, outfitted like an invading army, were deployed against violent protesters outraged by the shooting death of black teen Michael Brown by a white police officer.

Now, according to the Tenth Amendment Center, Montana’s governor has signed into law a bill that “would heavily diminish the effect of federal programs that militarize local police.”

The bill, HB330, bans state or local law enforcement from receiving significant classes of military equipment from the Pentagon’s “1033 Program.”

It was approved 46-1 in the state Senate and 79-20 in the House. Democrat Gov. Steve Bullock signed it.

The Tenth Amendment Center said the new law “will prohibit 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.”

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It also prevents law enforcement agencies in the state from buying such military equipment with federal grants.

“They could continue to purchase them, but would have to use state or local funds, and the agencies would have to give public notice within 14 days of a request for any such local purchase,” the center reported.

State Rep. Nicholas Schwaderer, a Republican, sponsored the plan and told the center: “This foundation sets a massive precedent in Montana and the country as to what kind of society we want to have. If you get to the point where you need a grenade launcher, we’ve got the National Guard.”

WND reported there are some 17,000 police departments nationwide equipped with $4.2 billion worth of equipment ranging from Blackhawk helicopters and battering rams to explosives, body armor and night vision.

It’s all under the federal government’s “1033″ program that supplies “surplus” military weapons to local officers, departments and agencies.

Read more at WND:

http://www.wnd.com/2015/04/2nd-state-resisting-militarization-of-cops/