Lawmakers begin bipartisan push to cut off police access to military-style gear

Post by tynpeddler » Tue, Jun 02, 2020, 6:48 PM UTC

fisherjeff wrote: post #79

Shivetya wrote: post #28

The equipment issue isn't going to solve anything, this is just lip service to the real problem. Police Unions have effectively created a system by which officers are nearly immune from prosecution and even if successfully prosecuted their record cannot travel with them in many cases. Now one fix that removing some of the equipment will do will reduce the amount of psychological impact it has on those wielding it, as…

This is a somewhat small distinction, but I think an extremely important one: prosecutors - not police unions - are responsible for the lack of charges and indictments against police[0]. And even if an indictment is returned, qualified immunity[1] reduces the chances of conviction. [0] https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/ferguson-michael-brown-... [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qualified_immunity

Post by paloaltokid » Tue, Jun 02, 2020, 6:50 PM UTC

remarkEon wrote: post #49

paloaltokid wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All the more reason to not give the police even more powerful tools with which to brutalize people. If the equipment is not the problem, take it away. That's one less thing to worry about.

This isn't true. Modern tools are significantly less lethal, and give police more options on the spectrum of escalation before having to draw their service pistol. This is why protests were much more deadly in the 1970s.

Post by chris_va » Tue, Jun 02, 2020, 6:52 PM UTC

HarryHirsch wrote: post #75

mberning wrote: post #38

I would like them to provide and require body cams for all officers at the federal level and require all deaths and injuries occurring in police custody to be reviewed by the FBI/justice dept.

I would like them to provide and require body cams for all officers But we had police shooting at reporters on live TV already. It's not that documented misconduct didn't exist. What's missing is savage consequences for misconduct.

Post by inetknght » Tue, Jun 02, 2020, 6:52 PM UTC

RcouF1uZ4gsC wrote: post #3

> Mr. Gallego said. “Our neighborhoods aren’t war zones.” Unfortunately, I am not sure that will be the case in a week. I think by the time the actual voting on the bill comes, it is likely that either the protests have died down removing the immediacy of this, or else there is so much destruction in the cities that this becomes not politically viable.

Post by linuxftw » Tue, Jun 02, 2020, 6:53 PM UTC

nds43242 wrote: post #99

jeffbee wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Changing the inventory will reduce the appeal of police work for psycho assholes who fantasize about shooting protesters. Special weapons and vehicles should be reserved for centralized, specialized police forces who are called out when needed, if ever. Most cops should be issued a radio and a bicycle, so you attract people who want to look like [1] instead of [2]. 1: https://files.kstatecollegian.com/2014/08/08.27.1…

How do you engender an idea of a UK/Canada-type cop in a country where there are more guns than people? I assume cops here are trained to see all citizens as armed threats, which systematically produces cops who are always on edge and ready to kill. The whole thing feels like a deeper problem than just training cops to be nicer.