As many have noted, Ferguson,
Missouri, currently looks like a war zone. And its police—kitted out
with Marine-issue camouflage and military-grade body armor, toting
short-barreled assault rifles, and rolling around in armored
vehicles—are indistinguishable from soldiers.
Missouri, currently looks like a war zone. And its police—kitted out
with Marine-issue camouflage and military-grade body armor, toting
short-barreled assault rifles, and rolling around in armored
vehicles—are indistinguishable from soldiers.
America has been quietly arming its police for battle since the early 1990s.
Faced with a bloated military and what it perceived as a worsening drug crisis, the 101st Congress in 1990 enacted the National Defense Authorization Act.
Section 1208 of the NDAA allowed the Secretary of Defense to “transfer
to Federal and State agencies personal property of the Department of
Defense, including small arms and ammunition, that the Secretary
determines is— (A) suitable for use by such agencies in counter-drug
activities; and (B) excess to the needs of the Department of Defense.”
It was called the 1208 Program. In 1996, Congress replaced Section 1208
with Section 1033.
Section 1208 of the NDAA allowed the Secretary of Defense to “transfer
to Federal and State agencies personal property of the Department of
Defense, including small arms and ammunition, that the Secretary
determines is— (A) suitable for use by such agencies in counter-drug
activities; and (B) excess to the needs of the Department of Defense.”
It was called the 1208 Program. In 1996, Congress replaced Section 1208
with Section 1033.
