While I feel that the senator is likely using this event to get back onto a national soapbox, I completely agree with the argument he presents and that the issue of a militarized police force is problematic as a whole. I hope this becomes an issue that voter start caring about in the 2014 or 2016 elections.
This is one of those cases where both left and right party interests are being served by growing the police force.
The right will tell you this is a result of the left's 'big government', while the right's military infrastructure contracts benefit from the police (or pentagon as the article states) purchase of heavy machinery for local law enforcement. I doubt the local police of a town of 12,000 said "we need to buy an armoured personnel carrier and an anti-aircraft gun". Though I'm sure they thought it was pretty cool when told they would be getting one.
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[ 2.8 ms ] story [ 11.8 ms ] threadThe right will tell you this is a result of the left's 'big government', while the right's military infrastructure contracts benefit from the police (or pentagon as the article states) purchase of heavy machinery for local law enforcement. I doubt the local police of a town of 12,000 said "we need to buy an armoured personnel carrier and an anti-aircraft gun". Though I'm sure they thought it was pretty cool when told they would be getting one.