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Pledging Archive
In the 1980s, our nation’s police departments had a total of 3,000 Special Weapons and Tactics Teams. Today, there are 50,000 of these elite units. Police administrators now regard SWAT teams as money-makers rather than costly budget-breakers as they did before they began receiving free equipment from our Department of Defense (DoD). The DoD’s 1033 and 1122 programs provide a substantial amount of funding and military equipment, as well as arms, tactical vehicles and training to local law enforcement agencies (LEA). This military equipment is often used for local drug busts. More than 8,000 law enforcement agencies have participated in this program, include many college and university police departments. In the past ten years, our DOD has transferred at least 490,000 pieces of military equipment worth $1.7 billion to LEAs across the country. This equipment includes high-powered weapons, silencers, weaponized drones and long-range acoustic devices.
Our Pentagon states this program is intended to help police combat terrorists and drug cartels. Critics disagree and say much of the time, SWAT teams are used against non-violent consensual drug offenders. They are also concerned some police departments are using military equipment and tactics for routine duties such as crowd control at peaceful public demonstrations. Critics claim the mind-set of a peace officer must be very different than one of a soldier, and that our police militarization policy has blurred this distinction.
Proposed Legislation: Reintroduction of H.R.1694 - Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act (117th Congress 2021-2022)
Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA) |
- I oppose reforming current police militarization policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Kevin McCarthy (CA).
- I support restricting the Department of Defense (DoD) from transferring certain surplus military property to federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies by:
1.) Including any controlled firearms, ammunition, bayonets, grenades or grenade launchers, explosives, certain vehicles or trucks, armored or weaponized drones, certain controlled aircraft, silencers or long-range acoustic devices.
2.) Requiring the federal or state agency that receives DoD property to return the property if the agency is investigated by the Department of Justice for civil liberties violations, or is otherwise found to have engaged in widespread abuses of civil liberties. DOD must also periodically submit certain transfer-related information and certifications to Congress.
3.) Requiring the recipient to receive the approval of its local governing body, provide specified notice to the local community, and submit specified information and certifications to DOD.
4.) Providing that a federal or state agency that receives controlled property under such a transfer may never take ownership of the property.
5.) Providing that this bill also eliminates the requirement for DOD to give preference to transfers of property that will be used in counter-drug, counterterrorism, or border security activities.
And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.
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| Winning Option
»» No issues were voted |
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I support restricting the Department of Defense (DoD) from transferring certain surplus military property to federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies by:
1.) Including any controlled firearms, ammunition, bayonets, grenades or grenade launchers, explosives, certain vehicles or trucks, armored or weaponized drones, certain controlled aircraft, silencers or long-range acoustic devices.
2.) Requiring the federal or state agency that receives DoD property to return the property if the agency is investigated by the Department of Justice for civil liberties violations, or is otherwise found to have engaged in widespread abuses of civil liberties. DOD must also periodically submit certain transfer-related information and certifications to Congress.
3.) Requiring the recipient to receive the approval of its local governing body, provide specified notice to the local community, and submit specified information and certifications to DOD.
4.) Providing that a federal or state agency that receives controlled property under such a transfer may never take ownership of the property.
5.) Providing that this bill also eliminates the requirement for DOD to give preference to transfers of property that will be used in counter-drug, counterterrorism, or border security activities.
And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.
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| Number of Letters Pledged |
| Number of Monetary Pledges |
| Number of Trustee Suggestions |
| Top 30 Keywords From Trustee Suggestions |
| Poll Opening Date |
May 08, 2023 |
| Poll Closing Date |
May 14, 2023 |
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