Support S.1856, the Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act

S.1856 requires improved accountability and transparency in the Defense Department's 1033 Program. The legislation would also prohibit the transfer to civilian law enforcement of some types of equipment - including military style weapons and armored vehicles - through both the 1033 Program and certain Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice grant programs.

Under the 1033 Program, more than $6 billion worth of surplus military gear has made it into the hands of state and local police departments, as well as federal law enforcement agencies, according to the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), which runs the program. The 1033 Program received heightened attention in 2014 after the militarized and heavy-handed response of law enforcement to the protests in Ferguson, Missouri.

Granted, police need powerful weapons and heavy equipment to deal with well-armed criminals. However, blurring the line between police officer and soldier has also made cops less concerned about serving the public trust and protecting the innocent, and more interested in terrorizing and oppressing the public. We need a return to the days when police officers were the allies of civilians and real parts of their communities.