Another ruse in the making
The Washington Times is reporting that the White House is reconsidering arming police departments with military grade weapons and equipment. The review of this policy comes after congressmen saw first hand the firepower and intimidation brought to the streets by the local Ferguson police department as riots persisted in the aftermath of the Michael Brown shooting. An October 2013 Homeland Security Newswire report pointed toward the Department of Defense’s 1033 Excess Property Program. As part of the 1997 National Defense Authorization Act, Homeland Security and Defense has provided $38.2 billion in military equipment to local police departments, with some 13,000 participating agencies.
The report said, “The adoption of military gear by local police departments across America – some call it the “militarization” of American police – has been going on for a while. Now, observers ask whether this trend might have repercussion which should make citizens uneasy. Police departments receive the equipment for free-all they have to do is pay for the shipping. The gear being sent to local police includes planes, helicopters, armored vehicles, grenade launchers, assault rifles, bullet-proof helmets, night-vision goggles, and more. A few sheriff departments ordered tanks.” The guise of armament is the threat of domestic terrorism. Government arms police as if they were military, but does not secure the border.
The Posse Comitatus Act was passed in 1878 and modified in 1981 to prevent the US military from enforcing state and local laws.The original law stated: “From and after the passage of this act it shall not be lawful to employ any part of the Army of the United States, as a posse comitatus, or otherwise, for the purpose of executing the laws, except in such cases and under such circumstances as such employment of said force may be expressly authorized by the Constitution or by act of Congress…” Since then military under the Department of Defense was added, to include Navy, Marines, and Air Force. A 2006 amendment to the 2007 Defense Authorization Act allowed the president to use the military to restore order in the aftermath of a natural disaster or terrorist attack, but that was repealed in 2008.
For the White House to say it is reconsidering the military arming of local police forces is window dressing at best. Think about it. Nearly $40 billion worth of equipment distributed through 13,000 agencies in all 50 states. The market is pretty much saturated at this point. There is really nothing to reconsider because armament of local police with sophisticated military equipment is already widespread. The gain for the White House is that people will believe that the program is ended, AND the government will still have militarized local police–against the very laws of the nation. A ruse in the making. 2 Timothy 3:13 says, “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” And so it is.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
