Last Thursday, Sen. Brian Kelsey (R-TN), filed Senate Bill 39, which would prohibit law enforcement agencies from owning or using vehicles or weapons that were once used for military purposes.
“Traditionally, America has had a clear separation between the military and the police to ensure we remain in a free democracy,” Kelsey stated. “I think we can support both our police officers and our citizens by ensuring that our police officers are not viewed as the enemy. This bill is an important step in that direction.”
Local law enforcement has certainly been inundated with weapons of war and this practice by the DOD continues unabated. Why would local law enforcement and local school districts need such things as MRAPs and bayonets?
We all know martial law is coming, and hopefully patriots such as Kelsey will help turn things more to our favor before the communists bring it all down. This is quite optimistic, admittedly, as we see the encroaching despotic federal government and Obama bringing in control measures and martial law preparations faster than the public has a chance to temper their disbelief of what they are seeing.
The bill reads, “No law enforcement agency shall own or use a military vehicle, military aircraft, or military weaponry for any law enforcement purposes.” While it would prohibit law enforcement agencies from owning and using any and all vehicles, aircraft and crew-served weaponry — a weapon that requires more than one person to operate — it would exempt certain weapons — such as “magazine-fed, gas-operated, air-cooled rifles designed for semiautomatic or automatic fire,” which would include M16 and AR-15 rifles — from proscription.
Although Kelsey said he did not speak to law enforcement personnel before introducing the legislation, he added he hoped the bill would be used as a way to begin that conversation.
“I will be speaking with law enforcement agencies throughout Tennessee about this bill,” Kelsey said. “Drafting and filing this bill is the beginning of that conversation. I’m certainly open to any suggestions they have on the issue.”
Local law enforcement officials expressed some misgivings regarding that issue, however. Although he said he hadn’t read the bill, Carter County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy James Parrish — whose previous position was as a lieutenant colonel in the Army — said he thought it may have been drafted for political or conversational purposes instead of legislative ones.
“What he’s trying to do is provoke comment,” Parrish said. “I’m sure the gentleman means well. But we would be hesitant to comment on something designed to provoke controversy. If it gains traction, we’ll talk about it at that time.”
Other local law enforcement officials had concerns over the potential loss of equipment that could be wrought from the bill. Johnson City Police Chief Mark Sirois — whose department has participated in a federal program aimed at supplying military equipment to local law enforcement agencies for more than 20 years — said the loss of military vehicles could affect the safety of his officers, and the public, in certain situations.
“Since certain vehicles are prohibited in the proposed bill — vehicles that we feel are of potential value to our community’s safety for defensive purposes in a critical situation — we would be at a disadvantage if we need the vehicles and didn’t have them,” Sirois said, in an email communication.
On April 7, Johnson City police were involved in a 13-hour standoff at 1255 Snowden Terrace. During that standoff, Sirois said, police used armor-plated Hummers — which were supplied by the federal military equipment program — to protect themselves from potential gunfire.
“In a situation like that, the absence of those types of vehicles could be dangerous … for civilians and for the officers,” he said.
While Kelsey’s bill has been introduced in the state Senate, it has yet to acquire a co-sponsor in the state House. Kelsey said he was still working on finding a representative to sponsor the bill.
leave that up to us…we can weed them out better than the military…no ROE’s
yes they need to think twice befor they come after americans.
Good for them, EVERY state should do the same.
It is here!!
Deep denial is surrender! Resistance is victory!! go to graystatemovie.com, or infowars.com
Why would the lawenfocement even dream that they need equipment such as this to do their job; I think that the government is training for Martial law and are going to use this stuff against the people; what about all the criminals and gangs, drug dealers; I guess they aren’t worried about them, they sure won’t be going after someone who would fight back!
Yup! That’s whatthe WH has been doing four 5 years – Screwing with our mingd on various stunts so that we get fed up and they can cal Martial Law on the country an hand us to either Putin or ISIS.
Better than giving it to Islamic countries to use against us.