To: The Oregon State House and The Oregon State Senate
Outlaw military equipment for Oregon police
Weapons of war should not be possessed or used by local law enforcement agencies.
"The Pentagon has funneled more than $10.7 million in surplus military equipment to 50 Oregon law enforcement agencies since 1997, according to newly released state records." This includes grenade launchers, armored vehicles, and M19 submachine guns.
http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2014/08/oregon_police_agencies_have_mo.html
We have seen when police forces possess these weapons of war they will eventually find reasons to use them. This has to stop. Police forces and sheriff's departments do not need tanks and grenade launchers.
We ask Oregon lawmakers to end the militarization of all law enforcement agencies in the state of Oregon with a law that prohibits such agencies from possessing military vehicles, aircraft or weapons of war and to provide penalties for the illegal use of such equipment.
We ask that this be accomplished in 2015 since the long legislative session this year affords ample opportunity to develop this legislation and pass it.
"The Pentagon has funneled more than $10.7 million in surplus military equipment to 50 Oregon law enforcement agencies since 1997, according to newly released state records." This includes grenade launchers, armored vehicles, and M19 submachine guns.
http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2014/08/oregon_police_agencies_have_mo.html
We have seen when police forces possess these weapons of war they will eventually find reasons to use them. This has to stop. Police forces and sheriff's departments do not need tanks and grenade launchers.
We ask Oregon lawmakers to end the militarization of all law enforcement agencies in the state of Oregon with a law that prohibits such agencies from possessing military vehicles, aircraft or weapons of war and to provide penalties for the illegal use of such equipment.
We ask that this be accomplished in 2015 since the long legislative session this year affords ample opportunity to develop this legislation and pass it.
Why is this important?
Oregon law enforcment agencies have obtained over 4,000 military surplus items worth over $10 million since 1997. In the wake of tanks driven by police through the small town of Ferguson, MO, this needs to stop.