Ferguson, Missouri, August 11, 2014
Here's a
shock.
The nation's largest police union is fighting back against a White House plan to restrict local police forces' ability to acquire military-style gear, accusing President Barack Obama's task force of politicizing officers' safety.
Because American cops really need to be equipped with "bayonets, weaponized vehicles and grenade launchers," the equipment that is now on the banned list. They'll still be able to get riot gear and other kinds of armored vehicles, though they might have to work a little harder to get them. Like to prove that they are necessary.
Saying that maybe there isn't really a need for your local police force to be armed like they're invading Iraq is "politicizing officers' safety" says the Fraternal Order of Police. James Pasco, executive director of the FOP is asking for a meeting with President Obama to tell him personally that he is putting the lives of cops in danger by taking away their grenade launchers, and he's been just a tiny bit forceful in doing so.
“The FOP is the most aggressive law enforcement advocacy group in Washington, and we will be at our most aggressive in asserting the need for officer safety and officer rights in any police changes that are to be effected,” Pasco said.
Maybe not the best attitude to be taking into this meeting with your president, dude.