According to a report on TPM, it is not just police departments that are getting surplus military equipment from the DoD, school districts are too.
Report: School Districts Are Receiving Free Military Gear From The Pentagon
More than 20 school districts in the United States have been equipped with military-grade equipment through the federal program that provides such gear to local and state authorities free of charge, according to civil rights groups.
This has not escaped the NAACP and Texas Appleseed who sent a letter to the federal agency that administers the program.
The Monitor: Texas schools get military gear through federal program
Signed by 22 state and national organizations, including the Education Law Center, the Legal Aid Justice Center and the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, the letter also asks for a “comprehensive accounting” of school districts taking part in the program that indicates the type of equipment received and its intended use. Though the full scope of school district participation in the program is difficult to determine because of discrepancies in public disclosures at the federal and state levels, Texas Appleseed identified at least 10 Texas school districts that have received armored plating, tactical vests and military vehicles. Together they also received a total of 18 M-14 rifles, 25 automatic pistols and 4,500 rounds of ammunition.
San Diego Unified Got An Armored Vehicle Under Military Surplus Program
A photo of the 2013 Caiman MRAP acquired by the San Diego Unified School District Police Department. The decals have been digitally rendered onto the vehicle.
San Diego Unified School District recently acquired a tank.
Well, it’s as big as a tank, and it’s in the garage of Morse High School.
It’s actually a mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle, more commonly called an MRAP. The U.S. military has used these vehicles in Afghanistan and Iraq wars. They’re capable of withstanding improvised explosive devices and smashing through barricades. Police departments around the country use similar vehicles for SWAT team deployments.
LAUSD Police Arsenal Includes Armored Vehicle, Grenade Launchers, Chief Confirms
Apparently The L.A. School district needed three grenade launchers.
Prompting criticism, the head of LAUSD’s school police department has confirmed that the agency obtain a mine-resistant vehicle, three grenade launchers and 61 assault rifles under a Pentagon program, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The TPM report goes on to say
A school district in Edinburg, Texas, has employed a full SWAT unit, according to the letter, which is equipped through the 1033 program. The groups pointed to a news image that showed officers in military fatigues standing in front of school buses.
"It is frankly difficult to imagine how a grenade launcher, or any of these items, could be safely used in any scenario involving schools," the letter said.
School districts in Texas, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Michigan, Nevada and Utah have received military equipment, according to the groups.
Here are Edinburg Texas' (population 81,029) finest ready to guard school buses.
Am I the only who sees a problem with giving yahoos like this military grade weapons?
3:57 PM PT: Update: Lisa, the love of my life, suggest maybe they should sell the military equipment and buy books instead.