Comments on: Military gives police free surplus equipment http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/ Protect yourself from government gaffes, bureaucratic blunders and incumbent incompetence Fri, 19 Mar 2010 01:15:45 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Moronshttp://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-68119 Morons Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:46:19 +0000 http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-68119 For you people who bitch and whine, you are the same morons who cry for the police when you are drunk and pissed someone bigger off or when you feel threatened. But when PDs cant afford something themselves you bitch even louder when they cant arrive in 32 seconds to save your white-trash asses. Try thinking of something bigger than yourselves. Most of you dont pay your taxes anyway. For you people who bitch and whine, you are the same morons who cry for the police when you are drunk and pissed someone bigger off or when you feel threatened. But when PDs cant afford something themselves you bitch even louder when they cant arrive in 32 seconds to save your white-trash asses. Try thinking of something bigger than yourselves. Most of you dont pay your taxes anyway.

]]> By: Michael Hamptonhttp://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-58026 Michael Hampton Tue, 18 Dec 2007 20:04:08 +0000 http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-58026 That's the whole point: the military <em>is</em> passing good equipment to questionable friends. That’s the whole point: the military is passing good equipment to questionable friends.

]]> By: Scott Wilsonhttp://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-58024 Scott Wilson Tue, 18 Dec 2007 19:33:24 +0000 http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-58024 I don't see the problem with DOD passing on its surplus equipment to local municipalities. It is the same principal as when that type of equipment gets handed down to the guard or reserve. This deal benefits everyone. If you are complaining that DOD isn't making a profit off its surplus, would you really rather have them sell it to some of our "allies" like Saudi Arabia. I'd rather they skip the profit taking and not pass good equipment to questionable friends. I don’t see the problem with DOD passing on its surplus equipment to local municipalities. It is the same principal as when that type of equipment gets handed down to the guard or reserve. This deal benefits everyone. If you are complaining that DOD isn’t making a profit off its surplus, would you really rather have them sell it to some of our “allies” like Saudi Arabia. I’d rather they skip the profit taking and not pass good equipment to questionable friends.

]]> By: Rightyouaredavehttp://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-52181 Rightyouaredave Mon, 20 Aug 2007 01:38:49 +0000 http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-52181 I have to agree with dave. I was with a department that was able to benefit from this program. We did recieve weapons from the military. But, like dave said they were old M16A1s that were obsolete shortly after the Vietnam War. Our rifles had been remanufactured as well so that they could not be used as "automatics". In order to avoid the scare of "further militarization" of the police, our department put the rifles in a sealed case in the trunk of the patrol units and sealed them with the same metal clips used to seal a tractor trailor door. This provided that the officer would have to explain why it was broken during an inspection. The only reason our department needed these weopans was to be ready for incidents like columbine or the north hollywood shootouts. They were not for everyday patrol. I have to agree with dave. I was with a department that was able to benefit from this program. We did recieve weapons from the military. But, like dave said they were old M16A1s that were obsolete shortly after the Vietnam War. Our rifles had been remanufactured as well so that they could not be used as “automatics”. In order to avoid the scare of “further militarization” of the police, our department put the rifles in a sealed case in the trunk of the patrol units and sealed them with the same metal clips used to seal a tractor trailor door. This provided that the officer would have to explain why it was broken during an inspection. The only reason our department needed these weopans was to be ready for incidents like columbine or the north hollywood shootouts. They were not for everyday patrol.

]]> By: Davehttp://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-50101 Dave Sun, 15 Jul 2007 12:59:56 +0000 http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-50101 The author put a totally left wing spin on the program. I was (and now retired) officer in charge of obtaining equipment for my department. I found very few new items, most everything was used, most very used, and a lot very worn out or broken and very, very old. Other agencies could pick through this equipment and so could school districts and even the boy scouts. Remember the military uses everything from shoes to forks to lumber. As far as weapons the military only released a two types of rifles and only to law enforcement agencies. They were obsolete M16A1's. I never found new combat equipment our soldiers would need in Iraq. This article is bogus, leftist, dope smoking garbage. The author put a totally left wing spin on the program. I was (and now retired) officer in charge of obtaining equipment for my department. I found very few new items, most everything was used, most very used, and a lot very worn out or broken and very, very old. Other agencies could pick through this equipment and so could school districts and even the boy scouts. Remember the military uses everything from shoes to forks to lumber. As far as weapons the military only released a two types of rifles and only to law enforcement agencies. They were obsolete M16A1’s. I never found new combat equipment our soldiers would need in Iraq. This article is bogus, leftist, dope smoking garbage.

]]> By: Jasonhttp://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-40951 Jason Mon, 16 Apr 2007 06:00:46 +0000 http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-40951 And I think it's safe to say that Radley Balko is a bona fide fool. “Having a bunch of military equipment lying around becomes an excellent motivator to form a paramilitary SWAT team, even if the community the police department serves doesn’t really need one,” says Radley Balko of Reason. EVERY department needs a SWAT team of some sort. Even the po dunk little town in the middle of no where. No, especially the little nothing town. Where most of the population has a few deer rifles in the closet that'll reach out to 500 yards easily, and the police have shotguns that'll reach to MAYBE 50 yards. And I think it’s safe to say that Radley Balko is a bona fide fool. “Having a bunch of military equipment lying around becomes an excellent motivator to form a paramilitary SWAT team, even if the community the police department serves doesn’t really need one,” says Radley Balko of Reason. EVERY department needs a SWAT team of some sort. Even the po dunk little town in the middle of no where. No, especially the little nothing town. Where most of the population has a few deer rifles in the closet that’ll reach out to 500 yards easily, and the police have shotguns that’ll reach to MAYBE 50 yards.

]]> By: Jasonhttp://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-40950 Jason Mon, 16 Apr 2007 05:53:18 +0000 http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-40950 Just another case of liberals giving out half the facts. The TRUTH is that the surplus items the DOD is supplying to local police departments has been collecting dust in storage for DECADES. In NO CASE, EVER, is it new equipment. It's always equipment that has either been replaced with something newer and better, or is just so old it has been retired. I was in the Army and am now a police officer. My department received about 200 M-16 patrol rifles through the program. All of them are the old model M-16A1, which the Army completely fazed out in the late 1980s. The ones we have were built, and paid for, in the 1970s. So the local tax payers get their protectors equipped with items that they've already paid for decades ago and the national tax payers no longer have to pay to store it. Sounds good to me. Just another case of liberals giving out half the facts. The TRUTH is that the surplus items the DOD is supplying to local police departments has been collecting dust in storage for DECADES. In NO CASE, EVER, is it new equipment. It’s always equipment that has either been replaced with something newer and better, or is just so old it has been retired. I was in the Army and am now a police officer. My department received about 200 M-16 patrol rifles through the program. All of them are the old model M-16A1, which the Army completely fazed out in the late 1980s. The ones we have were built, and paid for, in the 1970s. So the local tax payers get their protectors equipped with items that they’ve already paid for decades ago and the national tax payers no longer have to pay to store it. Sounds good to me.

]]> By: Tonyhttp://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-38822 Tony Sat, 31 Mar 2007 06:00:01 +0000 http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-38822 Some of you people are so stupid! I know for a fact that the APC’s that the military is giving to the police are well used and out of date. They definitely do not meet the standards of what our troops on the ground would. They are out dated and require a lot of time and effort to restore them for use in the police departments they now serve. Also the rifles that are being handed out to police are worn out. Again they require major maintenance to get them back into working order, you certainly wouldn’t want our soldiers to use such inept weapons on the battle field, would you? The issuing of these weapons to law enforcement allows them to rebuild the weapons by buying receivers,springs, gas tubes and rings and other such stuff that will save the tax payers the cost of buying new weapons. As much as you want to criticize the government for this, it’s a good thing for everybody. Weapons do wear out vehicle wear out and become antiquated so instead of dumping them into the ocean as was done at the end of W.W.II I think this a very acceptable alternative. Some of you people are so stupid! I know for a fact that the APC’s that the military is giving to the police are well used and out of date. They definitely do not meet the standards of what our troops on the ground would. They are out dated and require a lot of time and effort to restore them for use in the police departments they now serve. Also the rifles that are being handed out to police are worn
out. Again they require major maintenance to get them back into working order, you certainly wouldn’t want our soldiers to use such inept weapons on the battle field, would you? The issuing of these weapons to law enforcement allows them to rebuild the weapons by buying receivers,springs, gas tubes and rings and other such stuff that will save the tax
payers the cost of buying new weapons. As much as you want to criticize the government for this, it’s a good thing for everybody. Weapons do wear out vehicle wear out and become antiquated so instead of dumping them into the ocean as was done at the end of W.W.II I think this a very acceptable alternative.

]]> By: KEVINhttp://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-32748 KEVIN Fri, 16 Feb 2007 09:52:16 +0000 http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-32748 It would seem you hava a problem with the police, I guess we busted you for smoking weed or something. Lets all use our brain, if the Police Dept bought the equipment who would pay for it? Tax payers. Who pays for this equipment? Tax payers. Why should the government pay money to the government? The local city gov. I work for does not pay highway tax on fuel or property tax on the city hall, why because it does not make sence for taxpayers to pay property tax to themselves, the citys only source of income is taxes of some sort or another, why should the city pay the citeizens money to the state ans county. As for the millitary equipment, you talk your stash now but when some nutjob starts shooting a high powered rifle, and your local police cannot close to withing 25 yard the maxim effective range for a pistol, and he kill twenty or thirty people you will bad mouth us for that too. You make me sick come do my job for a while and see if you can still talk your trash. It would seem you hava a problem with the police, I guess we busted you for smoking weed or something. Lets all use our brain, if the Police Dept bought the equipment who would pay for it? Tax payers. Who pays for this equipment? Tax payers. Why should the government pay money to the government? The local city gov. I work for does not pay highway tax on fuel or property tax on the city hall, why because it does not make sence for taxpayers to pay property tax to themselves, the citys only source of income is taxes of some sort or another, why should the city pay the citeizens money to the state ans county. As for the millitary equipment, you talk your stash now but when some nutjob starts shooting a high powered rifle, and your local police cannot close to withing 25 yard the maxim effective range for a pistol, and he kill twenty or thirty people you will bad mouth us for that too. You make me sick come do my job for a while and see if you can still talk your trash.

]]> By: oscarhttp://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-32261 oscar Tue, 13 Feb 2007 23:11:16 +0000 http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-32261 While O was on active duty, I was the "unofficial procurement nco" for my outfit. I was at the local DRMO several times over the years.I watched (and spoke with) one gentleman who would go inside the building, write a check for a truckload of big brass valve assemblies used on navy boats, take them out, and rework them on the tailgate of his pickup. Then, he would essentially drive across the street, and sell them back to the navy as "overhauled" parts, and get anywhere from three to six times as much as he paid for them. He told me that he could "rebuild" six of them in under eight hours, for a gross return of between eight hundred to one thousand two hundred dollars each.Heck of a way to make a living. While O was on active duty, I was the “unofficial procurement nco” for my outfit. I was at the local DRMO several times over the years.

I watched (and spoke with) one gentleman who would go inside the building, write a check for a truckload of big brass valve assemblies used on navy boats, take them out, and rework them on the tailgate of his pickup. Then, he would essentially drive across the street, and sell them back to the navy as “overhauled” parts, and get anywhere from three to six times as much as he paid for them. He told me that he could “rebuild” six of them in under eight hours, for a gross return of between eight hundred to one thousand two hundred dollars each.

Heck of a way to make a living.

]]> By: Michael Hamptonhttp://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-31562 Michael Hampton Thu, 08 Feb 2007 17:35:21 +0000 http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-31562 That explains why everything I found on the contractor's site was complete and total crap. That explains why everything I found on the contractor’s site was complete and total crap.

]]> By: IrishMASMShttp://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-31559 IrishMASMS Thu, 08 Feb 2007 17:18:42 +0000 http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-31559 Before the LEOs have the opportunity to pick through & take the 'good stuff', there are other organizations that do the same. All the differenet Fed & local goverment agencies, nonprofit, schools, and the like have a priority as to when they can go and view surplus items that they can go through the process to aquire.As for ordinary citizens taking "advantage" of the same military-direct surplus, is really more like being taking advantage of by the contractor that handles selling the stuff for DRMO [http://www.govliquidation.com/]. At least the rest of Fed Goverment surplus sales is still done by GSA [http://gsaauctions.gov/gsaauctions/gsaauctions/], and is somewhat more just/fair for the common ordinary citizen - depending on if the equipment custodian who is posting the equipment for sale has a clue (normally this is not the case though).It is a sad state of affairs, when the local military surplus store can not afford to purchase the surplus. :( Before the LEOs have the opportunity to pick through & take the ‘good stuff’, there are other organizations that do the same. All the differenet Fed & local goverment agencies, nonprofit, schools, and the like have a priority as to when they can go and view surplus items that they can go through the process to aquire.

As for ordinary citizens taking “advantage” of the same military-direct surplus, is really more like being taking advantage of by the contractor that handles selling the stuff for DRMO [http://www.govliquidation.com/]. At least the rest of Fed Goverment surplus sales is still done by GSA [http://gsaauctions.gov/gsaauctions/gsaauctions/], and is somewhat more just/fair for the common ordinary citizen – depending on if the equipment custodian who is posting the equipment for sale has a clue (normally this is not the case though).

It is a sad state of affairs, when the local military surplus store can not afford to purchase the surplus. :(

]]> By: Potential Threathttp://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-30413 Potential Threat Wed, 31 Jan 2007 11:32:28 +0000 http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-30413 And let's face it... Any department that gets the bug up its arse to create a paramilitary SWAT team is going to do so whether or not they get some of the equipment from DoD.--Po And let’s face it… Any department that gets the bug up its arse to create a paramilitary SWAT team is going to do so whether or not they get some of the equipment from DoD.

–Po

]]> By: Kevin Fieldshttp://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-30102 Kevin Fields Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:32:54 +0000 http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-30102 I have no doubt that contractors are getting their hands on near-new stuff (Michael's covered that plenty of times). However, I'm pretty sure most of what police/fire/EMT/etc is getting their hands on is not items which are of current value to soldiers on the front line.Other than the fear of creating a military state via our local and state police by arming them with military-grade equpiment, or the possibility of wasting a lot of local taxpayer money by creating SWAT teams that aren't actually necessary, I don't see the problem here. Unfortunately many police departments DO need some stronger equipment to deal with organized crime that chooses to engage the police in dangerous manners when asked to cease their illegal activites. I have no problems with giving away useful-but-outdated radio systems or other emergency equipment if it can be of use to a department either. I don't even really have an issue with letting government agencies pick through it before the general public can. If they really want it, go through a military surplus store. :-) I have no doubt that contractors are getting their hands on near-new stuff (Michael’s covered that plenty of times). However, I’m pretty sure most of what police/fire/EMT/etc is getting their hands on is not items which are of current value to soldiers on the front line.

Other than the fear of creating a military state via our local and state police by arming them with military-grade equpiment, or the possibility of wasting a lot of local taxpayer money by creating SWAT teams that aren’t actually necessary, I don’t see the problem here. Unfortunately many police departments DO need some stronger equipment to deal with organized crime that chooses to engage the police in dangerous manners when asked to cease their illegal activites. I have no problems with giving away useful-but-outdated radio systems or other emergency equipment if it can be of use to a department either. I don’t even really have an issue with letting government agencies pick through it before the general public can. If they really want it, go through a military surplus store. :-)

]]> By: Javarodhttp://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-30085 Javarod Mon, 29 Jan 2007 20:04:36 +0000 http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/01/28/military-gives-police-free-surplus-equipment/#comment-30085 Interesting, different versions of the same article, amusingly so. The version I read did its best to pass all the equipment given away as old and obsolete, while this one tries to do exactly the opposite. I suppose the truth is somewhere in the middle. The article I read said that the personel carriers were old, pre 70s for example, while the helicopters were not only 70s era, but two were good only for parts, the third is flying, future of the fourth the department got is in the air, but considering that they were looking at an expense of $800,000 each according to the article, this definitely looks like a good deal. Interesting, different versions of the same article, amusingly so. The version I read did its best to pass all the equipment given away as old and obsolete, while this one tries to do exactly the opposite. I suppose the truth is somewhere in the middle. The article I read said that the personel carriers were old, pre 70s for example, while the helicopters were not only 70s era, but two were good only for parts, the third is flying, future of the fourth the department got is in the air, but considering that they were looking at an expense of $800,000 each according to the article, this definitely looks like a good deal.

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