Senator Menendez, We Know You Dislike Revolutions So Why the Castro?
This is Senator Menendez' response to me about his 'stand' on the Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act. My comments are in italics. By the way, I've learned never to respond to a politician's or bureaucrat's response for they are like doctors--when the visit is over, it's over!
Dear Mr. Jimenez:
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for H.R. 1232, the Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act. Your opinion is very important to me, and I appreciate the opportunity to respond to you on this critical issue.
I understand your concerns regarding the transfer of military-grade weapons to our local and Federal law enforcement agencies. The police must be an integral part of the communities they serve, and they must be a trusted and calming presence in every situation they encounter. [I see nothing calming about military style SWAT team] I believe that police must have access to the training, knowledge, and supervision necessary to use all police equipment appropriately. [Senator, you can train all you want for A, B, and C scenarios and a D will soon come along and your calm cop goes 'postal' on you. I am of the opinion that should the U.S. be attacked internally through a 5th column or otherwise, the people will mobilize and roust whatever infection had started to fester for a.) we have the determination and b.) we have the guns.] The Federal government can play a valuable role in helping provide equipment to under-resourced police departments, but it must come with the training necessary to properly perform their duties. [under-resourced for what? An invasion? Would this militarization have prevented 9-11? What bogeyman do you envision coming at us? There are two kinds of threats. You may correct me if I'm wrong but I see A) the lone wolf and B) the suicide bomber. The first, we would all probably agree, we are nearly powerless about and would not give up our present lifestyles to assure any greater protection against the lone wolf. The second, when well-funded, would be highly effective against us as 9-11 has shown. Any protections we have against such groups are brought about by humint and only humint.] After 9-11 we made a promise to provide our first responders with the tools they need to protect our communities. [why not concentrate on "saving" rather than "protecting?" Do you really want to give Newark missiles (the ultimate weapon but fraught with collateral damage?] However, that commitment comes with the responsibility to ensure that the tools are being used properly. ['Properly' is the term I worry about, sir, for that is subject to change over time. We A-bombed Japan, but we swear we won't do it again to any country. We signed on to no torture but went on to ignore it. Humans used nerve gas, outlawed it, and used it again. Genocide is cloaked in a new way every so often and repeats.]
The Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act will create more stringent requirements on local and Federal law enforcement agencies attempting to acquire excess property from the Department of Defense. [excess property from the DoD can be used for infrastructure--tanks to bulldozers; There is nothing wrong with stringent requirements if it saves lives] The bill will also discontinue the transfer of certain types of military-grade equipment, including armored and mine-resistant vehicles, drones, and various demolition materials. Among other provisions, the bill will eliminate certain requirements for using military-grade equipment [doesn't sound like the Stop Milit Act to me] and require that recipients can account for all surplus military equipment that a law enforcement agency receives. [definitely a good thing as you don't want them getting into the wrong hands. Aren't you the least bit worried that Jersey City would sell its armamentarium to Venezuela and Venezuela to Cuba? Ah, got you there, Senator.]
H.R. 1232 was referred to the House Armed Services Committee. Hearings and mark-ups of pending legislation are scheduled at the discretion of the Committee's Chairman, Congressman Mac Thornberry of Texas. Although I am not a member of the House of Representatives, please be assured that I will keep your views in mind this legislation comes up for a vote on the Senate floor.
Dear Mr. Jimenez:
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for H.R. 1232, the Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act. Your opinion is very important to me, and I appreciate the opportunity to respond to you on this critical issue.
I understand your concerns regarding the transfer of military-grade weapons to our local and Federal law enforcement agencies. The police must be an integral part of the communities they serve, and they must be a trusted and calming presence in every situation they encounter. [I see nothing calming about military style SWAT team] I believe that police must have access to the training, knowledge, and supervision necessary to use all police equipment appropriately. [Senator, you can train all you want for A, B, and C scenarios and a D will soon come along and your calm cop goes 'postal' on you. I am of the opinion that should the U.S. be attacked internally through a 5th column or otherwise, the people will mobilize and roust whatever infection had started to fester for a.) we have the determination and b.) we have the guns.] The Federal government can play a valuable role in helping provide equipment to under-resourced police departments, but it must come with the training necessary to properly perform their duties. [under-resourced for what? An invasion? Would this militarization have prevented 9-11? What bogeyman do you envision coming at us? There are two kinds of threats. You may correct me if I'm wrong but I see A) the lone wolf and B) the suicide bomber. The first, we would all probably agree, we are nearly powerless about and would not give up our present lifestyles to assure any greater protection against the lone wolf. The second, when well-funded, would be highly effective against us as 9-11 has shown. Any protections we have against such groups are brought about by humint and only humint.] After 9-11 we made a promise to provide our first responders with the tools they need to protect our communities. [why not concentrate on "saving" rather than "protecting?" Do you really want to give Newark missiles (the ultimate weapon but fraught with collateral damage?] However, that commitment comes with the responsibility to ensure that the tools are being used properly. ['Properly' is the term I worry about, sir, for that is subject to change over time. We A-bombed Japan, but we swear we won't do it again to any country. We signed on to no torture but went on to ignore it. Humans used nerve gas, outlawed it, and used it again. Genocide is cloaked in a new way every so often and repeats.]
The Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act will create more stringent requirements on local and Federal law enforcement agencies attempting to acquire excess property from the Department of Defense. [excess property from the DoD can be used for infrastructure--tanks to bulldozers; There is nothing wrong with stringent requirements if it saves lives] The bill will also discontinue the transfer of certain types of military-grade equipment, including armored and mine-resistant vehicles, drones, and various demolition materials. Among other provisions, the bill will eliminate certain requirements for using military-grade equipment [doesn't sound like the Stop Milit Act to me] and require that recipients can account for all surplus military equipment that a law enforcement agency receives. [definitely a good thing as you don't want them getting into the wrong hands. Aren't you the least bit worried that Jersey City would sell its armamentarium to Venezuela and Venezuela to Cuba? Ah, got you there, Senator.]
H.R. 1232 was referred to the House Armed Services Committee. Hearings and mark-ups of pending legislation are scheduled at the discretion of the Committee's Chairman, Congressman Mac Thornberry of Texas. Although I am not a member of the House of Representatives, please be assured that I will keep your views in mind this legislation comes up for a vote on the Senate floor.
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