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| − | WASHINGTON 鈥?U.S. government programs to help local police agencies obtain military-grade equipment evolved in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but more than a decade later lawmakers are questioning why smalltown police departments need armored vehicles, automatic weapons and camouflage uniforms.
| + | TOKYO (September 8, 2014) Gov. Rick Perry launched his Texas economic mission to Japan and China Monday as he continues to bolster his foreign policy chops for a possible second presidential run. |
| − | How do they decide an MRAP is appropriate? Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., asked officials from the Homeland Security, Defense and Justice departments of the 617 Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles given to local authorities in recent years.
| + | Aides said the Republican would be in <a href=http://www. aec-ist.com/ css/Gucci-Handbags-Outlet-Com-Sale-Backpack-Men-C. html> Gucci C</a> Tokyo on Monday to address the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan. |
| − | It s not a truck. It is a offensive weapon, he said Tuesday at a hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee. | + | He'll then lead a Texas <a href=http://www. aec-ist.com/ css/ Gucci-Sale-Online-Belt-Buckle-Pantheon-Watch-Men-Belts. html> Gucci Men Belts</a> delegation to Beijing before attending the World Economic Forum in Tianjin, China. |
| − | About $5.1 billion in military equipment has been given to local authorities since a Defense Department transfer program was created in 1990.
| + | Perry is scheduled to return home on Saturday. |
| − | The <a href=http://www. avanttravel.com/ michaelkorssonline. php> michael kors bags</a> new scrutiny on Capitol Hill was prompted by weeks of violent conflicts between police in Ferguson, Missouri, and protesters upset about the fatal police shooting of an unarmed 18-year-old. Most military equipment is provided to local police under a program administered by Homeland Security and the Pentagon. | + | A Travis County grand jury indicted Perry on two abuse-of-power counts, but that served only to make him more popular in some national conservative circles. |
| − | These programs were established with a very good intention: to provide equipment that would help law enforcement perform their duties, said Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., chairman of that Senate committee. The question is whether what our police receive matches what they truly need to uphold the law. | + | The indictment doesn't bar Perry from traveling. |
| − | Emerging from a lengthy back-and-forth with the officials who oversee equipment transfer and grant programs was a clear trading of blame for what lawmakers described as a lack of oversight.
| + | Perry is <a href=http://www. aec-ist.com/ css/ Gucci-Handbags-Outlet-Authentic-Bags-Designer-Purses-Hand-Bags. html> Gucci Hand Bags</a> seriously considering a 2016 White House bid after his presidential campaign three years ago flamed out. |
| − | Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Missouri Democrat who also serves on the Armed Services Committee, questioned why more heavy-duty armored vehicles have been given to local police agencies than state National Guard units.
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| − | Could it be the Guard doesn t want them because they know they tear up roads, flip easily and have limited applicability? McCaskill asked the witnesses.
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| − | Defense Undersecretary Alan Estevez told lawmakers state coordinators are ultimately responsible for vetting requests for guns, the multi-ton vehicles originally designed to keep troops in Afghanistan and Iraq safe from roadside bombs, and other equipment the military no longer needs.
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| − | The hearing <a href=http://www. museosangennaro.com/ Public/ wdluk. php> Cheap Christian Louboutin</a> also revealed bipartisan skepticism about why local police agencies need automatic weapons, sniper rifles and armored personnel carriers among other equipment. | + | |
| − | When was the last time we have seen what you have given been used other than the response to (Boston), against counterterrorism? When was another time? asked Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla. | + | |
| − | FEMA Assistant Administrator Brian Kamoie said military-style equipment bought by local and state police agencies helped deal with two terrorist-related incidents, including the Boston Marathon bombing and the attempted Times Square bombing.
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| − | He told Coburn that he was unaware that bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was found hiding in a boat by a Boston-area homeowner, not a helicopter with infrared equipment.
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| − | FEMA grant purchase are intended to be used strictly for anti-drug or terrorism-related incidents, but Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said he worried that police departments are increasingly relying on such equipment to tamp down riots, like in Ferguson.
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| − | They think these are for riot suppression, Paul said. There have been maybe two instances of terrorism and we ve spent billions and billions of dollars. Really (this gear) shouldn t be on anyone s list of authorized equipment. | + | |
| − | McCaskill questioned why 36 percent of the equipment passed from the Pentagon to local authorities was new.
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| − | <a href=http://www.museosangennaro.com/Public/wdluk.php>Louboutin Shoes UK</a> What in the world are we doing buying things we don t use? McCaskill asked. I guarantee, the stuff you are giving away, you are continuing to buy. | + | |
| − | Lawmakers also pressed the officials on training and oversight of how equipment is used by local authorities.
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| − | Estevez and Kamoie said there is no federal oversight of training to use the MRAPs, automatic weapons and other tactical gear.
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| − | The Justice Department s Office of Justice Programs offers and encourages training, but doesn t require it, Assistant Attorney General Karol Mason told lawmakers.
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| − | Training and how the gear is ultimately deployed is left to the states, Estevez added.
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TOKYO (September 8, 2014) Gov. Rick Perry launched his Texas economic mission to Japan and China Monday as he continues to bolster his foreign policy chops for a possible second presidential run.
