Betrayal: GOP Negotiating With Dems Over 'Defund the Police' Amendment

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[Sen./Rep.] [FIRST NAME] [LAST NAME]
Washington, DC

Dear [Sen./Rep.] [LAST NAME]:

In 1990 and 1991, Congress passed a law allowing the Pentagon to send its unused and obsolete equipment to American police departments. With the First Gulf War winding down, Congress wanted to make sure the military equipment they just bought didn't end up being tossed in the trash.

It was a win-win. The Federal government got to fund state and local police, all while avoiding having to pay to store or destroy the equipment, and police departments got to equip their officers without having to pay retail prices for the gear. Since 1990, the Pentagon has transferred more than $7.4 Billion worth of equipment to American police departments through this 1033 Program. This includes duty firearms, armored vehicles, uniforms, ammunition, less-than-lethal weapons (like tear gas launchers or batons), and riot gear.

This program has ended up saving American taxpayers tens, if not hundreds, of billions of dollars. But now, your colleagues want to shut it down.

Last month, Kenosha Sheriff's Deputies found themselves surrounded by armed rioters. Luckily, they were in an armored vehicle and were able to safely disperse the crowd. Last year alone, the Pentagon's 1033 Program gave 42 armored vehicles to Wisconsin police departments (including one to Kenosha). This program undoubtedly has saved innocent lives and helped protect communities.

Your colleagues, however, refer to this as the "militarization" of police and want the 1033 Program shut down. They are advancing a bill -- the Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act -- and they plan to attach this legislation as an amendment to the annual defense appropriations bill. The amendment already has enough votes to pass in both the House and the Senate if the reconciliation process is used...

The legislation would cut off police departments' access to the 1033 program. Police departments would no longer be able to acquire surplus weapons, riot equipment, or armored vehicles. They would either need to leave their officers unprotected or purchase the gear at retail prices, which would hurt towns and cities the most.

It would also require that the Pentagon claw-back disbursed equipment whenever a police department becomes the subject of a human rights investigation. Just so we are clear: Because a Kenosha Police Officer is being investigated for shooting Jacob Blake, this bill would force Kenosha Police to give up their Pentagon-sourced riot gear until they are cleared of any wrong-doing. Right when police departments need their riot gear the most, this legislation would strip it away...

I cannot fathom how anyone could possibly believe that now is the time to disarm and defund American police departments. Now is the time to be supporting law enforcement, not pulling the rug out from under them.

And I want to make this absolutely clear: this proposal is an attempt to defund the police. Attempting to cut off their access to free or subsidized equipment and force departments to purchase the gear elsewhere at higher prices constitutes an effort to "defund the police."

I need you to pay attention: If you help or allow this bill to pass -- either as stand-alone legislation or an appropriations amendment -- you are finished. I don't care whether it is attached to a must-pass spending bill like the NDAA. You CANNOT allow this provision to become law.

There is no room to compromise here. Any changes to the 1033 Program designed to limit what equipment police departments can use to protect their communities constitutes an attempt to defund the police.

If you vote for this madness, you will be removed from office. You have been warned...

Sincerely,
Signed
[YOUR NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[CITY], [STATE] [ZIP]

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Betrayal: GOP Negotiating With Dems Over 'Defund the Police' Amendment

Betrayal: GOP Negotiating With Dems Over 'Defund the Police' Amendment

Betrayal: GOP Negotiating With Dems Over 'Defund the Police' Amendment

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