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Every Weapon, Armored Truck, and Plane the Pentagon Gave To Local Police

Posted by samzenpus on from the going-down-the-list dept.

v3rgEz writes You may have heard that the image-conscious Los Angeles Unified School District chose to return the grenade launchers it received from the Defense Department's surplus equipment program. You probably have not heard about some of the more obscure beneficiaries of the Pentagon giveaway, but now you can after MuckRock got the Department of Defense to release the full database, letting anyone browse what gear their local department has received.

6 of 191 comments (clear)

  1. Why only to police? by mi · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Per the Second Amendment, we all have the right to keep and bear arms. So, why are they only giving these to police? I'd like at least a token weapon (like a single pistol or rifle) for my share of taxes, that went to research, develop, and produce them...

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    1. Re:Why only to police? by mi · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Our militaty has no experience in defense (which would be done on US soil.) The olny know offense. (which is done over seas)

      A bragging Athenian once told a Spartan:

      • There are many of your soldiers lying dead around Athens!
      • But none of yours around Sparta...
      --
      In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    2. Re:Why only to police? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Per the Second Amendment, we all have the right to keep and bear arms. So, why are they only giving these to police? I'd like at least a token weapon (like a single pistol or rifle) for my share of taxes, that went to research, develop, and produce them...

      Well, actually, you can.

      Civilian Marksmanship Program. After fulfilling a set of requirements, you can purchase certain surplus military firearms. Most notably, semi-auto M1 Garands in a variety of conditions for very good prices. Modern military rifles today are select fire or full auto, so there's no way they could transfer to civilians.

      Unfortunately, Secretary of Defense Robert Macnamara, under President Johnson, had all the M14s melted down after the switch to M16s. Oh how I wish he hadn't done that and the CMP could offer semi-auto converted M14s for sale. I would LOVE to have one.

      In defense of the variety of state and local government agencies accepting these military surplus weapons and vehicles, think about it. If you were a cop, and you had the chance to get ahold of a tank, would you? Hell yeah! Not for any purpose, but just to have a freakin' tank!

  2. $1000 Flashlights? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    And why did they give our local PD 145 flashlights worth $130K? What does a thousand-dollar flashlight even /look/ like?

    1. Re:$1000 Flashlights? by ColdWetDog · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Camouflage netting seems to be a biggy. The Anchorage, Alaska DEA got a $26,000 radar evading camo net system for some bizarre reason. Perhaps they're fighting an onslaught of radar equipped meth labs hidden in Polar Bear dens above the Arctic Circle. Who knows.

      Night vision systems are also popular. That makes sense, but boy am I jealous.

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
  3. $900 Flashlight? by hawguy · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I'd like to know what kind of Flashlights Santa Clara, CA received at $900 each. ($130K for 145 of them).

    They received a utility truck worth $47K - if they put just 53 of their flashlights in the back of the truck, they'd be worth more than the truck itself.

    What makes these flashlights worth $900?