"There's a reason you separate military and the police. One fights the enemies of the state, the other serves and protects the people. When the military becomes both, then the enemies of the state tend to become the people"
Police officers’ response to protests in Ferguson, Missouri, last year triggered a national debate about surplus military equipment sent to and used by local law enforcement agencies.
State Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, wants the General Assembly to take up the issue this year. He’s filed legislation that would prohibit state and local agencies from owning or using "certain military vehicles, aircraft and weaponry." The legislation would also require that current inventories of military surplus gear be sold or disposed of.
Kelsey emphasized the need for a "clear separation between the military and police," telling the Johnson City Press, "I think we can support both our police officers and our citizens by ensuring that our police officers are not viewed as the enemy."
