ANNAPOLIS, Md. (March 1, 2021) – On Friday, a Maryland Senate committee passed a bill that would ban state and local law enforcement agencies from acquiring certain military equipment from federal programs.
Sen. William Smith (D) introduced Senate Bill 599 (SB599) on Jan. 29. The legislation would prohibit Maryland state and local law enforcement agencies from receiving or purchasing the following property from a military equipment surplus program operated by the federal government.
A weaponized, aircraft, drone; or vehicle;
A destructive device;
A grenade launcher.
SB599 defines a “destructive device” as “explosive material, incendiary material, or toxic material that is combined with a delivery or detonating apparatus so as to be capable of inflicting injury to persons or damage to property; or deliberately modified, containerized, or otherwise equipped with a special delivery, activation, or detonation component that gives the material destructive characteristics of
the Washington state House passed a bill that would prohibit no-knock warrants and put limits on state and local law enforcement agencies’ ability to acquire certain military equipment from federal programs.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Feb. 22, 2021) – A bill introduced in the California Assembly would take the first step toward limiting the impact of federal programs that militarize local police and expand the national surveillance state.
Asm. David Chiu (D), and a coalition of other democrats, introduced Assembly Bill 481 (AB481) on Feb. 8. The legislation would require law enforcement agencies to get local government approval before obtaining military equipment through federal programs.
Under the law, police departments would be required to adopt a military impact statement, and a military equipment use policy to be presented in an open meeting prior to a vote for approval by the local governing body for such military equipment.
Grijalva asks President for funding for border cities
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Congressman writes letter seeking assistance for areas impacted by asylum-seekers
TUCSON, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Rep. Raúl Grijalva on Thursday reached out to President Joe Biden to get help for Arizona border cities that could be impacted by an influx of asylum-seekers.
The letter was written on the same day the Biden administration announced a change in border enforcement policies. New guidelines refocus U.S. Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) efforts on dangerous, criminal migrants. Trump-era directives focused on all illegal immigrants.
The ease in restrictions means Border Patrol will begin releasing some migrants into the community. Yuma Mayor Douglas Nichols raised an alert about the influx earlier this week.
A bill introduced in the Arizona Senate would take a first step toward limiting the impact of federal programs that militarize local police and expand the national surveillance state.