Increasing Police Militarization

Statement

The tension in St. Louis is palpable. Local police equipped themselves with weapons and armor I haven't seen since I was in Afghanistan. Peaceful protests became angered mobs when met with militarized police forces. Our urban streets turned into areas of de facto martial law. The worst part about this situation is that it is not isolated. These types of police militarizations are happening all over our country. Tanks, military camouflage, assault weapons, snipers, etc. are becoming common place and a first response from police forces. Do you feel safer with these types of tactics and equipment in the hands of your local police officers, especially after seeing how they use it? The current US Representative for the area, Lacy Clay, believes so. He recently voted to provide military equipment to local police forces, further contributing to chaotic and violent situations as we saw unfold in Ferguson. Is this the sort of representation the people of St. Louis want?

Source