Police Expect Trump to Lift Limits on Surplus Military Gear

Surplus military grenade launchers, bayonets, tracked armored vehicles and high-powered firearms and ammunition may become available to state and local police

If president-elect Donald Trump keeps his promise, surplus military grenade launchers, bayonets, tracked armored vehicles and high-powered firearms and ammunition will once again be available to state and local U.S. police departments.

National police organizations say they'll hold Trump to that promise.

Fraternal Order of Police Executive Director James Pasco says he expects Trump to honor a commitment he made in September to the organization to rescind President Barack Obama's 2015 order restricting that access.

Obama's order followed an outcry over police use of armored trucks and other military gear to confront protesters in Ferguson, Missouri, and other cities. It prohibited the federal government from providing tracked armored vehicles, grenade launchers and certain other equipment to state and local police.

Police organizations say the restrictions compromise officer and public safety.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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