Since police forces responding to protests in Ferguson rolled out military-grade equipment and gear, some critics have pointed to it as supporting their argument that local police forces need to be “de-militarized.” That includes members of Missouri’s Congressional delegation.
President Barack Obama on Monday spoke publicly about Ferguson for the second time.
President Barack Obama was asked about his position on the issue while discussing the latest in Ferguson, on Monday.
“I think one of the great things about the United States has been our ability to maintain a distinction between our military and domestic law enforcement,” the President says. “That helps preserve our civil liberties. That helps ensure that the military is accountable to civilian direction.”
Obama says he thinks there will be bipartisan support for studying the issue.
“How the funding has gone, how local law enforcement has used grant dollars … to make sure that what they’re purchasing is stuff that they actually need.”
“There is a big difference between our military and our local law enforcement, and we don’t want those lines blurred,” says Obama.
