Small town petitions against purchase of military grade vehicles

While the United States government continues to run on a tight budge at all levels, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is still providing small towns with funding to purchase military vehicles.

It’s true. A small town by the name of Keene in New Hampshire recently accepted a $285,933 grand from the Department of Homeland Security to purchase a Bearcat – an 8-ton armored personnel vehicle produced by Lenco Industries Inc.

However, all that is on hold now thanks to backlash from Keene residents. The backlash began with a 27-year-old man named Mike Clark, who himself faces charges of criminal mischief. Nonetheless, Clark decided to take action and put together a petition against the whole thing.

“The police are already pretty brutal,” Clark said. He claims he was roughed up two different encounters with local police. “The last thing they need is this big piece of military equipment to make them think they’re soldiers.”

In the same article, The Huffington Post reported that following the Sept. 11 attacks, the Homeland Security handed out anti-terrorism grants to cities and towns, specifically to buy military-grade equipment. In Dec. 2011, the Center for Investigative Reporting reported that Homeland Security grants totalled $34 billion.

– By: Omar Rana

Source: Huffington Post