Senate votes to limit some military equipment transfers to police departments
Source: CNN
The Senate voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to put some limits on the transfer of military equipment from the Defense Department to state and local police departments, even as it rejected a more stringent measure aimed at preventing "weapons of war," in the words of one senator, from being used by police.
The votes, which were cast on competing amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act, came as the country grapples with how to reform police departments in the wake of the death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis police and the corresponding protests across the country that have highlighted concerns about rough practices by heavily fortified police.
The measure that was defeated was a bipartisan proposal from GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Democratic Sens. Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Kamala Harris of California. It would have prohibited "the transfer of military equipment to law enforcement agencies, including tear gas, armor-piercing firearms and ammunition, bayonets, grenade launchers and grenades, combat tracked vehicles, and drones," according to a summary of the amendment.
Needing 60 votes to pass, it failed on a vote of 51 yes votes and 49 no votes. Two other Republicans voted in favor of the amendment: Sens. Cory Gardner of Colorado and Steve Daines of Montana, both who are facing tight reelection battles.
Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/senate-votes-to-limit-some-military-equipment-transfers-to-police-departments/ar-BB171mbY?li=BBnb7Kz
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