KMA Land - Young Comments on Police Equipment Debate

News Article

by Mike Peterson

Iowa 3rd District Congressman David Young is questioning proposals to limit the availability of military equipment to local law enforcement.

Earlier this week, President Obama proposed a ban on the use of armored tanks, grenade launchers, bayonets and other high-caliber weapons by local police departments. The president's proposal is reaction to controversy over the use of such materials in Ferguson, Missouri last summer. Young says the debate casts a negative image on law enforcement.

"I don't like the way this debate is framed," said Young. "It makes us look like local communities--our local enforcement and police--are into some kind of aggressive nature with their citizenry--and they're not. I believe that the local law enforcement has been aided by these purchases of these equipment and gear for protective reasons, in case they ever have to use it."

Young questions whether the federal governments should create more hoops for local departments seeking assistance.

"What kind of strings are attached when local law enforcement needs this equipment?" he asked. "And does this, in effect, make local enforcement beholden to the federal government? And, is it worth it? Because we cannot be slouching toward an era in which our local law enforcement becomes federalized. We need local control of our law enforcement."

The Van Meter Republican says there's too much government red tape in other programs.

"Every time the federal government has a program," said Young, "and they make it available to the public, or local government, or anybody in America, There's always strings attached to it. We see that with federal dollars that go to our programs for education. There's always strings attached to it. You see that if the local government is applying for a wastewater treatment grant from the EPA. There's always strings attached to it."

He adds local law enforcement doesn't need to check with the federal government for guidance.

"We know our communities," the congressman said. "These are our neighbors, our citizens of our counties and towns. We don't need the federal government to come in, and telling us about new ways to interact with our citizenry at the local level."

Young made his comments in his weekly interview during KMA's 7:35 news segment Wednesday morning.

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