Submitted by: Nancy Battle
House Bill Wants to Repeal Obama’s Authorization to Use Military Force
In the House of Representatives HR 198 entitled, “Repeal of the Authorization for Use of Military Force” was recently introduced for consideration. The bill is championed by House Representative Barbara Lee and supported by 9 of her peers, including House Representative Walter Jones.According to the text of the proposal: ‘Congress finds that the Authorization for Use of Military Force ( Public Law 107-40; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note), signed into law on September 18, 2001, has been used to justify a broad and open-ended authorization for the use of military force and such an interpretation is inconsistent with the authority of Congress to declare war and make all laws for executing powers vested by the Constitution in the Government of the United States.’
Currently President Obama could authorize “lethal force” be used on Americans in the US, he meant that Obama was empowered by the “2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists” (AUMF) to assign military to patrol American streets as a matter of routine.AUMF was a collaboration of the Congress and the US Armed Forces to battle against the attacks on 9/11. According to the text, the AUMF empowers the president when “acts render it both necessary and appropriate that the United States exercise its rights to self-defense and to protect United States citizens both at home and abroad”, threatens national security and foreign policy with “grave acts of violence” then “the President has authority under the Constitution to take action to deter and prevent acts” with the use of military force.While the House prepares to address dictatorial powers afforded to Obama, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have ordered more .40 caliber S&W jacketed hollow point (JHP) rounds for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.The solicitation reads: “LI 001: Ammunition, Commercial leaded training ammo (CLTA) Pistol .40 caliber 165 grain, jacketed hollow point (JHP) p/n P40HSTS3G or equal – Brass casing. Quantity of 360,000 rounds -newly loaded unit price per 1000 rounds with FOB Destination., 360, CA.”DHS claims that they “regularly” fill orders for “goods and services requirements” all at once because it saves money. Peter Boogaard, spokesman for DHS clarified the recent solicitations for ammunition placed by DHS as going to the agency; as well as law enforcement.Boogaard said: “With more than 100,000 armed law enforcement personnel in DHS, significant quantities of ammunition are used to support law enforcement operations, quarterly qualifications, and training, to include advanced firearms training exercises.”House Representative Doug LaMalfa and 14 other supporters collaborated on a letter to DHS asking why the agency has purchased over 1.6 billion rounds of ammunition.LaMalfa asked DHS:• Why they have purchased 1.6 billion rounds of jacketed hollow point bullets?
• How many rounds do they currently possess?
• Why has DHS redacted certain information in solicitations?
• Is this an attempt to stall public access to ammunition by manipulating manufacturers?
• How much as DHS spent currently on ammunition; including plans for future purchases.Senator Leonard Lance has also asserted that Janet Napolitano, Secretary for the DHS, explain the recent ammunition purchases and explain whether or not the agency is stockpiling deadly hollow point bullets.Paeegy Dixon, spokesperson for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Georgia stated that these rounds were purchased for shooting ranges and training exercises.Using the war on crime and drugs as an excuse, the Pentagon has been arming local police departments (LPDs) since the 1990s with the assistance and approval of local elected officials.DHS grant funding to LPDs have totaled $34 billion as defense contracts continue to come without fail. Riot gear, military-grade weapons and training are becoming common place in cities and townships across the nation.Timothy Lynch, director of the criminal justice project at the Cato Institute, states: “What is most worrisome to us is that the line that has traditionally separated the military from civilian policing is fading away. We see it as one of the most disturbing trends in the criminal justice area — the militarization of police tactics.”All LPDs across the nation are encouraged by DoD to apply for federal grants and participate in the program.In early 2012, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a report entitled “Homeland Security and Intelligence: Next Steps in Evolving the Mission” which outlined in part on how to redirect efforts of the federal government from international terrorism toward home-grown terrorists and build a DHS-controlled police force agency that would control all cities and towns through the use of local police departments.DHS maintains that “the threat grows more localized” which necessitates the militarization of local police in major cities in the US and the training of staff from local agencies to make sure that oversight is restricted to the federal government.
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