State laws legalizing marijuana take a first step toward nullifying federal prohibition, but they don’t do the job alone. Effective marijuana reform policy requires everyday people to take action and remain vigilant. Federal marijuana prohibition relies on state and local enforcement. FBI statistics show that police make approximately 99 of 100 marijuana arrests under state,…
CONCORD, N.H. (May 12, 2016) – Last week, a New Hampshire Senate committee passed a bill that represents an important first step to reform and restrict asset forfeiture, but bowed to law enforcement pressure and amended out sections that would have removed “policing for profit” incentives from state law. The move by the committee reveals the…
CONCORD, N.H. (March 1, 2016) – A New Hampshire bill that would have restricted transfers of military equipment from the federal government to local law enforcement was killed in on the House floor. HB1402 was tabled after the House Municipal and County Government Committee voted it inexpedient to legislate by an 11-4 vote. Under heavy…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Jan. 29, 2016) – A bill filed in the Illinois Senate would prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies from obtaining certain types of military hardware from the federal government, and would require public notice before they acquire authorized equipment. Passage of this legislation would represent a big step toward stopping the federal militarization of…
New Hampshire HB1402 and SB472 would restrict transfers of military equipment from the federal government to local law enforcement. HB1402 must pass the House Municipal and County Government Committee and SB472 must pass the Senate Executive Departments and Administration Committee. PLEASE TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS to support these important bills. HB1402 1. Call the House…
CONCORD, N.H. (Jan. 11, 2016) – A bill filed in the New Hampshire Senate would prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies from obtaining certain types of military hardware, and would require public notice before they acquire authorized equipment. Passage of this legislation would take a big step toward stopping the federal militarization of state and…
New Hampshire HB1402 would restrict transfers of military equipment from the federal government to law enforcement. It must first pass through the House Municipal and County Government Committee. PLEASE TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS to support this important bill. 1. Call the House Municipal and County Government Committee Chair, James Belanger. Strongly, but respectfully urge him to…
CONCORD, N.H. (Dec. 14, 2015) – A bill prefiled in the New Hampshire House would prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies from obtaining most types of military hardware, thereby rejecting federal militarization of police officers. Rep. J.R. Hoell and seven other representatives have prefiled House Bill 1402 (HB1402). The legislation would prohibit state and…
Increasingly, state and local police seem to be playing “army” instead of “cops and robbers.” Over the last few weeks, I have written two articles highlighting the impact of federal militarization of state and local police. In the first, I showed how local, state and federal law enforcement have increasingly morphed into one national police…
BOSTON, Mass. (Dec. 7, 2015) – An important Massachusetts committee held a hearing this week about a proposal that would drastically limit the impact of federal programs that facilitate the militarization of local police. House Bill 2144 (H.2144) was introduced on March 11 by Rep. Mary Keefe (D-Worcester) and 13 co-sponsors. The legislation would prohibit…