With the events happening in Ferguson, discussions are surfacing in regards to the militarization of the police force.

After all, aren’t the police supposed “to protect and serve” the community, not be a militia?

After the outrageous mistake of shooting an unarmed youth, the local police follow up by deploying tanks, smoke bombs and tear gas into their community.

In the video below, John Oliver first explores the racial inequality in treatment by police then goes on to address the increasing militarization of America’s local police forces.

It is incredibly frightening that our local “boys in blue” have access to this extreme and dangerous military gear that they have not been properly trained to use!

The U.S. spends such an obscene amount of money on military forces that there is a surplus of weapons and vehicles. This is why small towns all over America have acquired an arsenal of military weaponry that they don’t need.

Can we, at the very least, consider cutting down on the amount of money spent on the military and divert some of that funding to a more productive government program? Perhaps something like public education?

If we eliminate the excessive overflow of military paraphernalia to suburban town’s police forces, the issue of the local police becoming a militia could be diffused!

Bonus: Bill Maher Rails Against Militarized Police.

In this clip (which aired last month before any of the Ferguson events occurred), Maher addresses (what was previously) a largely-unspoken civil liberties threat at home.

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Photo: Video screenshot

Editor: Ashleigh Hitchcock