California’s “military equipment use policy” is a real example of turning hashtag policy into a waste of taxpayer money and law enforcement’s time.
Before we get to what Assembly Bill 481 actually does, let’s at least acknowledge that there is – and should be – a real debate about military equipment ending up in local law enforcement’s supply.
In 1997, the Clinton administration allowed the transfer of the military’s extra or outdated gear to state and local authorities who apply for it.
Over the years, Presidents have modified that program via Executive Order. President Obama, for example, prohibited transfer of weaponized aircraft, grenade launchers, and bayonets, among other things. President Biden added many more categories of prohibited transfer, including weaponized drones.
If California focused on those types of military weapons – and their transfer – then I’d be interested. But that’s not what California’s law is about.
AB481 requires local agencies to adopt “military equipment use policies” and disclose the “military equipment” that police agencies have at their disposal.
Now, you’d think that such a policy and inventory would focus on answering a simple question: did the police agency receive equipment from the military? And, in the case of a city like Newport Beach, the answer would be simple: no.
But this is California. And words don’t mean what they ought to. I kid you not, Newport Beach had to include a drone that you can buy at Walmart as “military equipment.”
Our city did not procure a single piece of equipment from the US Department of Defense. But, thanks to California’s bureaucracy, we had to expend 75 hours of our PD’s staff time compiling a list of equipment, publicize a public hearing, and discuss the item at a City Council meeting. 75 hours that could have – and should have – been spent on actually preventing crime.
So, coming back around. I’d actually really like to know if cities have received grenade launchers, weaponized drones, or other actual weapons of war from the US DOD. But California’s approach is make-work that takes away from fighting crime.
Councilman Will O’Neill represents District 7 on the Newport Beach City Council.
