Political Quotes

“I don't think any of us are in disagreement in the Chamber that anything we can do, particularly as far as excess military equipment to help local law enforcement, is the right thing to do. Relatively recently, in my congressional district, we were successful in helping the community of Munster, Indiana, secure a wheeled armored tactical vehicle for the very purpose that the gentleman recognized: to help people safely egress a very dangerous situation or to ingress one. I do think, however, we need to make a distinction as to some of the types of help to be transferred to local communities. I don't think we can object--and the President's executive order allows it to take place--that those wheeled armored tactical vehicles continue to be transferred, or that, with justification, specialized firearms and ammunition be transferred to local authorities, or that explosives and pyrotechnics can be transferred under the executive order to local communities, or that riot equipment can be transferred to local communities under the executive order. There is broad discretion here. What can't be transferred under the executive order are tanks. What can't be transferred are grenade launchers. What can't be transferred are bayonets. So I do think there has to be some limit, and I am opposed to the gentleman's amendment. I think it was drafted overly broad. I reserve the balance of my time.”