The Texas Public Policy Foundation today released a paper by Center for Effective Justice Deputy Director Derek Cohen, Policy Analyst Greg Glod, and Staff Writer Michael Haugen on the Department of Defense’s 1033 program, under which surplus or out-of-date materiel is transferred to law enforcement departments in the states. The paper, Watchmen or Warfighters? A Conservative Proposal for Limiting Military-Grade Weapons Sent to States, examines how these military-grade weapons are disbursed and used by civilian law enforcement, including municipal and county law enforcement, school districts, and environmental enforcement agencies.
“The Department of Defense’s 1033 program allows state and local law enforcement agencies to benefit from surplus military equipment, saving the taxpayer for essentially being billed twice for the same item,” said Cohen. However, poor oversight, transparency, and regulation have empowered a great deal of ‘mission creep’ for law enforcement, allowing even environmental enforcement agencies to receive combat-grade weaponry. Instead of doing away with the program, lawmakers should seek to find a way to make sure the right material is ending up in the right hands.”
“Unsurprisingly, a federal government program was poorly thought out and lacked proper oversight,” said Glod. “Texas needs to take steps to ensure that the 1033 Program can properly utilized as a safety and cost savings tool.”
“Much of the controversy surrounding the Pentagon’s 1033 program centers around the disbursement of military-grade weaponry to local and state law enforcement agencies for use in a civilian population,” said Haugen. “While some such agencies can demonstrate a legitimate purpose for being outfitted with such gear, more non-traditional agencies—including school districts or regulatory departments—are acquiring high-powered rifles and other materiel that don’t necessarily align with their core competencies. Prudence dictates that a greater level of scrutiny should be brought to bear on such acquisitions, particularly given the complimentary coverage provided by county or other law enforcement agencies with more experience and training on these weapons platforms.”
Derek Cohen is deputy director of the Center for Effective Justice at the Texas Public Policy Foundation and the Right on Crime campaign.
Greg Glod is an attorney and policy analyst with the Center for Effective Justice at the Texas Public Policy Foundation and the Right on Crime campaign.
Michael Haugen is a staff writer with the Center for Effective Justice at the Texas Public Policy Foundation and the Right on Crime campaign.
The Texas Public Policy Foundation is a non-profit, free-market research institute based in Austin, Texas.