Oklahoma Sheriffs Upset Over Senator Tom Coburn's Proposed Military Surplus Bill

Police departments and sheriff's offices across the U.S. including Oklahoma are upset about a bill proposed by Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn.

The 'Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act' states the military can no longer give or sell its surplus equipment to law enforcement agencies. It even says those agencies have to give back all the stuff they've received in the past.

Two humvees from Fort Hood are now the property of the Rogers County Sheriff's Office and didn't cost the local citizens a penny. Even the transport was free thanks to Melton Trucking who brought them to Claremore from Texas and Dunlap Towing who's taking them to their new home. 

Sheriff Scott Walton the humvees will be great during blizzards, floods and other natural disasters to help rescue people and save lives. 

"Last time, we had so many elderly people in need of getting medicine delivered or needed to get to dialysis," said Rogers County Sheriff Scott Walton. 

However, his office may not have these long if a bill proposed by Senator Tom Coburn passes which says the military can no longer sell or give its surplus items to law enforcement agencies. In addition it requires agencies to return items they've gotten in the past, which will hurt agencies already struggling to make ends meet. 

"Very hard to get what we need even when we share and pool resources from other agencies," said Sheriff Scott Walton. 

The proposed bill comes after some people didn't like seeing police in Ferguson, Missouri wearing masks, riding in armored vehicles and shooting tear gas into crowds protesting the death of robbery suspect Michael Brown. 

"Our founders saw no role for the federal government in state and local police forces, none," said Senator Tom Coburn. 

Law enforcement says they are frequently outgunned by criminals. They point to a shootout in Los Angeles that injured 11 officers and 5 innocent citizens. The suspects had fully automatic weapons and the officers didn't so they had to borrow guns from a nearby gun shop. Officers point out all the mass shootings and the threat of terrorists too that sometimes make this equipment necessary.

"Our job is to protect and provide for law abiding citizens. If we put a thug in jail, it's not going to hurt anybody's feelings," said Sheriff Scott Walton. 

Law enforcement officials say the facts prove law enforcement is not more aggressive or more deadly, regardless of the equipment they have.

One sheriff quoted the U.S. Justice Department figures that say about 2,400 people died during the 98 million arrests made from 2003 to 2009, which is far less than one percent. 

Many local agencies say to take back this equipment now would set law enforcement back 20 years and would jeopardize the lives of officers and citizens alike. The bill has been referred to the Senate's Armed Services Committee.

Marshall County Sheriff Ed Kent's letter to Senator Tom Coburn

Canadian County Sheriff Randall Edwards' letter to Senator Tom Coburn