Washington urges halt to war gear for local US cops

World Today

In Washington a committee of Congressional leaders convened a hearing on policing strategies just one day after the White House announced it would limit the transfer of military-grade war equipment to U.S. local police. This time also marks one month since 25-year-old Freddie Gray died in police custody in the U.S. city of Baltimore where mass protests followed.

CCTV’s Roee Ruttenberg filed this report from Baltimore in the state of Maryland, just an hour drive from the U.S. capitol.

The military-grade gear local police can no longer get from the U.S. government:

Tracked Armored Vehicles Vehicles, such as tanks, that provide ballistic protection to their occupants and have a tracked system (rather than wheels) for forward motion.
Weaponized Aircraft, Vessels,
& Vehicles
If weapons are installed on any, these will be prohibited from purchase or transfer by police.
.50 caliber or higher ammunition 0.5 caliber is ammo that’s roughly 0.5 inches in diameter. Anything this size or larger is prohibited.
0.5 caliber or higher firearms Any firearm that shoots this size or larger ammunition, such as the M2 .50 caliber machine gun.
Grenande launchers Firearm or, as shown here, a firearm accessory designed to launch small explosive projectiles.
Bayonets Large knives designed to be attached to the muzzle of a rifle/shotgun/long gun for the purposes of hand‐to‐hand combat.
Camouflage uniforms Clothing that is colored and designed in such a way to make the wearer blend in with their surroundings. The exception here are woodland or desert patterns, or solid color uniforms.