The police of all states have gotten 79,288 automatic assault rifles, 205 grenade launchers and mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles.

There was an incident in May in which a toddler, named Bounkham Phonesavanh, suffered life-threatening injuries from the Habersham County (Georgia) Sheriff’s Department. The police had a no-knock warrant and threw a flash-bang into a room with four small children – the flash-bang landed in the playpen with Bounkham in it. The impact was point-blank, causing major damage to the child. There were no arrests made and no drugs found.

There would be fewer of these incidents happening if the police didn’t have the power to use this equipment. Help demolish this injustice by limiting military equipment in police force.

Austin Isidoria

Senior, Bayfield High School