Noah Berlatsky: The Case for Disarming America’s Police Force

Wed, 28 Mar 2018 21:17:12 +0000

https://qz.com/602682/the-case-for-disarming-americas-police-force/

In 1974 American criminologist Paul Takagi , an expert in police use of force and community policing, proposed an idea that still seems radical more than 40 years later. “Perhaps,” he said, “the only immediate solution at this time is to disarm the police.”

Ending police access to armored vehicles is one thing. Taking guns out of the hands of the police is another issue altogether. In fact, Obama’s restrictions on military equipment aside, most of the official responses to police brutality and violence today have involved providing police with new kinds of equipment, from Tasers to body cameras . The conversation always seems to be about how to give police more gear, not less.

Quartz on Dirk Kelly

Noah Berlatsky: The Case for Disarming America’s Police Force