The city of Concord, New Hampshire, will soon vote on the acquisition of a heavily armored military vehicle, known as a BearCat.
A BearCat, or Ballistic Engineered Armored Response Counter Attack Truck, is designed for use in "hostile urban environments."
This heavily armored military combat vehicle can be equipped with a mechanical rotating turret and "weapon ready mounting system."
The city had intended to vote on this issue in August, but the outcry from local residents was so intense, they postponed the vote until September.
You and I simply MUST turn up the heat before it's too late, and stop the militarization of our local police.
You see, when Concord Police Chief John Duval applied for a Department of Homeland Security grant in order to acquire the BearCat, he claimed it was needed to use against New Hampshire citizens. He even went so far as to accuse specific organizations, with no record of criminal behavior, of being domestic terrorist threats.
Chief Duval was eventually forced to apologize for his claims, but an apology is just not enough.
The Posse Comitatus Act is meant to prevent the use of the military in domestic law enforcement. But what good is this protection if we turn our local police into a military force?
Chief Duval should not be targeting the citizens he is sworn to protect.
So please sign your petition RIGHT AWAY and demand the city of Concord reject Chief Duval's request for a BearCat. Tell them you don't want or need any heavily armored combat vehicles in your neighborhood.
Petition of Opposition to the City of Concord's Proposed Acquisition of a Military Combat Vehicle
Whereas: Concord Police Chief John Duval has applied for a grant from the Department of Homeland Security in the amount of a quarter of a million dollars, in order to acquire a miltary combat vehicle known as a BearCat; and
Whereas: The BearCat is designed for use by the military in hostile urban environments, not for the streets of New Hampshire; and
Whereas: Chief Duval admitted the military combat vehicle would be used against New Hampshire citizens, who stand accused of no crime; and
Whereas: Our local police are sworn to protect and serve New Hampshire citizens, not to equip for war against them.
Therefore, be it resolved, that we, the undersigned citizens of the State of New Hampshire, demand that the City of Concord vote against Chief Duval's request for the acquisition of a BearCat, and reject any Department of Homeland Security grants to be used for similar purchases.