Bill Text: IL SR1716 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: States opposition to the militarization of local police departments and urges the United States Congress to drastically reduce, if not eliminate, the amount of military equipment provided to local law enforcement agencies.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2019-01-09 - Session Sine Die [SR1716 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2017-SR1716-Introduced.html

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SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, For the greater part of 20 years, the United
States Government has used the 1996 National Defense
Authorization Act to allow the Defense Secretary to give local
law enforcement agencies the Defense Department's excess
military equipment at no cost to the agency; and
WHEREAS, New and used material, including Mine-Resistant
Ambush Protected vehicles and weapons determined by the
Department of Defense to be "military grade" are transferred to
local law enforcement; and
WHEREAS, The increased militarization of police throughout
the United States has contributed to continuing abuses of
police powers, which pose a serious threat to the
constitutional rights of the American People, including
residents of Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Militarized policing has deepened the divide
between communities and police, reducing public trust in law
enforcement officers; and
WHEREAS, The federal government and the State of Illinois
have thus far failed to adequately provide reasonable
long-lasting restrictions and oversight on the use of military

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grade weapons by police; and
WHEREAS, In 2015, then-President Barack H. Obama took steps
to demilitarize local police by banning tracked armored
vehicles, bayonets, grenade launchers, camouflage uniforms,
and large-caliber weapons and ammunition; and
WHEREAS, In 2017, President Donald J. Trump rolled back the
Obama-era demilitarization policies, thereby allowing military
equipment, typically used for warfare, to once again be
distributed to local police agencies; and
WHEREAS, The right for the governor of a state to declare
martial law has been seen as a given power in his or her
position during extreme circumstances; and
WHEREAS, The existence of war between a state and a limited
number of its citizens in a small geographical area, stemming
from a rebellious act against the government, does not invoke
the necessity of martial law in that territory; therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we strongly oppose the
partisan impulses and the lack of adequate solutions
surrounding the demilitarization of police agencies; and be it

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further
RESOLVED, That we do not believe the use of military grade
weapons and gear by police, in either urban or rural settings,
provides safety to the residents of those communities; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That we urge the United States Congress to
drastically reduce, if not eliminate, the amount of military
equipment provided to local law enforcement agencies; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That suspending ordinary law, more specifically
as it pertains to searches and seizures, and replacing it with
martial law holds no place in the State of Illinois, unless
properly called for by the executive branch of the United
States Government or the executive branch of the Illinois State
Government; and be it further
RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
delivered to the President of the United States, to all members
of the United States Senate, all members of the United States
House of Representatives, all members of the Illinois General
Assembly, and the Governor of the State of Illinois.