New York Republican Rep. Peter King said that he opposes the move by the Obama administration to begin restricting the use of military-style equipment by local police departments.
"I strongly oppose President Obama's decision to prevent and restrict local police departments from using military gear to protect local communities and people living in those communities," King said in a statement he released Tuesday.
"The reality is that police will be the first line of defense in the event of a terrorist attack, and Islamist terrorists may well have access to explosives and heavy duty weaponry," he said.
"Also as we recently saw in Baltimore, it took military gear and hardware to put down violent rioting and looting," the New York Republican added.
"It is time for the president to stand with the police and put aside political correctness."
President
Barack Obama announced Monday that there will be no more transfers of combat-style gear and equipment from the federal government to local law enforcement agencies, saying that it gives people the impression that police are "an occupying force."
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