Do police need grenade launchers? #tellusatoday

President Obama on Monday banned some types of military equipment from being provided to police, including tracked armored vehicles, bayonets and grenade launchers. Comments from Facebook and Twitter are edited for clarity and grammar:

What is the rationale for limiting military-type equipment to the local police forces except to weaken their ability to enforce order when faced with adversaries who want to harm them and cause social disorder?

If order and safety are priorities, then police officers should have strong equipment. This administration has acted stupidly.

— Raywin Huang

I'm glad President Obama is doing this. The regular police forces don't need military-grade grenade launchers, for heaven's sake. Most aren't even trained in the use of such weapons. They have guns, and in bad situations they should call in the National Guard.

I am not an Obama fan, but I think this is a good move.

— Karen Monson

I'll bet the Islamic State loves this news. This ban will be great until there is a terror attack in a major city, and then everyone will cry, "Why didn't the police handle it better?"

— Bob Teague

Why would police need grenade launchers in the first place? The National Guard should be handling riots, not the police departments. Riots are like acts of terrorism and should be treated accordingly.

— Britt Miller

This is definitely a step in the right direction. Cops have been militarizing under the guise of "national security" ever since 9/11, and citizens have been feeling the tyranny of such tactics. Police are public servants who are paid to serve and protect. They are not an urban combat militia. Yet this is what they are becoming.

— Anthony Brando

So what just happened in Waco, Texas, isn't proof enough that our law enforcement needs to be better armed than the criminals and thugs?

— Warren Sands

Let's worry more about getting people to obey the law and less about how the law enforcement agencies are equipped.

— Eva Barton

Not giving police military equipment is a first step. Next, change the mind-set back to community policing!

— @BobEisenhauer

I feel safer knowing the police won't have more grenades or other military equipment to kill more people.

— @mannyrmz_

The president wants to limit military equipment for police for fear of alienating people. I don't think it would frighten law-abiding citizens.

— @DrVictorBinben

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