President Obama orders review of US police use of military hardware

POTUS ordered a review of the programs that equip civilian law enforcement with "military grade" equipment. If he uses his pen and phone to put a stop to these programs, does that help or hurt the nation with the current climate of the world? Do police need to be in possession of such equipment?

In my opinion, civilian law enforcement being in possession of such equipment isn't a bad thing as long as it is used with the proper escalation of force and the need for such protection is required for the given situation. With the way that gangs, cartels, and terrorists are armed police departments would be outgunned in most situations so their possession of such equipment is justifiable. Otherwise we'd have to more frequently activate the National Guard and/or throw the Posse Comitatus Act out the window and allow our military to deal with the more well armed and well protected threats.

I feel like revoking these programs would hurt our national defense and empower criminals, thugs, and others who would do our citizens harm.

Thoughts?

http://www.aol.com/article/2014/08/23/obama-orders-review-of-u-s-police-use-of-military-hardware/20951553/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl2%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D519546