Trump rolling back limits on military gear for police

WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump will revive a program that provides police departments with surplus military equipment such as high-caliber weapons and grenade launchers, despite past concerns armored vehicles and other gear inflamed confrontations with protesters.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the program to applause Monday at a national convention of the Fraternal Order of Police, one of the groups that had urged Trump to restore the military program.

The plan will "ensure that you can get the lifesaving gear that you need to do your job and send a strong message that we will not allow criminal activity, violence, and lawlessness to become a new normal," Sessions told the cheering crowd.

Trump plans to sign an order undoing Obama-era limitations on police agencies' access to camouflage uniforms, bulletproof vests, riot shields, firearms, ammunition and other items.

Groups across the political spectrum have expressed concern about the militarization of police, arguing the equipment encourages and escalates confrontations with officers.

But many law-enforcement agencies and policing organizations see it as needed to ensure officers aren't put in danger when responding to active-shooter calls and terrorist attacks.

An armored vehicle played a key role in the police response to the December 2015 mass shooting in San Bernardino, California.