With the cop on the beat armed with military-grade hardware and the streets of America often resembling war zones, we look into what is driving the militarization of our police. Elizabeth Beavers, legislative associate for militarism and civil liberties at the Friends Committee on National Legislation, works to roll back the Pentagon's massive giveaway of surplus military hardware to police forces. Former Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper, who now openly regrets the use of military-style policing during the infamous WTO riots of 1999, is the author of Breaking Rank: A Top Cop's Exposé of the Dark Side of American Policing. Moderated by Ian Masters, journalist, author, screenwriter, documentary filmmaker, and radio host.

Hammer Forum is made possible in part by Bronya and Andrew Galef.