Professor David Sklansky comments on the effectiveness of an executive order by President Obama aimed at lowering the number of military-grade vehicles purchased by local police forces. 

Images of police in armored vehicles patrolling the streets of Ferguson, Mo., last summer like soldiers in a war zone contributed to President Obama’s executive order this week to curb the flow of military-grade gear to local law enforcement.

So it would be natural to assume the Massachusetts company that manufactured some of those $350,000 bulletproof trucks is worried about losing business.

…

Obama’s action sends the right message, said David Sklansky, a professor at Stanford Law School and a former federal prosecutor who has argued against police militarization. A softer tone from the White House on policing could encourage law enforcement to refocus on building trust in the neighborhoods they serve, he said. “It’s definitely a step in the right direction, but it’s definitely not a complete solution,” Sklansky said. “The greatest significance may be symbolic.”