Police departments across the country, including East Baton Rouge Parish, are stocking up on military-grade weapons, including assault rifles, armored vehicles and grenade launchers.
Map: Military rifles transferred to police 
According to The New York Times’ study “Mapping the Spread of the Military’s Surplus Gear,” East Baton Rouge tops the list of Louisiana parishes with the most assault rifles provided by the United States Defense Department’s military transfer program.
The parish has received 558 assault rifles, 21 pistols, eight shotguns and two mine-resistant vehicles since 2006, according to data The New York Times obtained from the Pentagon.
Petroleum engineering freshman Taylor Lee and mass communication sophomore Dalita Collins were unaware of the increase in military-grade weapons by the Baton Rouge Police Department.
“I don’t think we need the big weapons we use for war,” Lee said.
Dominique McShan, president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council at LSU, said he is concerned the Baton Rouge Police Department is becoming too militarized.
“If we were to do anything, any type of protest or activist movement, the Baton Rouge Police Department or state police would be prepared and use all of their military forces they have now to try and ensure peace and crowd control” McShan said.
McShan organized a “Don’t Shoot” photograph in honor of Michael Brown on the Paul M. Hebert Law Center Sunday. He said he wants to raise awareness for the tensions in Ferguson, Missouri, which he considers a present-day civil rights issue.
McShan said he hopes to start a civil rights conversation in Louisiana because these issues are often swept under the rug.
“People should be able to gather and protest without police arming themselves with excessive military weapons,” McShan said. 
LSU Police Department spokesman Capt. Cory Lalonde said that while each person has the prerogative to express their First Amendment rights, the police have a duty to maintain the safety of the protestor and community. 
“Public safety is number one,” Lalonde said.
Lalonde cited Isaac Eslava’s 2011 arrest as an on-campus example of this.
Eslava was arrested for criminal damage to property after he cut down and burned an American flag that had flown at Memorial Tower. 
After Eslava’s arrest, former University student Benjamin Haas coordinated a demonstration to protest the arrest but was halted by a counter demonstration.
Lalonde said the situation became hostile, and University and BR police shut down the demonstration.
He said the LSUPD stores assault rifles but no armored vehicles.
Lalonde said although he understands students concerns, he does not believe the militarization of police departments is excessive.
“There is a point that we have to be prepared to be able to address those situations with equipment that can most effectively end those types of situations,” Lalonde said.