“De-paramilitarization” of police is obviously picking up a lot of momentum around the US right now, with the realization that police have no, zero need for belt fed machine guns, armored vehicles, explosive and incendiary devices, secret information provided by the feds authorizing warrantless and no-knock searches that cannot be cross-examined at trial, and SWAT teams brutalizing citizens and killing family pets over petty searches.
Yes, there are *rare* events like riots and mass shootings that need a greater police response. But that is it. In the other 99% of the US it is not needed, ever.
The logic that supports paramilitarized police could with equal justification say that there are little wars around the world, so obviously we need soldiers patrolling all of our towns, in case a war breaks out somewhere in the US.
I’m 100% in favor with de-paramilitarization. But that has nothing to do with this incident.