I don’t have an issue with military surplus vehicles being gifted to localities. I remember growing up in rural New England where the small towns all had various combinations of surplus deuce and a halfs, halftracks, DUKWs and Dodge 3/4 ton weapons carriers. Which were gifted under the auspices of “civil defense” and proved pretty useful in things like weather related emergencies.
These vehicles are paid for and have good capabilities in the “heavy rescue” area. However they SHOULDNT go to the PDs so that local cops can swagger around in black fatigues/ tac gear thinking that they’re suddenly SWAT. They should be painted Red or yellow or dayglo green and handed to local FDs/emergency rescue orgs.
Then you are a Gute Deutschland Volk! This is really a bad Idea. Millions of Americans do not trust the police now. This just adds to the apprehension. We are not in Baghdad. We are in American cities.. It is like the Germans rolling into Warsaw in their Sdkfzs during World War two.. And to many millions of us that are American Citizens and have done nothing wrong which most Police killings have show lately it really bothers us..
People in towns infested with these weapons of war (and they cannot be classified as anything else) should force through ballot initiatives that all of those tanks shall be painted bright pink with a "Hello Kitty" stenciled onto the hood and doors. Yeah, big man...you're getting ready to slaughter those you swore to serve and protect, but you're going to look like a big ol pussy driving there.