Considering the Black Panther-led riots of late in Ferguson, another truism of militarization emerges:
If you’re not willing to use the weapons you have, your opponent will not care you are armed.
MRAPs, machineguns, advanced body armor, etc are scary when putting on a “show of force”, but if the police demonstrate an unwillingness to _use_ it, impotence is proven and evil is unleashed.
Elected officials still are in control of the police in this country & if the mayor says you don’t go shooting folks for looting & you are the guy on the beat you don’t go capping a gangbanger stealing a case of beer.