The solution put in place by the fictional president in that series is very similar to what you both advocate. I called it the Home Guard.
Instituted by Sheriff's departments around the country. Arming 2-4 man teams to watch over all infrastructure. Volunteers pull three or fouf four hour shifts per week. They get comm gear and weapons (M-14's) wich they get to keep and they get trained. They work for free. They communicate to the Sheriff's department, who communicate to the State National Guard, who communicate to a Federal Command Center. Things are handled at the lowest level possible.
Local people accept the locals much better. The budget is manageable with the bulk of the people working as volunteers and you have more volunteers in most areas of the country than you have things that need to be ... and they are guarded 24X7.
In the books, it stops terror attacks by many, many cells where thousands of Americans are dying.
Hope we wake up before it comes to that ... it's hy I am writing the books.
Bravo to you, then, Jeff. I hope we wake up before that too. But if not, there are many who will be able to defend this country, if given half a chance.