In the U.S. police budgets are set by elected officials at local and state levels. In 2020 elected officials in New York, Seattle, Los Angeles and Minneapolis approved plans to reduce police budgets in response to the nationwide protests following the killing of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis. After the budget cuts many US cities saw a rise in crime, with murder rates up by double digits in many cities. In the last three months of 2020, homicides rose 32.2% in cities with a population of at least one million, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Quarterly…
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@8R3BVHGIndependent4yrs4Y
Yes, but only in response to extreme situations and strict training on how and when to use the equipment.
@96Z9KD23yrs3Y
Yes, and so should civilians.
Everyone should be allowed to use military grade equipment
@8PFZDX24yrs4Y
@99F5K632yrs2Y
Yes but only in extreme situations and with proper training
@9DD5JF72yrs2Y
Yes, but only in very high-crime areas, and there should obviously be strict training with said equipment, and how and when to use it.
@9D53XZH2yrs2Y
Depends on how "military grade equipment" is defined.
@92J8WRS3yrs3Y
Yes, but with strict training and in response to extreme situations.
@8PMWRDC4yrs4Y
@B52VG2R 2wks2W
I feel they should and could have some military training regarding weapons, however I do not think they should try to pretend to be the military. The military should handle the insanely difficult situations, not the police.
@B4WSYFP3wks3W
Yes and no because it could give them to much power and it o can also help when there is a attack from a different country and the army and the government can’t react fast enough
@B4WP2SG3wks3W
yes, only for EXTREME and EMERGENCY situations, and also hidden away kept in security and only used with strict training on how to use and control the equipment!!
@B49CK9H2mos2MO
No, extreme situations are not common enough to justify wide spread use of military grade equipment. A tank or attack helicopter would never be needed, with the one exception being armored cars and rifles, as they are designed for protection rather than mass damage to enemies.
@B3XFK682mos2MO
No, police should be abolished and any weapon used by any government should be available to the public.
@B3RX6WDRepublican2mos2MO
Yes but only in response to extreme situations and by those with strict training on how and when to use the equipment
@B2J3WMM4mos4MO
Yes but only if its an extreme case and is needed, and if it is they should know how to use everything and be trained.
@B2B4Z7Z4mos4MO
It depends if the criminals also have military grade weapons, but I do believe in the use of Kevlar for the police
@9ZZ4VVY5mos5MO
I think they should have access to some military equipment, but its use should vary on what crime they are tending to.
@9ZNT78C6mos6MO
Yes, only to extreme situations and the equipment shouldn’t be paid for by the department but given to by excess from the military.
@9ZMBB9M6mos6MO
It depends, but I think, most times, extreme situations should be handled by higher agencies with specialized training and equipment
@9YJ7L9R6mos6MO
Yes, but only for extreme situations. But also with strict training on how and when to use the equipment.
@9YFMNGB6mos6MO
Yes, and they should be trained how to use the military grade equipment and if it's an extreme situation only then they are allowed to use military grade equipment
@9YC5LVM6mos6MO
it depends on how skilled they are with guns because we don't want a killer taking a cops gun if they have military grade equipment.
@9Y7MF2SPeace and Freedom6mos6MO
no, the situations should be handled by higher agencies but if none are available in the area then the police can handle it.
@9XWJYGM6mos6MO
they should be able to use millitary grade equipment but only if there trained with that grade equipment and if there in serious situations.
@9XL843M6mos6MO
Yes, but only in response to the most extreme and desperate situations. Also, they need to have special training to handle them
@9XFYBKT6mos6MO
yes, but only with extreme training and in extreme situations with non-racial or sexist officers and they nee to at least be in the police industries for 5 years
@9XB3J746mos6MO
Yes and No cause yes cause it also needs strict training on how and when to use the equipment but extreme situations should be handled by higher agencies with specialized training and equipment
@9X9ZWQJ6mos6MO
No because military grade equipment are designed to be used in war and not in daily life so i do not support this at all.
@9X5HDRM 7mos7MO
If the situation calls for it, and the military and higher forces will take to long, however the police might or might not have a more solid grasp on the situation then the military personnel.
@9WR9ND77mos7MO
Yes, but only in extreme situations and only by those who are properly trained to use such equipment and how to respond to such situations.
@9WKTN6N7mos7MO
Yes but only for special instances such as terror attacks, mass shootings, something like the British CTSFO, or AFO’s in British police forces.
@9WDQ7S67mos7MO
Yes, this equipment is most typically acquired when the military no longer needs something, and the police use it for peacekeeping without buying their own police-oriented equipment.
@9W9QWNQ7mos7MO
yes but in very extreme circumstances with specialized training when a higher agency can not be there on time
I believe in an extreme situation the police should be present to monitor the situation, however, the actual hands-on experience should be handled by a higher agency with specialized training and equipment to reduce any injury or fatalities.
@9VHDRXM7mos7MO
No I think adding more military equipment would make the younger generation more scared of police witch is already bad because of the police brutality on the African American community.
@9VBS5SX7mos7MO
Yes, but extreme situations and strict training (of which is done tri-monthly). Should one fail or decline the training, the officer is to be restricted from military grade gear/equipment until they complete both a physical and a written exam and a psychological evaluation.
@9TN7W3J8mos8MO
Yes, but only in response to extreme situations and with extremely strict training on how and when to use the equipment
@9TMJN3P8mos8MO
Considering how ridiculously armed the average citizen is able to be the law enforcement needs to be able to be even better armed and able to maintain safety for others. Basically the police should be a bit better armed than average civilians. And since our average civilians can basically have a frame thrower or a bomb if they want to I guess the police need to get anything they can get.
@9TDH5VQIndependent8mos8MO
With no premise to what military-grade tech is, this question is very misleading. Most government agencies define Kevlar and semi-auto handguns as military grade, equipment that is nearly universal to every police department in America. Short answer is Yes, but this question is odd.
@9T4ZCTJ 8mos8MO
I say yes and no because what if the cops use it for the wrong thing and knowing they can get away with it. Although it can become useful for people using it the proper way
@9S8CYFK9mos9MO
Police need to be trained in a much more professional and serious way, prepared for anything with all the equipment they need for every situation.
@9S78BB59mos9MO
The police need to be trained better. And only allowed to use military grade weapons in extreme circumstances.
@9S59NYB9mos9MO
If the civilian population cannot have equal access to that equipment, then the police do not deserve it.
@9S2R8CX9mos9MO
In extreme situations, only for higher ranking police, and even these higher ranks should be given strict training
@9R8Z4P910mos10MO
Yes, with specially trained individuals and under situations requiring the deployment of said equipment.
@9NDJWFRConstitution11mos11MO
Only if civilians are allowed to own and operate the same weapons for self defense as enshrined in the 2nd Amendment.
@9MH36PQ12mos12MO
No, the police should focus on helping people and there should be another form of police and they should be skilled and only people who are skilled should be allowed to join and the are the ones allowed to use military equipment, so for every 20 police people there will be an additional 11 skilled workers that can handle the bad guys
@9M3VLMD1yr1Y
Yes, in response to extreme circumstances with strict mandatory training on how and when to use the equipment.
@9M3KVCG1yr1Y
Yes, but only special and elite units with the department that has specialized training with elite tactics and advanced weapons.
@9LXR4CCIndependent1yr1Y
If the officers meet a training threshold, yes, in extreme situations, they should ba allowed to use military grade equipment.
@9LR42WD1yr1Y
What does that even mean? Are cops going to be running around with Javelin missile launchers and hand grenades?
@9L36DJK1yr1Y
Police should be allowed to use whatever weapons or tools a local militia should be allowed to use, per the 2nd amendment.
@9KZZB5B1yr1Y
No, because the police wouldn't need anything like that because they're only there to handle situations.
@9KTBFQ31yr1Y
yes, but they should only be used in extreme situations and there should be strict training that comes with it.
@9KBWFQKLibertarian1yr1Y
Yes, military grade equipment is often not better or even actively worse than privately owned and manufactured firearms.
@9K96VH81yr1Y
In the police force there’s a team called then swat team I believe only the swat team should be allowed to use military grade weapons
@9K7M6BZ 1yr1Y
Yes, but the general law abiding public should he granted access to all the same equipment and training.
@9K2VT991yr1Y
yes, but only in response to extreame stiutations and with strict training on how and when to use the equipment.
@9JW5HF91yr1Y
No, but strictly train a small number of them on how and when to use the equipment for extreme situations.
@9JPLVQF1yr1Y
What do you constitute as military grade? Technically the plastic spoon in an MRE meal kit is military grade
@9J5L7ZQ1yr1Y
Difficult to comment on military equipment without knowledge of what specifically constitutes military equipment
@9HSMSVL1yr1Y
Yes, but with the access limited to a few that are heavily trained on how and when to use that equipment, and only are deployed to keep the situation from getting any worse until the higher agencies can get involved.
@9HRTSST1yr1Y
It depends on the density, and only if the weapons are strictly reserved for extremely dangerous situations, to be approved of by higher authorities and the people.
@9HPDFQZ1yr1Y
Only S.W.A.T should have this kind of equipment. If they can't handle the situation, then let federal forces run the show.
@9HHWF5M1yr1Y
It really depends on what kind of equipment, if it's like tanks and other mass destruction equipment then big no no. But things such as EMPs or more like technological advanced stuff should be allowed.
@9H8P6SLLibertarian1yr1Y
They should be allowed to use military grade equipment but with proper training and only in response to extreme situations
@9GVV8ZV2yrs2Y
This question needs clarification. Standard issue military gear isn't always if high quality. Is this question meaning to aks about the use if riot gear and armored tanks all the time?
@9GSKF4S2yrs2Y
Again with the proper training police should be able to handle any local situation, years of training and schooling.
@9GMG48WIndependent 2yrs2Y
Only with strict training and regulations on when and where to use it, even then they should only use it in extreme situations.
@9GKLTF62yrs2Y
Yes but only certain police officers that meet the requirements and have special training should be able to use the equipment
@9G48D4T2yrs2Y
yes only in extreme cases and with training in every form in order to prevent mistakes of injuring one another
@9G2C77PRepublican2yrs2Y
Yes, however only certain people within the department who have the proper training should be allowed to use them.
@9FXHHMK2yrs2Y
Yes, but only when it is determined the only reasonable course of action and if individuals using said equipment are properly trained and are judged to be of both good mind and morals.
@9FVBH7C2yrs2Y
no military grade equipment sucks they should use stuff that is better and also have better training on how to use it
@9FQWRC52yrs2Y
Police should be a final option and allow for social services be used if applicable in these situations.
@9FPW6D82yrs2Y
@9FPPQLNRepublican2yrs2Y
yes, they should be able to, but only in extreme situations and with strict and proper training, but also other higher agencies should be called to help monitor the use and how to deal with and de-escalate the situations.
@9DVC2WR2yrs2Y
Strict training on how and when to use equipment when assisting higher agencies with specialist training and equipment
@9DRD7VP2yrs2Y
LEO should be limited only to equipment that is freely available to the People
@9DNP38ZIndependent2yrs2Y
Depends what "military grade" means.
I think it’s okay as long as officers as throughly trained as to how, when, and why they would use them. I think the “why” needs to be better defined and enforced more throughly.
@9DCJXZX2yrs2Y
If they are going to use military grade equipment they should be trained at a level higher than police training, know how and when to use it and be rejected from the force if not used in the proper way.
@9D9FT8Z2yrs2Y
Yes; "Military Grade" is an extremely vague term and should not be used in this context.
@9D8T7Y92yrs2Y
This question along with the learn more section does not define the term "military garage equipment"
@9D8LZBF2yrs2Y
Yes as long as civilians can have that same type of equipment.
@9D8LJFDLibertarian2yrs2Y
All citizens should be allowed access to the same weapons as long as it is privately acquired.
@9D5S62FConstitution2yrs2Y
Yes when assisting the military or national gaurd
@9D5RCBW2yrs2Y
No. Police agencies are civilian in nature (non military) and should be subject to the same laws the citizen is.
@9D4Z6FSLibertarian2yrs2Y
Yes, but citizens have the right to own the same equipment and firearms as written in the 2nd amendment
@8ZSRKWZ3yrs3Y
Military Grade Defensive options
@8W59GRJ4yrs4Y
Yes, but only if civilians can own the same equipment
@9CMN9242yrs2Y
If they are trained and it is necessary.
@9BZBFKC2yrs2Y
Yes, until gun laws in the country are fixed and we have had time to address damage caused by current lack of gun control
@9BL6XVY2yrs2Y
Yes, but only in certain situations when extremely needed and when they are learning on how to use the equipment.
@9B9H6T72yrs2Y
yes, but only in response to extreme situations and proper training on how to use equipment
@9B7LL4N2yrs2Y
Yes, but only in response to extreme scenarios, with a warrant, and with extensive training.
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