I am not against the police having the same firepower as the criminals. I want them to go home to their wifes and families after a day of serving. Remember the L.A. Shootout where the bad guys wore bullet proof armor and doped up on pain killing drugs, then robbed a bank armed with AK-47s and other AUTOMATIC weapons. The police had to go to a sporting goods store to get semi-auto AR 15s just to have NEARLY matching fire power.
I am also not against police having full body armor and helmets, or armored personnel carriers. Or helicopters.
What I am against is those copters being gunships, and the armored carriers having heavy machine guns, and mortars, and using military tactics, i.e., SWAT teams. Especially if those teams are used to check beer licenses, or to raid suburban homes at 4:30 AM to search for documents, without a warrant, etc..., and using flash bangs, stun gernades, etc..., 3 seconds after shouting "police" and then banging in the door.
Currently 72 government agencies now have heavily armed SWAT teams. Who are they fighting against, or plan on fighting against. Does the Library of Congress actually need a SWAT team?
It used to be that we had the National Guard do heavy duty when needed. Right now we need the National Guard at our southern border, stopping the flow of illegals across the border, and we need to round up and deport illegals wondering our streets, illegally applying for SSN's, medicaid, and other financial welfare services, and we need to arrest employers who are hiring illegals, and "aid workers" who are aiding and abetting illegal activity.