One of the scariest pictures I've seen in a long time.

[WuzYoungOnceToo]

159. Here's the problem

- "All else that I'd need to see is the heavy artillery"

The only weapon in the photo is a rifle that appears to be chambered for the standard (and quite small/under-powered by rifle standards) .223/5.56 mm round. Admittedly, it's possible that the perspective of the photo is visually misleading and the rifle is actually based on the AR-10 platform and chambered for something like .308, but even so...calling something like that "heavy artillery" is an exercise in ill-informed hyperbole. Please don't take this as a personal insult, as it is not meant that way. But what your post illustrates is more your own lack of knowledge than any inherent problem with the hardware being used by the LEO in the photo. Just because you don't know what any of it is does not mean that your fears are justified, or that it is inherently inappropriate. Don't get me wrong, I'm as much an outspoken critic of police force militarization as anyone, especially the trend toward knee-jerk use of SWAT teams in no-knock raids and the like. But when I criticize these things I like to do it from a perspective of knowledge about the subject, not fears based on my own topical ignorance (with "ignorance" not meant as a pejorative, but simply it's defined meaning: a lack of knowledge about something).

The short version is that those who don't really know much about the particulars of things like combat gear (and yes, that's what weapons and/or protective equipment used by law enforcement is...even the old six-shooter revolvers and ballistic vests) are not going to be able to draw informed conclusions about the propriety of the selection of that gear. How it makes you or I "feel" when we see it has to take a back seat to more practical considerations concerning their efficacy and practicality.

I do agree that the wearing of camoflage designed for desert, woodland, et al environments in an urban setting is exceedingly silly, and that armored vehicles are, for most departments, a waste of taxpayer money. But they are sometimes useful.

- "And I would stop for a moment and thank you for your service."

I appreciate the sentiment, but I in fact never served in a military capacity either. But that's neither here nor there, as military service is not a prerequisite for the knowledge that I've referred to.