[Skywalk]

30 years?

You’re head is so stuck up NYC’s hindquarters, you didn’t see that the vast majority of what I wrote was not 30 years ago or even to do with your city.

My point is simple. It is a little disturbing on THIS site for people to be comfortable with fully-armored, military-girded ‘troops’ patrolling or being stationed on the streets. Police can be a presence but they should be taking the same risks as the rest of us, esp since WE are the primary targets, not the police.

And more important, I’m just putting the lie to the idea that ‘good people’ have nothing to fear from the cops. Such a line is obviously spoken by someone who has not had any experiences with the police, DWB, or had any relatives (black or white) who may have had negative experiences with the police.

[durasell]

These guys are an elite unit — a small percentage of the 50,000 or so NYC cops. And, since NYC is still a target, I fully support them.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Damn straight! Everyone should go hang out in a cop bar for a while, and get to know them better. Be prepared to meet a bunch of strange and scary critters!

[GAB-1955]

I’ve seen police with automatic weapons on the D.C. Metro system, as well as bomb-sniffing dogs at Union Station. No big deal. It might discourage Juwann Jihadi from martyrdom on the MARC line.

I suppose the fear is that the dogs will sniff out dope as well, and the casual toker will be put up against the wall and shot. I don’t think the transit police care about the average joint user, but it might also discourage using the subway as a distribution center for drugs. Boo. Hoo.

[El Gato]

Police can be a presence but they should be taking the same risks as the rest of us, esp since WE are the primary targets, not the police.

Having them armored is not so bad... what's bad is having the general citizenry disarmed as they are in New York City, where pretty much only the criminals, the police and a few connected persons or their private security, are armed.

I wonder if the bullet resistant vests, let alone "assault weapons", would even be legal for the peons in New York City? I know that "assault weapons" are illegal in NYC,.... Hmm..... Well it's illegal in NY State to wear such a vest while committing a violent crime and possessing a firearm. (Section 270.20 New York Penal code) I can't seem to find the NY City laws on line. Anyone know if vests are legal in NYC for mere peons?

[Marie2]

I don’t know, I don’t have a problem with uniformed, armed cops being around.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

My point is simple. It is a little disturbing on THIS site for people to be comfortable with fully-armored, military-girded ‘troops’ patrolling or being stationed on the streets. Police can be a presence but they should be taking the same risks as the rest of us, esp since WE are the primary targets, not the police.

If it were up to me, both the police and the ordinary citizens would be allowed to have all the neat toys. All that weaponry would deter (some) criminals, terrorists, and bad cops.