INCOMING DRUNKEN ESSAY!
I live in a town of 3,100. It is easy to make fun of a town like this because it is small, and there isn't much to do.
I love the law enforcement here. Where I live I can easily purchase(legally) any weapon used by the police force...fully automatic firearms and suppressors. The police here don't have armored vehicles so I can't comment on that aspect.
The law enforcement here has never abused it's power and they are always respectful. They are the type of guys who do everything they can to not endanger themselves or other individuals. They know most of us own some pretty heavy firepower so they very much announce themselves when they arrive at a door.
They are the kind of people who would be willing to die to protect you, and I would probably be willing to die to protect most of them. When there were talks about assault rifle bans the sheriff was very open about never enforcing them if they were to pass.
These are the kind of guys who will pick up someone who drank too much, and drive them home so they don't attempt to drive while impaired. They won't bust you for petty possession of marijuana(unless you are being a danger to someone). They pretty much let you do whatever you want as long as you aren't a danger to the public or yourself. Hell, if we are hanging out downtown playing guitar the sheriff will show up and play with us.
Many times the police took me home when I was drunk while I was still in highschool and never ratted me out to my parents.
Now, I know that this is not the case in most places. I have run into some pretty douchebag power abusive cops in large cities, and I know a lot of the states you guys live in restricts ownership of certain weapons, but I just wanted to say I feel the big problem has more to do with the type of people who are allowed to serve as law enforcement in those places, and state leadership. Luckily Oklahoma pretty much gives the finger to anyone who wants to limit civilians rights.
I am glad I live in such a tight knit community where the people here actually care about the other people here.
TLDR: Don't hate cops...hate the person who is the bad cop.
Your state leaders and people are the problem...not the institution of law enforcement. Good people will be good people...shitty people will abuse their positions. As gay as it sounds, having a larger sense of community would help a lot of the problems. If the police care about your community then they will behave as a "public servant" and will care what happens to the people in it. That also means that you need to respect them as people, and not as a badge.
P.S. I am armed better than the local police force, so maybe there is some truth to that discussion(LOL).
