The police need equipments necessary to fight crime. Criminals are intelligent people who could even have better equipment than the police. The Police put their lives on the line every time they step out because criminals are unpredictable, it is better to be prepared than sorry.
I would only entrust the police with adequate firepower if they are psychologically capable of being disciplined with them. The police are basically the civil servant military. I remember seeing a swat officer in a gilly suit the same ones that military snipers use which was crazy.
I think that the military is something that exists just to generate money, something similar happens with the police, it's all a matter of selling weapons.
Sometimes that's a hard thing to do though. In countries like America where anyone is allowed to own a weapon, sometimes the best way to respond is with a military like threat. It shows the strength of the force so as to keep them in their position of power. It seems a bit authoritarian, but sometimes it's the best way until we can start living more peacefully.
There's no reason for a police force to have military style weapons. The nature of crime has changed over the years, but not that much as to require military like capabilities on the part of police departments. If you read the news reports, a lot of the police departments that are buying these weapons are rural places with not a lot of crime. So there's really no good reason for it. Just a waste of money and a way to intimidate law abiding citizens.
BS. Police don't put themselves at risk like you say. Supreme court has ruled that they don't even have to serve and protect citizens. I've read at least five stories this year about police passing by robberies and even a kidnapping of a child. These are just the ones we know about. You don't need a tank and a rocket launcher for a bank robbery that might occur one a year. They still managed to kill the hostage in LA. Whatever dude, these polices are dumb and don't have the training to operate that equipment. Yes, the supreme court ruled that they can not hire somebody for scoring to high on the wonderlic test they give. So dumb was the appropriate word.
People won't give up all those federal jobs. Think about all those weapon contracts. Still needs to stop though. We need politicians and citizen with some balls to speak out.
This goes back way before Bush even. Look at the "Battle in Seattle" in front of the WTO protests. There were people sitting on the street who got beat and tear gassed. People who were just walking by were attacked by the police. Yes, there were some destructive people, but this was a demonstration of quality organizations in addition to grassroots activists. There were "Free Speech Zones" set up. What the hell is that? The entire country is a free speech zone. Look up the videos of this and the Republican convention in NYC. Again, Free Speech Zones. People were arrested by the hundreds and locked in contaminated abandoned buildings on the docks. It was August and humid and hot. The police were using the same sonic weapons they were using in Iraq. The pictures are scary. It is about freaking time someone is talking about this!