Why do you fear the militarization of the police?
You're the one who has started a few hundred threads on it.
This thread is asking Progressives, I am genuinely curious. Now why don't you answer?
To answer your question, no the problem isn't the "militarization of police'.
Yes, there is some "boys and their toys" mentality where police departments are buying equipment they don't need because they can get it at firesale prices from the military.
But you have to ask, why do the rest of us give them the toys?
Mostly, because we don't want to see cops killed in the line of duty.
and when you have the National Rampage Association out there trying to arm Adam Lanza and Joker Holmes like the Zombie Apocalypse is coming, the cops really need armored vehicles and high powered rifles. It's like an arms race, and pretty soon, everyone kind of figures out that the level of belligerence is the problem.