zlacker

>>miles+(OP)
Police were able to brutalize protesters in the 1960s with much simpler equipment than they have today. The equipment is not the problem.

>>twblal+qg
All the more reason to not give the police even more powerful tools with which to brutalize people. If the equipment is not the problem, take it away. That's one less thing to worry about.

>>paloal+2h
This isn't true. Modern tools are significantly less lethal, and give police more options on the spectrum of escalation before having to draw their service pistol. This is why protests were much more deadly in the 1970s.

>>remark+Pk
We're not talking about the same thing here. Of course it's better if the police can manage crowds and protests without anyone dying. Ideally no police person ever has to draw their service weapon and fire.

What seems less defensible is police coming in with things like tanks. Personally, I would prefer to see police de-escalate rather than escalate.