Should police departments be allowed to use military grade equipment?

Yes

No, extreme situations should be handled by higher agencies with specialized training and equipment

Yes, but only in response to extreme situations

Yes, but only with strict training. This is not an invitation for a police officers to abuse the firearm and kill innocent people. Some police officers get carried away by the badge that they don’t address situations tactically first.

No, if the situation is dire enough for military aid, then the military should be there instead of or with the police

Yes, but only in specially trained units and officers should be tested regularly to make sure no bias is behind the force when the equipment is used

NO, cause military people uses their own stuff and the polices should be using their stuff that are ment for them n

abolish and re establish a public safety unit equipped to deal with violent crime, the rise of the far right extremism, and anti social behaviour, especially from teenagers

Depending on the situation and the severity of the situation but I think it could cause more problems than it would fix if the gardaí were given military grade weapons, it could cause the guards to become more of a target.

I think the issue with Garda and control is about respect there is no respect for the Garda and the Garda doesn’t respect people

Yes but with the correct training on how to handle weapon and themselves and only in serious situations

Garda should be armed with non lethal weapons to protect themselves and the public however there should be a stronger presence of police and there should be more armed gardai

No and abolish the police as it currently exists now, focusing on rehabilitating those who commit crime and keeping around the current police in a diminished form for only the most violent of offenders

Yes, but with strict training. Also, they need to be qualified by the authorities above to do so. They need to have all of the physical and mental health checked before strict training.

yes, but only in response to extreme situations but they have to take a lot of training classes before they can use the equipment.

No, but they should have more effective equipment than they have now

Yes they should have guns but nothing more

military grade is a poorly defined term

Yes, but limited to certain guns.

Yes but after psychiatric evaluation, training and body cameras

How do personal stories or news reports of police encounters influence your opinion on the militarization of the police?

In imagining a future society, would you see an increased or decreased use of military equipment by police, and why?

Yes, "Military Grade" isn't some kind of violence ending work of god. It's just surplus equipment that would otherwise be sold to civilians/collectors, gather dust or be destroyed.

it depends in what circumstances

depends on training levels

If a friend expressed fear of going to a protest because of heavily armed police, what advice would you give them?

Only specific people in the force, but with safety checks for them and rules such as camera's when the items are being used. Only most trusted people in the force

How would you feel if you saw a police officer patrolling your school with military-grade gear, and why?

Have you ever witnessed a police operation in your area that used high-tech equipment; what was your immediate reaction?

How might the depiction of police in movies and TV shows with military gear impact our views on real-life policing?

What changes would you expect in your local community if the police department decided to no longer use military-grade equipment?

Reflect on a time when you felt extremely safe or unsafe in your community; what role did the police play in that feeling?

How do you think the history of your community influences its stance on police using military-grade equipment?

If given the chance to vote on the extent of military equipment in your local police force, what factors would influence your decision?