Do you think that cartel leadership would view any such thing as being counterproductive if the law enforcement agencies were not militarized?
Yes? Because it would not be the local law enforcement agency that would respond to any provocations, but rather the federal government/military.
lol yes. IF something like that were to happen, the US military is and always has been ready and willing to respond to attacks and that has been the case LONG before our CIVILIAN police started arming up to the teeth, like they’re ready for war.
The cartels have long been wary of US armed response to their actions, and the militarization of the police in the US, while certainly a further deterrent, is much closer to a deterrent against CIVILIAN misconduct and works insanely well as a chilling effect against protestors and unruly gatherings. Yay America!!!!