Reminds me of the immediate post-9/11 time frame when they were talking about citizen's patrols to safeguard the nation's infrastructure . . . guarding things like dams, power lines, etc.
They actually set up meetings to discuss it in some places, and potential citizen "volunteers" showed up for an "informational" or "exploratory" meeting.
At some point, a guy stood up and asked if they were going to be issued weapons, or, if they were expected to bring their own.
The LEO hosting this supposedly puffed himself up and stated that NO weapons would be carried - no way, no how. Only radios.
The guy who asked the question told him he didn't want guards, he wanted canaries in a coal mine - and walked out.
Followed by almost all the other potential volunteers.
I guess similar scenes were repeated many times, which is why the entire idea died a quiet death.
Speaking for myself . . . I have a CHL, and I wouldn't even consider participation in a Citizens On Patrol program without carrying my sidearm . . . but I would NOT involve myself in anything suspicious that I witnessed other than calling it in; I am NOT a cop, and I am NOT going to play at being a cop. (Which means I'd think long and hard before even joining such a program.)
