That's not really my argument. I'm not on the definitely yes or definitely no side of this. I'm on the it depends on the likelihood you'll need it side. I'd say Detroit can easily justify it. I'd say Georgetown PD definitely cannot justify it. Maybe an entire county can. And even for an entire county, if they can't say there's a reasonable likelihood they'll need it, then I say no.
I'm basically saying the same thing you are. There is a sliding scale, or maybe a matrix that we should be using to justify the expense. So if we put Chicago at 8 size and 9 violence on a scale from 0 to 10, and we put my yard on the other end of the scale at 0 violence (except for possums) and 0 size, then where does Monroe county fall? And at what point on that scale is a purchase like this justified? I haven't seen anything yet that justifies the purchase, so I'm against it, pending evidence.
But people don't like to show evidence for pork.