[protomyth]

"One thing I've noticed in watching videos of police recently is that they seem really quick to draw their weapons on a target."

That is what scares me along with the use of SWAT. I would love to have stats on drawn weapons per encounter through the year (yeah, pipe dream). I'm not sure its more frequent or we just have a ton more video. My brother had a gun drawn on him by a young highway patrol officer while he was stranded by the side of the road putting a new belt in his car. His first knowledge of the officer was hearing the clicking of the gun. He and the person with him (standing on the engine push down on the alternator with a 2x4 so they could slip the belt on) were not amused.

[branchan]

I agree that we should reconsider what situations call for the use of a SWAT team. But when that situation arises, it's perfectly reasonable for SWAT teams to always have their weapons drawn no?

[protomyth]

Yep. It goes with the definition of what SWAT is supposed to do. The problem is using them to serve warrants and other non-emergency situations. SWAT was formed to deal with a bad situation normal police officers couldn't. Its evolved into a hammer that is overused.