

I appreciate the sentiment, but it’s semantics. I’d argue that Brownshirts are “cop adjacent”, in that they’re illegitimately empowered by the state and courts, and behave like the most unhinged factions of law enforcement with no fear of censure from either. Local police and sheriff’s offices have been regularly observed directly collaborating with, or at least ignoring (giving a free pass) the activities of ICE. Beyond that, the rubes that I’m talking about don’t see that difference, and don’t see them as illegitimate.

I’ve seen equally poor trigger discipline from cops too though… even the more established agencies are lowering the bar to pull in recruits.