imported post
"I know I am not a LEO. Where I live they are a phone call and a half hour away. I can not reasonably rely on them to be around constantly.Why should I be less equipped than they are?"
-- Because you're not a sworn officer charged with responding to armed robbery in process, stopping armed assault, responding a hostage situation with an armed assailant. It's not your job to be equipped to manage such situations.
To put it a bit more directly:
You're not a member of the armed forces. You don't need an armored personel carrier, a 50 cal machine gun, artillery and air support.
You're not in the business of engaging in armed confrontation. You don't need to be equipped as if you're in the business of pro-actively engaging in armed confrontation.
I could saunter around town with my three Uzis, AK, Garand, 2 1911's, XD, J-Frame, N-Frame, three scoped centerfire rifles, two lever action carbines, four shotguns, two Mausers, a Moisin, black powder muskets, K-Bar, Benchmade, Cold Steel, Kershaw, CRKT, Case, bayonets, an elephant gun, handcuffs, mace, and a police band radio . . .
I'd be "equipped" but I think probably the townsfolk would point and giggle . . . :celebrate