* The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute polled Illinoisans on a topical question…

Should local police forces have military weapons and vehicles, such as assault rifles and tanks, or should these kinds of weapons be reserved only for the military and National Guard?

Should have 27.8%
Only military 63.8%
Don’t Know 8.3%

* From the Institute…

Democrats and liberals are the strongest opponents, both topping 70 percent. Over half of Republicans and conservatives shared that opinion.

Among racial groups, seven of ten black respondents say such weapons should be returned to the military, compared with 61.9 percent of white respondents. Geographically, opposition to police militarization was strongest in Chicago (69.5 percent) and its suburbs (67.2 percent), while downstate the opposition to militarization was still a majority (54.5 percent).

You can read the whole poll, with crosstabs, by clicking here.

There’s a bunch more interesting stuff in there, including questions like: My local police department represents the racial makeup of my community…

* How would you rate your local police department on police protection?…

* How would you rate your local police department on the ability to respond quickly to calls for help and assistance?…

* Should the racial makeup of a community’s police department be similar to the racial makeup of that community as a whole, or isn’t it necessary?…

* My local police department responds to the needs of all members of the community…