A year in, thousands of armed troops have quietly become a fixture of D.C. life - NPR

For over a year, uniformed troops have slowly become a quiet part of our city's everyday scenery. Just last Tuesday, a line of four Guardsmen, each openly carrying a handgun, walked the perimeter near the duck pond at Maxey Park. They passed families spreading blankets and kids chasing frisbees.

The Guardsmen paused briefly to scan the picnic area before continuing their route. This quiet integration isn't just confined to our parks, you might spot similar patrols near the Texas Tech campus or moving through the Depot District on a weekend.

This marks a noticeable shift in what feels ordinary for anyone out and about in Lubbock. The sight of military-style uniforms and visible firearms no longer causes a double-take from folks grabbing lunch on University Avenue or heading to a show at Buddy Holly Hall. What once would have been a headline-grabbing event has become as common as a warm breeze off the Caprock.