"Now they have guns and often use them."

So do Aussie Police. It is VERY intimidating, when some wanker with a mobile phone has dialed 000 just because an elderly guy has taken a shortcut thru a park and walked past the kiddies play area, to be stopped by 2 hotheads in a police car which has just done a screaming u-turn in front of you, to be interviewed by 2 guys who are obviously convinced that I am some filthy evil doer, but will not make any accusations, but insist on knowing who I am, without any just cause. The fact that one of them unclipped his holster, and stood in a 'guard position' with his hand fondling his holster was extremely intimidating.

Also when trying to deal with my psychotic neighbour, who apart from damaging plants she did not approve me of growing, was also stealing soil from under the fence, refused to do anything about it, claiming that 'soil had no value' - so you don't have to pay for soil from garden supply places, eh? The mongrel bastard lied!

My wider extended family has over the decades, many members in the Police Force - just hard working grunt level guys.

Now I have an intense dislike of the Police Force, but they are all we have to protect us...