""Don, I think you over-egg the position about how wonderful our UK police are but they do generally make a nice contrast to what appears to be a very widespread US belief that might makes right.""

Perhaps you and I view our police from different angles Richard.

I judge their qualities based on what we might expect our country to be like were they not as effective, or even not there. The fact that they are essentially unarmed by choice is a significant factor in my judgement.

One last comment on a subject which is, I think, worn out.

The only man who accidentally kills his wife, friend, or child while cleaning a gun is the man who is armed.

The only man who executes a harmless child for ""walking while black, in my neighbourhood"" is the man who is armed.

The only man who shoots and kills a woman who knocks on his front door to ask for a drink of water, or directions, is the man who is armed.

It's not rocket science.

Don T.