Unlike us the Brits do not arm every would-be Rambo flatfoot with enough kit to take down the Pentagon. The reserve that for trained and qualified personnel who have a real target. Don't knock it. It actually works and they save themselves billions a year in liability costs for shooting eight-year olds who eat French fries on the metro.
What really ought to amaze you is the speed with which the Brits figured out who perteptrated the last bombing. Our side would still be arguing about whether they want filled or sugarless.
Just to speculate a bit here. I see two scenarios. What the eye-witness described is classic SAS doctrine for dealing with someone who might be holding a bomb trigger. That means either actual SAS or someone who was trained by them in CQB techniques, like for example say the Anti-Terrorist squad.
Either, this guy was spotted acting suspiciously at random, or more likely given the technique used by the "plain clothes" guy, knock him down and empty the clip into him, it seems more likely they'd flushed one of yesterday's fugitive bombers and were chasing him. The way he was killed sounds like specialist anti-terrorist units with SAS CQB doctrine.
Of course if it was the SAS they probably won't admit to it.
My cousin is a cop and his view is that many of his colleagues should really not be trusted with firearms.
"Unlike us the Brits do not arm every would-be Rambo flatfoot with enough kit to take down the Pentagon."
Well, to be fair, that's hardly true. Most cops, both in the US and here in Sweden carry some sort of pea-shooter pistol.
"The reserve that for trained and qualified personnel who have a real target."
True, it reduces unwanted shootings. On the other hand, a lot of the crime that police respond to is encountered without warning. That makes it hard to dispatch special armed police in time to confron the criminals. Therefore, pretty much all countries except the UK arm their police officers.
"Don't knock it. It actually works and they save themselves billions a year in liability costs for shooting eight-year olds who eat French fries on the metro."
Let's not exaggerate, no?
"What really ought to amaze you is the speed with which the Brits figured out who perteptrated the last bombing. Our side would still be arguing about whether they want filled or sugarless."
True - as long as the british are happy with their way, that's fine with me. Still, if there is one thing the US and Sweden can learn from Britain is CCTV. Appears to be pretty useful.
Andy, my boy; I foresee a very quick education coming your way shortly ...
In any large group of individuals, there are always going to be sub-optimal members, even cops. Considering the number of people on this FreeRepublic, we have our share of morons too. Eventually, they get weeded. Something to consider ...
Unbelievable and you've been a Freeper since 1999. At least get your facts straight, the french fry eater on the Metro was handcuffed, not shot.