No thanks. Someone walking around with an assault rifle isn't going to make me feel safe. Quite the opposite actually. It's going to make me feel like I'm in a warzone, which aren't generally regarded as safe places.
I always feel intimidated by cops in full combat gear and rifle at airports. I know I didn't do anything wrong, but it's like when a cop is following right behind you in traffic. Even though you aren't doing anything, he might decide you are. He has all the power and you have none.
No thanks. Someone walking around with an assault rifle isn't going to make me feel safe. Quite the opposite actually. It's going to make me feel like I'm in a warzone, which aren't generally regarded as safe places.
I always feel intimidated by cops in full combat gear and rifle at airports. I know I didn't do anything wrong, but it's like when a cop is following right behind you in traffic. Even though you aren't doing anything, he might decide you are. He has all the power and you have none.
It is reasonable fear. They can kill you and likely get away with it if they claim you scared them.
Then… why is he bringing the rifle?
He's not! He's got a machine gun, that's completely different!
I think the real difference is that he is hired to do this versus some gun freak deciding to do it.