Bono’s quote that that we should not become a monster in order to defeat a monster is the first thing that came to mind when I grabbed my copy of the Metro this morning. The front page headline is: “Armed police to patrol on streets”.
I’ve always been anti-gun, anti-violence, anti-war, anti-anything along those lines. To bring more guns into the streets to combat the gun and knife and gang crime is only going to encourage those groups to bring in more of their own weapons. This is a bad idea. It sounds like a panic reaction rather than a tactical one to this year’s 17% increase in gun crime.
According to the Independent, the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) were not consulted. Joanne McCartney, a member of the MPA, was quoted in the article: “We want fewer guns on the streets not more, and people to feel safe in their community – not scared of those who are supposed to protect them.”
Little London Observationist 
A big “No!” from me. Police already carry guns near some of the embassies, courts etc. That’s terrifying enough. An armed response unit is enough.