Troops patrolling city streets becomes the new normal.

double tap...

 

I don't know what I find more disturbing while traveling in airports, grossly obese officers wearing only a pistol or somewhat fit officers wearing enough tactical gear to storm an embassy

 

To me it all depends on the attitude of the individual officers. Here in Sydney AFP have now permanently deployed officers at Sydney (and other) International Airport with M4s (well 633 type carbines) due to the threat of terrorism. All AFP (and APS before them) on duty there have been armed with sidearms almost forever. The only times I have felt intimidated by police at an airport (except in a couple of third world locations where it is the done thing to have the muzzle of your AK pointed at the "tourist" processing in Customs/Immigration ie - attempting to extort some $US) was a French Gendarme in one of their South Pacific territories. He was obviously having a poor day and at several points during our conversation (about the .300Win in my luggage ) his hand kept landing on the Manurhin MR73 he was wearing.....to the point he partner put a hand on him and waved me (and my rifle) away.

 

I apparently missed something in there if they left their state they were federalized.