Do you feel afraid if you notice law enforcement have submachine guns at the airport?

LTC Stephen Conway Weapons in the hands of trained security personnel scare me a lot less than weapons in the hands of drug dealers, cop killers, murderers, rapists, and so on.

I do think such weapons should have selective fire. There aren't a lot of situations with civilians around where "spray and pray" is the right answer. But given what happened in France a while back (terrorist using a truck as a lawnmower to kill people) fully auto might be the right answer.

It's the training of the user that counts, not the weapon itself.

This young troop would be standing tall in front of the First Sergeant within the next few minutes.

Why on earth should this scare anyone? Will have to admit that the first time I ever saw this was when I arrived at an airport in Turkey in the early 80s not long after a coup. Seemed strange, but also sent the message that they weren't fooling around with security.

Go overseas and you shall see 18 yr olds carrying automatic weapons in the street, at airports, and train stations. In some countries if you don't follow their orders they will open fire.

No

Not really. I might prefer semi-auto strictly, but it is not my call.

I find it sad that the use of deadly force by the civilian magistrates is necessary but I would rather see the good guys well armed than criminals seeking targets and then engaging them. Getting killed because I had an airline ticket would ruin that day for me.

Those carrying such weapons should be highly trained on how to interact with crowds. Physical separation is vital to protect the weapon and the crowd. It only takes seconds for a guard to be disarmed.

Nothing More Disturbing than going thru Heathrow and a Policeman passes me with an Uzi Flipping the Safety on and off. Depends on the Situation.

Sp4 Byron Skinner No I don't feel afraid to see a law enforcement officers carrying and SMG's (in the US usual and MP-5 from what I've seen) One must assume that the law enforcement officers are trained officers who know the correct protocol of caring an exposed weapon in public. In response does it make me feel safer, no. If a gunman (terrorist) has got as far as the airport lobby or check in he/she is good and suicidal, the presence of two law enforcement officers with SMG's would only mean target.