WITHOUT a shadow of a doubt, in a few years' time, armed police on our streets will be the norm. How can I be so certain? We are already being told by senior police officers and politicians that as we go about our everyday business, we will see many armed police out and about but, not to worry, their presence is to re-assure us that we are safe and have nothing to worry about. And an obliging, uncritical, unthinking, politically correct public is buying this message.

In ancient Greece, the banning of carrying weapons in public was based on the idea that civilised co-existence could not tolerate public spaces that were dominated by those wearing weapons, on pain of intimidating those around them. They believed that, apart from the physical risks posed, such a practice would inherently undermine civic equality.

Nonetheless, in the 21st century, not the first century, when I go to my next concert, or sporting event, or go abroad on holiday from my nearest airport, or attend a communal gathering of any kind, the sight of men with automatic rifles parading up and down in front of my children will make us all feel better. The logical corollary of that is, I'm afraid, resources permitting, to deploy armed police everywhere and at all times so that we can feel secure everywhere and at all times.

As they say in these parts: "Aye, right."

Gerard McCulloch,

Moffat Wynd, Saltcoats.