UK Police with Machine guns
steve | 06.07.2003 22:04 | Anti-militarism | Globalisation | Repression | Sheffield
policeman inside the US base Menwith Hill on July 4th 2003
different gun
The police with machine guns are there for symbolic use only. If they were really serious about using them far more police would have had them not just the two or so spotted by the main gate. And they wouldn't have had them out parading them for all and sundry to see when there was nothing happening except music and dancing.
The symbol of a policeman with a machine gun is saying, "Come inside and we will kill you". It's straightforward scare tactics. Unfortunately the symbol loses its power once one sees the whole thing is just a bluff.
But there are other, subliminal, interpretations. Like: "Look we know you're not into violence, we know you've got no weapons, we know you're all wearing fancy dress and we're protected by miles of fencing and razor wire and cameras. But please understand we are still completely shit scared of you. We need these guns to make us feel safe."
The two guns photographed here appear to be of different types.
The symbol of a policeman with a machine gun is saying, "Come inside and we will kill you". It's straightforward scare tactics. Unfortunately the symbol loses its power once one sees the whole thing is just a bluff.
But there are other, subliminal, interpretations. Like: "Look we know you're not into violence, we know you've got no weapons, we know you're all wearing fancy dress and we're protected by miles of fencing and razor wire and cameras. But please understand we are still completely shit scared of you. We need these guns to make us feel safe."
The two guns photographed here appear to be of different types.
steve
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