If you're holding a weapon - you can't think straight

  If you're holding a weapon - you can't communicate

  If you're holding a weapon - you are afraid

  If you're holding a weapon - people sense your (bad) intentions _and_ your fear

  How's that known?

  Was a communicator and soldier in many countries, and naturally found friendships
  with local peoples.

  So, when `authority' said "curfew", would say `bullshit' and evaded the road-blocks.

  But that also meant doing without "protection".

  Why?  Well, a guy walking down a street at midnight walks differently if he's carrying
  a knife or gun.

  And not just lop-sided!

  It's a question of body-language.  If you're self-reliant without a weapon, you walk
  self-reliant - and watching eyes detect that.

  [ maybe check http://www.perceptions.couk.com/guns.html ]

  So, although invited to, never carried a gun off-duty, and walked alone and
  unarmed in strange towns and cities

  [ maybe check << perceptions "beat the badguy" >> in Google ]

  D'you think this should influence diplomatic relations?

  After all, the equivalent of walking confidently _without_ a national weapon is what
  the Swiss do.

  They just have a rifle for every citizen - and make sure they know how to use it.

  And maybe have supplies of ammo & explosives or suchlike for those who'd want to use
  them against a foreign aggressor.

  Just a thought.

  But _you_ might need to think about it soon.

--------------------------------------------------

              FURTHER REFERENCES

  GO - "search perceptions" - in SEARCH-ENGINE


file-ID www.perceptions.couk.com/arunext.txt