NEVER forget it is not the carrying of the gun that is the point, it is the rules of engagement under which it is permissable to open fire.
There will be others beside me on this forum who understand the concept of the 'Green card' and the NI equivalent. I believe that a soldier carrying a weapon under green card or NI equivalent rules would be up for manslaughter in this case without doubt.
In short (and if memory serves) you can only open fire should you be fired upon or in order to prevent someone, with certainty, discharging a firearm or other explosive device (and then you would have to argue the judgement used in the latter case - we always joked it was better to wait till they shot at you before returning fire). NI rules were more stringent. (it was a few years ago so I'm prepared to be corrected onthe above)
Why are police not disciplined to a similar system?
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