And this is one of a couple of reasons why, despite my generally pleasant experiences with the US, it would take an extraordinarily good opportunity to get me to live there. I am scared of your seemingly unaccountable quasi-military police.

The solution to the situation presented to the author of this article was, of course, simple: do whatever the people with guns say. Don't talk back. Don't make eye contact. Wait until it's over and hope it doesn't get worse.

But maybe sometimes I won't do that. And maybe then this will happen to me.