So, I have to admit, I am curious. Which part(s) of the situation are you most up in arms (har har) about: the policeman being in the bookstore at all (a concern I echo, actually), the policeman being armed, or a gun existing within the confines of the bookstore / children's play area?

Regarding the first, it is definitely a sitaution wherein assets are being mismanaged, money is being wasted, and things are being taken too far. That said, if the people of New York City (like, say, you) were really against the situation, they would do something to change it. Yes, I know, most governments around America are representative republics, so the average citizen cannot directly change much of anything. But the average citizen is still allowing the situation to continue, if not outright demanding that it do so, by continuing to elect and support senators (at every level) and representatives (ditto) who enacted and continue to stand behind laws and actions generating these situations. Perhaps your efforts would be better spent writing the chief of police for NYC?

Regarding the second, I would consider a police officer, in uniform, without a firearm to be either somewhat lacking in common sense, hamstrung by an idiotic government, or both. Seeing a police officer, and then going ballistic that he or she is armed, is... well, to put it quite simply, rather stupid. Granted, officers of the peace have far from stellar histories concerning the use of their firearms, and I will be among the first to point that out, but considering how often these individuals put themselves on the line (especially in NYC), a firearm on their side could very well mean the difference between life and death. Theirs, that is.

And regarding the third... I honestly hope it is not this one, because then you are guilty of nothing more than irrational, gut-driven, logic-lacking, emotionally-laden fear of firearms. What, exactly was so wrong about that firearm being in not-even-really-significant proximity to your child? Was it going to mysteriously jump out of its holster and start taking hostages? Was the police officer waving it about, trying to impress the clerks he was flirting with? Or was the non-sentient, non-motile lump of metal fastened away in a holster, no doubt with its safety on, and a 50/50 chance of the chamber even being loaded, depending on its condition?

Yeah. I thought so.

I know New Yorkers lead a remarkably sheltered (read "head-in-sand") life when it comes to firearms, but it might come as some large surprise to you that a rather significant fraction of the American public frequently carries firearms about on their persons, both in exposed and concealed manners, on a daily basis. Oh (you might want to break out a small paper bag at this point), and they are not police officers. Furthermore, only a fraction of a percentage of these people ever instigate a crime themselves, whereas an unfortunately large percentage of them use those firearms in safe, self-defensive manners to defend themselves from crime.

I lived in Florida for quite some time, and realized that, at least once a day, I was probably within 10 feet of someone legally and safely carrying some manner of firearm on their person. I sat there and thought about it for a second, and realized that if push came to shove, I actually wanted more people around me armed, should a situation ever arise. The fact of the matter is that those police, pervasive though they may be, have a national average of between 10 and 15 minutes response time... if they respond at all. If I were held up at gunpoint, I would much rather rely on the grace of an armed Samaritan than my luck with a police officer, unfortunate though that may be. Of course, I would much rather have carried myself, but, at the time, I was too cheap to equip myself properly, and now I live in a state that has as dim views on effective self-defense as New York does.

Yes, mole333, you exhibited the textbook (and dictionarily-accurate (new word!)) form of fear - you may as well admit that to yourself and move on. Furthermore, you may as well admit that you were afraid of something that has no mind of its own, no will of its own, and no capabilities of action of its own.

You were afraid of a glorified paperweight.

The firearm was under control, secured, and safed. You may as well be afraid of a bookshelf falling on your child in the Barnes and Noble.

Unfortunately, while I am not a seer nor a fortune teller, I get the distinct impression that your child will eventually end up in much the same position as you - exhibiting irrational fear over a finely-crafted piece of metal. In his/her case, I have no doubt that it will simply be due to lack of proper, honest, and accurate education concerning that piece of metal - as, when you get right down to it, many fears stem from nothing more than the human dislike of the unknown.

I have to wonder, however, what your excuse is.