We’re a nation of violent lawless gun-crazy psychos, that’s why. And we’re the leaders of the Free World.

The news story reads like a classic British police-procedural crime novel, except more violent than most (more in the tradition of P.D. James). An ordinary American ex-Marine with a shady past is pulled over in a routine traffic stop, and shoots the police officers, killing one point-blank as he plead for his life. A second officer was saved when a shot meant for him hit his radio instead.

It happened in Leeds on Boxing Day (the day after Christmas, and a family holiday in Britain). Leeds is a nice city in the north of England – David and I flew from there to Glasgow on the September trip.

If this had happened in the States, it would be covered by local news. In Britain, it’s national news.