Meanwhile, European maritime merchants whined that someone ELSE should take care of them, because Europeans in general can't take a -*****- anymore without the state wiping their asses for them, and feel that privatization of any sort undermines their right to live in a state of perpetual arrested development... "Guns are bloody spooky," said Arselicker Middleton - "and really belong in the hands of trained agents of the Government, not private citizens. Why doesn't the government of Somalia get some police forces or their navy out here to protect us? It is really deplorable the way these African savages police their waters..." "Shipping companies are still pretty much overwhelmingly opposed to the idea of armed guards," Middleton said. "Lots of private security companies employee people who don't have maritime experience. Also, there's the idea that it's the responsibility of states and navies to provide security. I would think it's a step backward if we start privatizing security of the shipping trade."