You are right, it is sad. But the state of constant fear and trepidation is not quite accurate. It's a occasional state of fear and trepidation. Is that freedom? I don't know, but it is all I know in this day and age. But this isn't England, it's the US and it's just the way it is. I'd prefer it was different, but it isn't. I dare say that should you find yourself in Britain being held at the point of a gun, or even at knife point, you'd wish it were different at that moment.