I am always entertained by the groups of Italian security police who gather at whatever place they need to protect.  If there is more than one of them, they get together to talk, with their machine guns pointed at the floor.

I don’t know how these guards would act if a crime was being committed, but I do think that they are probably missing out on a lot of petty thievery.  This picture was taken yesterday at the Florence train station, and I would bet anything that someone was having their pocket picked while these officers chatted about….who knows what?

I hope Italy and Florence never have a serious event where serious security is needed.