As a matter of historical record, before the Great War all senior NCOs walking out [in uniform] carried a sidearm [usually the bayonet]. During the Great War, soldiers at Home from the front carried their personal weapon and wore the sidearm This at least obviated the admin. of handing it in on the way home, and collecting it on the way back. Obviously a zeroed rifle swap is not a good idea.
As a civilian I would be DELIGHTED to know that some [or indeed all] service personnel off duty were armed. Whats not to like?
The Nice terrorism was stopped two miles in by armed police neutralising the threat. Imagine a similar copycat here, say Stamford. How long do we think an armed response team will take to arrive? And as and when the terrorist is taken down, the law officer is automatically suspended and the Complaints process begins.
Get real, Britain ............. the time for soft fluffy idealism is long past.