"how many people do you know who hunt and cure their own meat for the winter?"
That's why the likes of Marks & Spencer's Food Halls, and Waitrose exist. Their pre-prepared foods are just soooo convenient! ~_^ X3
@Gloria
"Do farmers in the UK have to worry about cougar attacks, or wolves, or coyotes?"
Not taking into account the Beast of Bodmin Moor:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beast_of_Bodmin
And how it's slightly more credible than, say, the Loch Ness Monster (re. purported 'sightings' of both in articles in the "Fortean Times"):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortean_Times
Then, frankly, our farmers (who are allowed to own guns, but only for pest control; are subject to stringent Home Office/Police licencing/permits/possession - criminal record/carrying cases; within the farm boundary etc regulations) have more to worry about our biggest predator, the Red Fox (Vulpes Vulpes).
The genetic basis of such, the Grey Wolf (Canis Lupus) became extinct in the UK at least 150 or so years ago..
Scottish Wildcats (Felis silvestris silvestris) are no bigger than the domestic cat, and are rare enough to be a protected species.
The greatest threat in the UK is the Chav (Asboticus Twocdrumandbassii Troglodytes):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chav
X3
...oh, and that pic in my previous post, along with this:
image
Armed British Transport Police at Waterloo railway station, have become more commonplace in London, post-7/7, and even then, at places such as the gates of Buckingham Palace (natch), of the Houses of Parliament, and nearby Whitehall (especially Downing Street), including Horseguards Parade (usually a car park for those at the Ministry of Defence & MI5; once a year used for the Trooping the Colour), where the Beach Volleyball event will be at the 2012 London Olympics.
But mostly, our officers will, at most, carry a taser (but usually a CS gas/pepper spray) & a collapsible baton/tonfa nightstick. Even here in Hull, we have a specific group of armed officers (H&K MP5s & Glock 17s; our Transport Police at airports used to wield MP5s, but in recent years, were replaced with Steyr AUGs) or 'Rapid Response Team'; most police forces here have them.
PROTIP: Japan is even more hyper-draconian, re. gun ownership.