Yes, I noticed, they're trying I suppose to ramp things up before too many people wake up. Notice there have been several incidents surround the new Batman movie, and they arrested solmeone who thought was going to try to copycat the one in Colorado. More feed for their fodder, and reasoning why they have to have gun control.
I do know that UK police have historically never carried weapons. I don't know how they manage that especially when they had those riots. I guess tear-gas grenades work as well. I don't know about their citizens though.