“Because there is no surer sign that a country has gone sour than the appearance of Kalashnikov’s in the public’s grip, they can also function as an informal social indicator, providing another sort of graduated scale. Anywhere large numbers of young men in civilian clothes or mismatched uniforms are carrying Kalashnikov’s is a very good place not to go; when Kalashnikov's turn up in the hands of mobs, it is time to leave”.

C J Chivers – The Gun: The Story of the AK-47.