Guns for Police in the UK???

I just think...it is a different kettle of fish in the UK from the USA.

To be perfectly honest, I think that I would be alarmed if police in the US didn't carry guns, despite my hatred of the things. The difference is that so many more people over there carry a gun, it would be unfeasible for the police not to.

Now I'm not saying that no criminals over here have guns. Of course they do. But as Ren pointed out by talking about how people DON'T attack post offices with assault rifles, many of them don't have guns, and would find it hard to get hold of one. I don't really know how it works, but we do have special assault police with guns who go and deal with big raids and stuff where it is likely that criminals will have firearms. But we don't have a huge problem with small-time criminals and random people carrying guns, so the normal police don't need them either.

The thing is...once you go there, you can't go back. Give police guns, and everyone else will want a gun. Once all the criminals have guns, the police can't stop carrying guns. This is why police in the US need them, and it creates a never ending cycle where everyone is dependent on carrying a weapon of death for the rest of forever...which is NOT the way that I want to live my life.

I'm not slating the USA for having them, or saying that you are wrong Wes, the situation is just different over here.

I agree with you that once the escalation has started it is hard to go back. And I do not doubt that the violent crimes in the UK occur in far less regularity. But, I do think that the “escalation” has started and did so long before any of us. In the UK it started from a much lower level then in the US I would think and because of that it has been easier to regulate the degree and rate of that escalation. I would prefer there to be no reason for any law enforcement officer to “need” to carry any means of deadly force and even better would be for the need of personnel in that position to be unnecessary all together.

I am merely stating what I am familiar with, and how it unnerves me to think that there are people who make decisions based out of fear at the expense of others or other people’s safety. That’s all. As I said in my first post, “far be it from me to stick my nose in another countries business.”

I agree with V-Tog cause I also see it like this.

Give fred a stick, John will want a stick for defence

Fred gets a metal pole because he wants to out "do" John

John gets a metal pole too, so this causes Fred to get an even bigger weapon.

Eventually...Hiroshima ensues...guns in the UK for police is a big no no...

the UK has relatively low gun crime, bringing guns into a place that doesn't have guns is going to cause gun crime to increase...for "defense".

And no offence ren, but you can rub people the wrong direction. I have no idea what occurred to give you such an opinion of the officer in question but I have no doubt that the old adage “it takes two to tango” could have been in play. Especially seeing how there was a clash of two cultures and two personalities.

I have no idea what you are talking about.

Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes my heart goes out to your families and I honor your bravery. I consider you both my sisters and I honor your ultimate price. I will work in your honor and remember you as my sisters in LE. You are the real Jedi.

Be One in the Force...

I'll comment later on the gun thing... first I honor you both.

Well, being an American I've always been used to having the police being armed; it just seems natural based on how it works in my country. It always seemed a little futile to me to have police who aren't armed somehow (with Tasers or other nonlethal weapons, if nothing else).

In my mind, it works something like this:

"Hello, police? There's an armed robber in my house. Please send help."
"Don't worry, we'll send an unarmed glorified security guard to respond immediately."

In Australia the Police carry pistols and tasers, and we have very tough gun law's here meaning the only other guns around are basically illegal ones. Here is a pic of the recent riots about that silly movie where you can see capsicum spray being used but also that they have pistol's holstered;



If the criminals pull a gun, and survive, then they end up having a tactical response arrive and they run out of options very quickly.



I think the UK should arm it's Police because it gives them a chance to defend themselves in the quite likely scenario of stumbling on a gun toting crim.... as unfortunately occurred with those two ladies.

I find that I agree with V

I support the idea behind officers in the US having guns. That just makes sense given the amount of gun crime that occurs, you do need to protect yourselves after all

But in the UK there isn't really much of a need for them, you do need measured response and for that we have pepper spray, truncheons (or other hitting things) and sometimes tasers (all police wear body armour)

Police need to be able to overpower criminals. In the US, to overpower a gun you need a gun + training. In the UK, to overpower... knife? you need your pepper spray, truncheon or taser...

Sometimes they will have a gun, but very rarely. I don't think there has ever been a gun crime where I live or nearby (though of course I could be wrong) but certainly nothing that would require officers to carry a gun. It would be a pointless waste of money in terms of the amount of use it might do

If things ever do get serious then they can call in the SWAT teams and some police are trained with guns and (I presume) they can be brought in as well

First may I offer my deepest condolences for the death of the two officers who paid the ultimate price for service to their fellow countrymen.

It is at times like these that we questions our values, our conduct, our laws, and ourselves. This is not the time for knee jerk reactions or fixing blame on something or someone. It is the time to remember our sisters and the life they lead in the service of others. It is a time for us to celebrate the consciousness of the Force and the return of our sisters to it. Peace be with them and their families.

So Now for My editorial...