Should the police be armed and capital punishment re-introduced for certain crimes?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail....d-officers-armed.html

In the wake of the recent shootings of the two policewomen is it now time that our police were armed?

And then why stop at that, should capital punishment also be re-introduced for the killing of police officers, children and terrorism?

[joeluke]

Zeuhl....' So if someone kills a fellow gangster - that's ok?'

If that happens then the murderer has done society a favour, but he still should hang

'so does being incarcerated'

Yes but murderers have been released in the past and committed murder again.......plus we taxpayers wouldn't have to pay to fund their incarceration

[andy-hughes]

joeluke - "couldn't give a t0ss for the feelings of a murderers family, they have the misfortune to be related to a murderer and they should put aside their feelings towards their murdering scum relation and think of the innocent life that has been taken. If a family member of mine committed a murder then I would also be of the opinion that they deserved to hang"

Good for you - you possess a sufficiently clod heart that you could dismiss a loved one for a crime - and cut them out of your life and be happy for them to be killed.

I am seriously thankful that a) I dont share your view, and b) we are not related!

I hope your over-developed sense of self-righteousness keeps you warm in winter.

[Zeuhl]

joe

<we taxpayers wouldn't have to pay to fund their incarceration>

ah .. so it's a money saving thing - you should have said before

for a while there i thought it might have been a matter of principle

anyone we execute by mistake will at least have saved us a few quid

[anotheoldgit]

AB Editor

The graph in that article proves for one thing that Gun Crime, although in recent years has witness a slight drop, has certainly escalated since the 60s, which is not what some like to admit.

/// Tourists and visitors regularly express surprise at the absence of firearms from the waists of officers patrolling the streets.///

That is not the only thing that tourists and visitors regularly express surprise on, they can't believe how easy it is to get into this country, how we obey to the book what Brussels says, how hard it is to send undesirables back from whence they came, and how lenient we treat them when we keep them.

Yes the British/English, are a unique nation, there isn't another one like us.

[VHG]

It really annoys me when people say "should police be armed" after police killings like this, a typical knee jerk reaction from non-thinking people.

How on earth would an armed police officer have helped in this case.

It was not a dangerous situation per-se (just a routine call), they were not execting to meet an armed person, and it sounds as though they would have had seconds (if that) to react, so no time to remove a gun, prepare it and fire it.

Unless we are suggesting that police routinely walk around with a gun in their hand to attend all calls, JUST in case they meet an armed member of the public.

And if that was the case we would see far more police killed than we do now.

While it is always sad when a police officer is killed, the fact that they are meeting the most dangerous members of society on a daily basis you are bound to get a police officer killed every now and again (luckily rarely), and having them armed would not reduce that, only increase it.

[andy-hughes]

There's only one problem with someone carrying a gun - they can be tempted to kill someone with it.

[sp1814]

AOG

PLEASE do not take offense - but my mental picture of you is a slimmer version of Michael Winner (with his voice too) so it pleases me that you quote him.

Back to your question. I'm with the 'No' brigade...although when I'm at major train stations or the airport, I feel comforted by the fact that there are armed police (because lets be frank - armed offices look WAY cool), but day-to-day...I wouldn't like it.

Also, there's the issue of training. Not every officer is a good shot (as that recent incident in New York testifies to).

[anotheoldgit]

andy-hughes

/// I hope your over-developed sense of self-righteousness keeps you warm in winter. ///

Now then Andy I don't want to fall out with you but that is a bit rich coming from you who has almost invented the word self-righteousness.

joeluke was simply stating his opinion, and I defend his right to do so, whether or not you agree with him is entirely your prerogative, but please without the sarcasm.

Having read your answer regarding criminal's relatives, would you for example give your Son up to the police if he had committed a nasty crime, or would you be prepared to shield him, no matter what?

[andy-hughes]

"Now then Andy I don't want to fall out with you but that is a bit rich coming from you who has almost invented the word self-righteousness."

Obviously i cannot agree with your preception AOG, and I do believe that others on the AB would support my position - I know i am many things, but I do not believe myself to be self-righteous in any way at all.

"Having read your answer regarding criminal's relatives, would you for example give your Son up to the police if he had committed a nasty crime, or would you be prepared to shield him, no matter what?"

I would give him up, I would not shield him, but Iwould weep all day every day for the son I have lost, and still love because he is my son and my love is unconditional.

[BlueToffee]

No and No from me too

[SlackAlice]

No and No
MarkRae expressed my sentiments as well.

[sp1814]

I have to say, the number of 'No' responses is higher than I thought it'd be...

[anotheoldgit]

Zeuhl

So sorry at getting back to you, but your polite answer to my request regarding the abbreviation was lost in my constant going back and forwards on the different threads.

Hope you understand, thank you once again.

[anotheoldgit]

That should have been "so sorry for being late in getting back to you".

[joeluke]

Zeuhl......the saving of taxpayers money would just be a bonus, hence the use of the word 'plus'. If you read properly my main point was the 'scum not being able to murder again'

Andy H.......'self-righteousness'......what colour is your kettle again?

[Zeuhl]

aog (this will take some getting used to)

You're welcome and thanks - totally understand your delay in replying.

You had a busy afternoon? lol

I hope we continue to enjoy picking at each other's posts without necessarily picking at each other personally.

TTFN

[Answerprancer]

...just incase you missed it Andy - no I do not believe you are "self righteous", your responses to AOG always seem fair and well thought out afaic.

[db199]

I have 15 years service and work as a response officer. I am also an Authorised Firearms Officer but DO NOT routinely carry a firearm. While the Armed Response Officers do a fantastic job, they cannot be everywhere at once. It is often the case, particularly on outer areas, where ARV's take over 10 mins to reach the scene of a firearms situation. In some rural forces, I very much expect that armed support could be significantly further away. Most situations involving violence last a matter of minutes therefore the peak violence is over prior to their arrival or the suspect has fled.

Now, there are many officers that do not want to be armed. There are some that would even leave the police if they were forced to carry a firearm. There are also some officers who are clearly not suited to carry a firearm.

In my opinion more officers need to armed. How it's done is a matter of debate. Maybe ARV's should be attached to each response team? Maybe a selection of officers from response teams should be armed? Maybe a firearm should be carried in every marked police vehicle? There are pros and cons for each but the simple fact is, more police should be armed and be able to act/react quicker to a threat. I am speculating but the only way the two brave officers would have stood a chance is if they carried a firearm on their person.

Why does everyone seem to compare armed police to the USA? What about our European colleagues or Australian Police or Canadian Police? Why not pop over to Sydney and ask them their views? Or even convince the Government over there to discontinue routinely arming the police and see the reaction you get from the officers.

[db199]

@VHG

While I respect your opinion, you do not fully understand a situation involving a firearms officer. It takes seconds to draw a firearm from a holster and fire it, numerous times if necessary, there is no requirement to prepare it. While I appreciate that action beats reaction, going by what the news reports suggest, it would appear that one of the officers had drawn Taser. If that had been a handgun, maybe there would have been someone killed but it might not have been the officer(s).

[Snafu03]

Hey! Guess what everyone! Gun crime is on the up and up in the UK. To all you 'no and no' people; given the choice walking into to a situation whereby firearms could be a factor, would YOU want to be adequately equipped and trained to deal with that?

A level playing field is required.