Met Officers To Be Asked If They Want To Carry Guns

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-38547203

What do we all think about the routine arming of all Police Officers in London ?

[-Talbot-]

We only have to look across the Atlantic to see what unfettered gun use by the Police is responsible for.



Why look across the Atlantic?
Look across the English channel were cops are armed ... no comparison is there?

[wolf63]

I was watching a K9 police programme recently and the Police Officer said that he would rather go around with a German Shepherd than a gun.

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - // Idealism doesn't work in the real world. //

I believe that without idealism, we wouldn't have a real world.

[mikey4444]

Wolfie....I think I would as well !

Talbot....from what I have seen of recent terrorist attacks in mainland Europe, armed Police didn't seem to deter at all.

[-Talbot-]

Your reply makes no sense, mikey. This was your statement.



We only have to look across the Atlantic to see what unfettered gun use by the Police is responsible for.

[naomi24]

andy-hughes, // I believe that without idealism, we wouldn't have a real world. //

You do? Okay.

[mikey4444]

America is awash with guns and gun crime Talbot, and there doesn't seem to be a deterrence factor at work there. That is the point I am making.

Its to be hoped that if our Bobbies were to be routinely armed, then they would be much better trained than their counterparts in America.

But my gut reaction to this issue is that the Police themselves won't want to be routinely armed.

[-Talbot-]

America is awash with guns and gun crime Talbot, and there doesn't seem to be a deterrence factor at work there. That is the point I am making.




You're making it rather badly then.
Are the American police really responsible for the gun crime in the US?

[Sqad]

Guns as a deterrent is only one of the functions of an armed policeman.
To protect the public and kill or disable the assailant in the event of an armed attack, should surely be a priority and then of course, protection of the law enforcement officer.
We are living in violent times.
Again.....a difficult problem to which i would prefer the police to be armed.
I look forward to the result of the vote.

[ChillDoubt]

Long overdue. It's time, and has been for a while.
As for the 'America is awash with guns' argument that rather falls flat, due to their constitutional right to carry them. I couldn't see such a law being introduced here any time soon.

[Kromovaracun]

This strikes me as fixing what isn't broken.

We already have armed response teams that intervene where they are needed, and they are trained especially for the role. We also have police marksmen operational in major shopping districts already, as was announced over the Christmas period.

I don't think it's clear what problem this solves. It is the gun advocates who are being the idealists here imo.

[mikey4444]

Kromo....I think you have hit the nail on the head here !

[anotheoldgit]

There are only about four other countries in the whole world who just like the UK don't carry guns:

Republic of Ireland, Norway, Iceland, and New Zealand.

Of course our police should carry guns, the world has changed, maybe perhaps our liberal elite would wish our armed services did not to carry guns also?

[andy-hughes]

AOG - // ... maybe perhaps our liberal elite would wish our armed services did not to carry guns also? //

I cannot speak for the 'liberal elite' - and I doubt if any of them actually contribute on here - but from a personal viewpoint, I would not like to see an increase in armed police in this country.

As to your suggestion that anyone - 'liberal elite' or not - would wish to see our armed forces without guns - that is obviously a redundant non-question - because without guns, they would cease to be our 'armed' forces.

[anotheoldgit]

Kromovaracun

/// We also have police marksmen operational in major shopping districts already, as was announced over the Christmas period. ///

Would that be just over the Christmas period and what about minor shopping districts?

[-Talbot-]

You don't need a gun to be armed.

[ChillDoubt]

The RUC/PSNI have been routinely armed for decades as a result of terrorist activity.
In line with the 21st century threat and current heightened alert state(which won't diminish any time soon) it's right and proper IMHO.

[anotheoldgit]

andy-hughes

/// As to your suggestion that anyone - 'liberal elite' or not - would wish to see our armed forces without guns - that is obviously a redundant non-question - because without guns, they would cease to be our 'armed' forces. ///

I knew when I typed 'armed' that someone would come up with that 'smart' piece of deduction.

But since it was you who took the bait, yes you have made it quite clear in the past that you are against 'armed forces', much better to train them to mash a cup of tea and brush up on their negotiating skills, and then invite their enemy to join them in a little chat over a nice cup of tea.

[anotheoldgit]

ChillDoubt

/// In the Republic of Ireland, uniformed members of the police force - An Garda Síochána (Guardians of the Peace) - don't carry firearms at all, nor are they authorized to use them. Instead, members of special divisions such as those assigned to counter-terrorism or emergency response units are issued firearms. These officers don't wear regular uniforms, so as not to be confused with regular patrol officers. ///

[mikey4444]

AOG....now you are being silly !