The first thing you'd have to consider Emmie, is do you want to put a lot of decent police officers out of a job. Among other things an armed officer has to pass "psychological" tests. Many who apply don't pass these tests. The tests aren't simply devised to weed out gung ho John Wayne types. They also weed out those who are likely to over hesitate to use a gun when in...
Oh and Chilldoubt all policeofficers in NI also have personal handguns that they carry whilst off duty too.
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Indeed they do Islay, as I know from 3 tours of Northern Ireland in the 80's, but thanks for the confirmation........