Guns and police

[Mark]

I think if police don't carry guns it prevents criminals from carrying them as well. I prefer it the way it is because we always have the specialists who come out armed if needed.

[GoldenMerc]

I guess so, but then again criminals can get them, just at a price

[-:Undertaker:-]

Just legalise gun ownership like Switzerland has, I can bet you anything that attacks on innocent pensioners and muggings/robberies will instantly fall.

Because as we all know; however guns are regulated, the criminals will always get hold of them.

[TheCasualSpy]

fire arms only really needs to be used when the criminal has it. so just keep fire arms the way the are

[GoldenMerc]

We have fire armed police at like Birmingham airport i think, but nothings ever happened they need them :S

[Jazz]

Police dont carry guns were I am, and i'm glad they don't. I wouldnt want to walk around with police men carrying weapons

[Jordy]

Just legalise gun ownership like Switzerland has, I can bet you anything that attacks on innocent pensioners and muggings/robberies will instantly fall.

Because as we all know; however guns are regulated, the criminals will always get hold of them.

I can't see for a moment what legalising guns would have to do with stopping attacks on innocent pensioners? Much like you pointed out with criminals always getting hold of guns rather of their legality, pathetic scum will always attack vulnerable people.

I don't like our Police as they are but I do think the pre-1960s model of Policing in the United Kingdom which had unarmed officers worked very well and i'd like to return it.

Our police pretty much are unarmed? Other than specialist units in each county which are very rarely seen it's unusual to see Police with guns in the UK. I've seen them at airports, outside Crown Courts when there's important cases going on and at an RAF Air show, neither of which strike me as particularly inappropriate (they're far from ideal and I do find it intimidating but its not that concerning).

I really don't see an issue with guns in the UK, police with guns can be called upon if they're needed in cases of gun crime and terrorism. Gun crime isn't an issue in the UK and pretty much all of it occurs with illegally imported unlicensed guns (and the issue there is with the borders, gang culture and a general break down in society, nothing to do with gun ownership or police carrying guns).

I completely agree there is no correlation with gun ownership and gun crime as proved by Switzerland, although it is noteworthy that the Swiss undergo yearly mandatory gun training and do military service. They mainly carry them around for defence reasons as that's traditionally how the Swiss Army and the country's defence has worked, it's been reliant on civilians. In the UK it's easy enough to get guns for farming, sport etc if you need them but really if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Edit: We actually have among the lowest gun violence in the world in the UK anyway. Just 8% of homicides in the UK are to do with firearms whilst it's 58% in Switzerland. Play around with these stats for a bit (Both england and switzerland do very well in it); http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_crime#Homicide

[Jack!]

What is wrong with the current system? nothing, It works, as it should, I am yet to see any major issues?

Don't change it if it ain't broke.

[Eoin247]

I'm indifferent to this in Ireland to be honest. There are equalising pros and cons on both sides i think.

But [@]@Richie[/@] ,Do you think they should or shouldn't have guns?

[Richie]

I'm indifferent to this in Ireland to be honest. There are equalising pros and cons on both sides i think.

But [@]@Richie[/@] ,Do you think they should or shouldn't have guns?

I love how we can handle a situation without guns and i love how the media blows gun crime out of proportion so it looks worse on criminals so less of it happens