Should Police officers be armed?

[Chevy]

They are police officers, of course they should be armed. That is a no-brainer.

[Muct]

Funny, there was a debate over this on the GTA IV Forums just the other day in The Lounge, with alot of good points, most of the shootings in Cumbria could easily have been avoided if our officers were armed, but then what if they misuse them? I meen, unnecessarily shooting people...
There's lots of other points too but I'm tired as hell scorching that man that shot 12 people in Cumbria the other week.

[Black_Apalachi]

Funny, there was a debate over this on the GTA IV Forums just the other day in The Lounge, with alot of good points, most of the shootings in Cumbria could easily have been avoided if our officers were armed, but then what if they misuse them? I meen, unnecessarily shooting people...
There's lots of other points too but I'm tired as hell scorching that man that shot 12 people in Cumbria the other week.

You can say that about anybody in power. We assume a police officer wouldn't abuse a gun just as we assume they wouldn't abuse their tazer or blue lights.

[Black_Apalachi]

I hate this forum

[Moh]

Since we hardly have any gun crime, the police have nothing to protect them selfs from.

If you give them a gun, then a criminal will get a gun to protect themselfs from the police.

[T0X!C-uk]

As a Special Constable I will say no....the simple reason for this is that UK officers receive sufficient training to carry out thier duties, armed response is not one of those duties. Gun crime may be on the rise but there is no need to issue every officer with a firearm. Think about it, when was the last time you saw a gun in the wrong hands? The selection criteria for armed response in the UK is intense as is the training, only the best of Police officers will be eligible for the role.

Anytime I am on duty I feel confident to walk the streets, you get a lot of self defense training and carry adequate PPE. (Ever been hit with a 21 inch steel bar or had your eyes, nose and throat burn and sting for upto 40 minutes at a time?)

[Colossus]

Well, if the police offers were armed, people would treat them differently I suppose.

[T0X!C-uk]

Well, if the police offers were armed, people would treat them differently I suppose.

No they wouldn't....People will know that the officer can't use their firearm. Unlike overseas Police, UK armed response need authorisation to even take out their firearm (Unless in a very extreme circumstance) let alone point it at a person.

[Colossus]

You've got a point there, so they shouldn't be having a gun if they can't use it.

[Callum.]

After that guy whose on the run atm said he would continue to kill police, what chance do they have against him being unarmed and all. For special cases I'd say yes, but what happens if they get robbed for their gun etc, bad things .