Guns and police

[Richie]

Depending where you live in the world, are you happy / annoyed that police do / don't use firearms in your area? Do you think using firearms is a little harsh / too lenient? In Ireland the police don't carry weapons and I think it is amazing how the police can control a situation without pointing a gun at someone. Obviously it would be stupid for a policeman to chase after a man with a gun unless they had a gun themselves but that's why we have armed forces just for the odd incident like that.

[GirlNextDoor15]

They carry guns here but don't point it at innocent people. I never heard a gun shot irl. So, I'm quite happy with it.

[Technologic]

Depending where you live in the world, are you happy / annoyed that police do / don't use firearms in your area? Do you think using firearms is a little harsh / too lenient? In Ireland the police don't carry weapons and I think it is amazing how the police can control a situation without pointing a gun at someone. Obviously it would be stupid for a policeman to chase after a man with a gun unless they had a gun themselves but that's why we have armed forces just for the odd incident like that.

I thought the PSNI all carried guns and so I assumed it was the same for the garda....

And i'm very much opposed to every policeman/woman being armed, having highly trained specialists is the way to do things imo

[Red]

They carry guns here but they need them LOL. I thought it was ridiculous though when the riots were taking place in England and they wouldn't use water canons. They really weren't prepared.

[-:Undertaker:-]

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.

[Narnat,]

Police in my area don't, I personally don't see a problem with police Carrying guns because it's for protection and they have many other options with theequipmentthat they carry so they would only use it if they had no other option.

[Rozi]

I completely disagree with all police officers carrying guns, and the rise of tasers. It is incredibly unlikely that a police officer will often come into contact with an armed person or someone who is likely to cause them serious harm, and obviously I don't oppose having specially trained officers who do know how to use guns properly. However, the Mark Duggan case is a clear indication (along with Jean Charles De Menezes) that even trained officers make mistakes in the heat of the moment. Also if guns are seen to be coming into circulation more in the police, criminals will feel an increasing need to arm themselves both against other criminals AND the police, increasing the amount of guns the police need etcetc and we end up with a culture like america where a huge percentage (if not all? not sure) police carry guns as a part of their job.

[GoldenMerc]

They don't have guns around here lol, if they did i guess it'd be pretty nasty.

[the.games]

Our police don't carry guns, but I think they should. A lot of police officers were hurt in the riots and carrying guns would have stopped this. (I dont mean they should have shot anyone, but I think the deterrant could have made the riots not as bad)

[GoldenMerc]

Think they should have those pepper spray guns or what ever, they'd be useful around here./