Should all police carry guns?

[Viney]

No, Arm PSCO's instead. That'll freak out the Yobs

[Drew Carey]

Errrrr NO.....

With the cost cutting that goes on with the UK police force at the moment and targets etc. I just think it is one area the Government could not afford and would mean cheap guns, less training. Recipe for disaster.

Plus, I have no doubts there are many capable officers who could, but my ex was a cop and is currently serving time for beating her ex (after me) to a pulp. Not being funny, I wouldn't trust many with a mars bar let alone a gun!!!!

Back home all the cops have guns, and were quoted in the papers in response to a story about 'do they need better guns to counter the guns criminals now have' said that if they wanted to be on equal standing with the criminals they'd need SMGs as their standard weapon!

[G]

Guns, part of me says yes... but it's probably a receipe for disaster. Whilst some are capable, I feel a lot would not be. Leave it to specialist branches.

Tasers on the other hand could be more widespread as a less fatal alternative. I think all officers should be issued with them.

Defo no, we alienate special units now when they do use guns in the course of their jobs so how will they cope when all police have them.
There's too much human emotion, mistakes and variation in our brains to control sucessfully.
If you ask a lot of coppers, my brother included, they dont want them, too much responsibility.
But...taking a can of pepper spray and a batton to a gun fight aint good either.
I have spoken to a couple of american cops and they find it hard to understand why our police dont have them, with the attitude of "we'll how do they defend themselves then"? .

Phil
G just reminded me ^
What about non lethal weapons, wether soft rounds, bean bag shotguns, tazers as G said, stun guns?

I'm just picturing the cops leaping out of vans, forming into proper firing line and just cutting down a group of chavs.

GO GO GO they shout, jump back into the vans and race off to find the next group of be-hooded ferals.

Originally Posted by metalangel

I'm just picturing the cops leaping out of vans, forming into proper firing line and just cutting down a group of chavs.

GO GO GO they shout, jump back into the vans and race off to find the next group of be-hooded ferals.

Not THAT is an idea I like

We don't trust them with radar guns!

The police are not just there to "drop" bad guys, but provide other community services. I know I feel uncomfortable round the heavily armed airport police, and would never ask them to help find my kitty.

Furthermore, sometimes they misuse the weapons they have. More lethal ones are not the answer.

[Bluepete]

Nope, never. I don't want one, I'll do my best to avoid carrying one. It's just not needed in the UK for each and every Cop to carry a weapon.

There are more Tazers in place now, some section Officers (Thise who resond to 999's) have them, as do some of the specialist vehicle crime units. They are bad enough.

As for guns? The outcome of using one for it's designed purpose is a fatality. No-one is taught to "Shoot to wound". In my twelve years of service, I've only ever been directly involved in one job involving a firearm, and that's in Manchester, a place renowned for gun cime!

There isn't enough of a problem in the UK with guns for full issue to Cops.

Pete

Originally Posted by Bluepete

There isn't enough of a problem in the UK with guns for full issue to Cops.

As a serving officer, what do you make of the "if the police start carrying guns, then so will their customers" argument?