Should the Police carry guns?

[wayneyboy1942]

Is it time for the police to carry guns?
They don't all carry them,and with whats going on down London are we now outdated in not having them armed? Would it be a deterent to criminals?
Or do you think that more inocent people whould be shot?
What do you think?
I'll make it a poll!

[wayneyboy1942]

As for me i recon that we are now at a stage where it's no longer the days of Dixon of dockgreen and we are now dealing with people that will stop at nothing,I'm not just talking about the nutter with the bombs but in the cities now shootings are common.If people know that all cops have the powers to shoot then they will stop when told to.In the case if the Brazilian bloke he was stupid in my view with whats been going on to do what he did. and it's sad but the police need to carry guns at all times in my view!

[Sweetpea]

I think the Brazilian that was shot was merely conditioned by living in Brazil. It turns out his visa had run out and that is probably why he bolted, but he is, in my opinion, just a casualty of war. In the wrong place, acting strangely, at the wrong time.

[Jason]

Should the police carry guns?

YES!!

[dellym]

theres too many guns on the streets as things stand...if ALL police carried guns how long before ALL criminals do too?

[grannyclaret]

Originally Posted by MS.ANGRY

theres too many guns on the streets as things stand...if ALL police carried guns how long before ALL criminals do too?

good point

[Col.Kurtz]

I wouldn't trust the rank and file bobbies with anything more dangerous than a pea shooter.

[Jason]

Criminals already carry guns,about the police should.
There have been too many coppers been shot in the past that have been unarmed,i think they should carry them in the bad areas.....Moss side etc.

[dellym]

im sorry Jason but i think you're wrong. If both police and crimals carried guns to the same ratio then we would have an american cops n robbers type senario..shoot outs would become common place. More and more innocents would be killed and thats not a society i want myself or my son living in. The thought terrifies me.

[Jason]

So how do we protect our officers more?........It would be good if we have a police officer as a member to ask his/her point of view.

[burnley0]

Petty thieves would be encouraged to carry guns,more and more innocent people would be shot,we dont want all our towns with shoot to kill policies,American streets can stay in America,although i think major cities as liverpool manchester and London individual officers should all have an option to carry if they wish,,.......I think towns should stick with rapid armed response teams...As other people have said in their answers we need to keep guns off the streets, not to encourage them........The more guns around the cheaper they are to buy, and shops in UK will be selling them next for protection.....
NO THANKYOU!!!!!!!!!!

[dellym]

agree totally burnley0.

[dellym]

Im already shopping with one eye over my shoulder on "surveilance" without worrying bout being shot by an over zealous copper! !

[Neal]

ALL police forces in ALL towns have an armed response team that is ALWAYS out and about (Not at home on call like the dog units, but deal with only serious incidents and spend the rest of the time patrolling). Over here in Lancashire they drive the Ford Galaxy people carrier, and belive me, it's full of dangerous stuff!

I think we have it right with this at the moment, the Police can call on armed response knowing that there's a few in their area. There's at least one with 2 -4+ armed officers in each town.

No, all British Police should not carry guns at the moment.

[jaseyboy]

iv seen the armed response in action. scary stuff. i think that they should.why give the crims an advantage. id also have a shoot on sight policy for suspected terrorists, and re introduce the deathpenalty for terrorists, and id have a mass deportation of non- integrators. if people dont like it here, then they can go. if people want to stay here, they conform to ourway of life. not the other way around. coppers should have guns, because if they see sum1 planting a bomb, then what can they do to stopthem, if they arent armed? shout politely" mr terrorist, would you mind awfully not doing that please?" no. i think that if bombers and terrorists and criminals whos sole mentality is violence, they should be dealt witht violently. "do unto others as you would do unto yourself". they kill or shoot, of torture people, they want it doing to themselves. so i say give them it.