Brit Constable Murdered, Debate Opens on Arming Police

[ArmedBear]

Its always interesting, telling, and sad that debates about protecting the police are held to a standard that is more important/more legit than the Rights of the citizen.

My first principles certainly are in agreement.

However, my pragmatic side will admit that it is a greater sin to send sworn peace officers daily out into the streets to face violent criminals, without the means to defend themselves effectively, than to restrict concealed carry of firearms, by those of us who might be threatened with serious bodily harm once in a lifetime, and are not morally or professionally obligated to do anything but escape.

Again, I agree with your impulse.

 

[P95Carry]

I have heard two people (one on a BBC phone-in, one in a newspaper letters page) arguing that this shows the public need to be allowed arms ("which in America has resulted in a reduction in violent crime"). So maybe all the past comments about the UK being beyond hope were premature...

Iapetus - how I'd like to think that could go somewhere but sadly I fear they are in too small a minority - and the anti gun blissninnies will as ever win the day.

No harm in hoping tho.

 

[c_yeager]

For a long time, the British police simply didn't need to be armed. For all the joking about "Stop! Or I'll say Stop again!", it worked.

Not to split hairs, but British police have *always* been armed. The problem today is that the "billy club" is a less effective impliment than in the past.

 

[Stand_Watie]

Not to split hairs, but British police have *always* been armed. The problem today is that the "billy club" is a less effective impliment than in the past.

I would say under identical circumstances, it's just as effective as ever. I'm not sure circumstances in Britain are identical though. Personally, knowing the manner in which firearms are regarded in Britain by most, if I were police officer facing off against someone with a weapon that could be construed as less lethal by a blissninny judge/jury, I think I might prefer to take my chances with the billy rather than subjecting myself to the shooting inquiry/trial.

 

[xd9fan]

I guess what I am getting at is that in this country too, it seems that we are willing to hand over our security to anybody but ourselves. Its laziness. (given world history...damn dangerous)Somehow if you wear a uniform you are more important, official, serious and more comitted than the "lay" people.
After banning forks and spoons in the UK maybe they will get it that the people NEED this responisiblity. Responsiblity has a way of making adults out of children. (I just cant believe giving their history just 60 years ago, that lessons in an armed citizenship have not been learned):banghead: