Arm all police officers? Depends if you’re Jean Charles de Menezes, Marc Duggan, Pc Fiona Bone or Pc Nicola Hughes
PC Fiona Bone and PC Nicola Hughes were murdered on duty. Last summer, when Marc Duggan was shot dead by police, the call was for less police guns. When unarmed Jean Charles de Menezes was shot dead by police as he ran for the Tube, did arming all police look like a sensible answer to maintaining law and order?
Now two policewomen have been murdered the call is for more guns. As ever, we hear from the grieving:
Pc Fiona Bone’s father:
“I never expected this. It’s so hard to take. He deserves to be hanged but I know we’ll never get that.”
Darren Rathband, brother of the late Pc David Rathband, the cop blinded by Raoul Moat:
“How many officers need to die before the powers realise that it is the 21st century and you cannot fight crime with an outdated piece of plastic and a bit of spray?” he said. “No job is a routine job and there is always the potential for conflict. We don’t go on jobs where people are happy to see us.”
Paul Beshenivsky , wife of murdered Pc wife Sharon Beshenivsky:
“I think police, in honesty, should be armed, walking into situations that they’re not totally aware of.”
Since 2000, six police officers have been shots dead on duty. Will more guns reduce that number?
If the police need guns to protect themselves in potentially dangerous situations, what about other working in jobs where violence is a possibility? Paramedics? Firemen? Social workers? Probation officers? Nurses on A&E wards? Should they get guns?
Over in the US, guns are standard issue. And when guns aren’t there, the officials shoot with whatever comes to hand. Ever hear of Howard Morgan?
Robert Peterson got a ticket for riding his bike at night without a light …
He’s in prison now:
Posted: 20th, September 2012 | In: Key Posts, Reviews Comments (8) | TrackBack | Permalink
