Yesterday two police officers were shot and injured in Christchurch. A police dog was shot dead. The police officers did not have guns because they did not expect trouble. They were looking for a missing mental health patient and went to a house next door to ask if anyone had seen the man. At that house, they smelt cannabis. When they wanted to search the house, someone shot them and the dog. Later, the armed offenders police squad used a taser to arrest a man at that house. A taser gun gives an electric shock which is quite painful.
Usually police in New Zealand do not carry guns. Sometimes they have guns locked in the car but they first have to get permission to use the guns. We have special armed offenders police squads in the cities and they are trained to use guns.
Now some people think our police should carry guns at all times. The chief of police does not think this is a good idea. He said that if the police were armed, criminals would also be armed.
Questions
Do police carry guns in your country?
Do you think New Zealand police should be armed?
In what way is a police dog different from a family dog?
I think you should keep it as it is so that people will not feel “uncomfortable” with the police, as the guns are “PG”and they will scare young children, especially if they see them in the hands of a police officer.
I also suggest that you only use them in times of great danger so that the criminals won’t expect it. Pack them safely in your car so the “armed offenders” will not be able to get them.(Note that safely is the key word)
I think police does carry gun in many countries. If police carries no gun, then how could he defend himself against attack?
Exactly, New Zealand police should be armed with gun.
where I live in Mexico, all police have a gun.
To carry a gun is not bad, the gun protect the life of the polices that is being attacked.
All depends what is the type of environment, to decide whether to use gun or not.
If the environment is dangerous is advisable to carry a gun, if not the police should leave the gun.
I’m Korean and Korean police don’t carry guns. Gun is not allowed in Korea, because we think it’s way too dangerous. So
I think NZ police shouldn’t be armed because as the chief of police said,”if police were armed, criminals would be armed as well”! And I totally agree with him. And if police weren’t armed, there would be less number of criminal who’s armed. But I also think if police supose that it’ll turn into highly dangerous situation,(like THIS crime) they should be armed.