Adventure Bike Rider Forum

With the sad events in Paris yesterday I ask if it is about time we armed our own Police. I mean whilst off duty too where this is appropriate (we do not want cops carrying whist on a stag party !).

I mean, if we have an attack at a theater or cinema at least we may be able to stop some of the indiscriminate murders that occurred yesterday, if someone in the audience, had the ability to at least attempt to stop the terrorists.

To my mind it is better to go down fighting than just sit down and be slaughtered.

In the UK terrorists know that we have no real spontaneous defense mechanism.

The french police are well armed it did not help the 120+ that were slaughtered.

skipper wrote:The french police are well armed it did not help the 120+ that were slaughtered.

Off duty ??


I really am talking about a change of mindset whereby we arm our police to actively be an unknown presence in public areas.

Cops are effectively on duty 24/7 for 30 years to deal with any problems that cross their paths regardless of whether they are being paid or not, not just 40 hours a week. There are a lot more off duty than on at any one time.

Most UK police don't want the responsibility of being armed, they would rather call specialist armed units.

Absolutely not....here is no proof that such action could prevent an attack and it ends up with every minor encounter resulting in guns being drawn and people being shot...

We need tighter security at high risk sites and a stop to the decimation of police numbers and resources ...no need for more guns....( terrorist will always find a weak spot...just have to make it harder for them to find..)

Gedge wrote:Absolutely not....here is no proof that such action could prevent an attack and it ends up with every minor encounter resulting in guns being drawn and people being shot...

We need proof before we are able to defend ourselves ?

Is there any proof that "every minor encounter resulting in guns being drawn and people being shot..." ?

We are from similar backgrounds and I, sort of, share your opinion. I just think it is about time we re-thought the whole thing.

I prefer the policy of Policing our Arms.
Iife isn't a Hollywood movie.
The thought of off duty police officers waving guns around is pretty scary.
Some officers think they are pretty special with just a warrant card in their wallet.

Ray how many times have you walked around with an empty weapon whilst in the military ? I know I have lots of times in the height of the "Troubles" I patrolled with a stave.

What about rules of engagement for the police, how often are they going to the range to train, what do you do with the one's that refuse to carry arms ?

cheers Spud

How hard is it these days to get a handgun licence ?
Is it still possible ?

ZX Raziel wrote:How hard is it these days to get a handgun licence ?
Is it still possible ?

I thought it was impossible, but last year I was on a 3 day off road thing with a chap who was a game keeper.
He was licenced to carry a handgun for "Despatching injured livestock"