England: Lions and tigers and armed cops! Oh my!

[JohnRich 4]

News:

Alarm at routine patrols by armed police

Armed police officers are to patrol the streets of London for the first time in an attempt to tackle a rise in gang-related gun crime.

Traditionally officers from the Metropolitan Police's specialist firearms unit – codenamed CO19 – have been deployed on the streets only when a response to incidents of gun crime is necessary or to protect VIPs.

The new initiative, announced yesterday, will see CO19 officers patrolling the capital's most dangerous streets and housing estates alongside neighbourhood officers. It has been described as a "proactive" response to the 17 per cent increase in gun crime over the past six months.

But it was immediately denounced by members of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA), which was apparently not consulted on the controversial decision. One MPA member described the move as "totally unacceptable" while another called for an emergency meeting.

Joanne McCartney said: "We want fewer guns on the streets not more, and people to feel safe in their community – not scared of those who are supposed to protect them...

Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/alarm-at-routine-patrols-by-armed-police-1807634.html

It's funny that the gun-o-phobes are even scared of police officers with guns, and consider them just as scary as illegally armed criminals! This should be a clue to everyone that the gun-o-phobes who promote useless gun control laws are illogical, and their opinions unworthy of merit.

[kbordson 8]

No intended offense to AggieDave here... but I've seen the range after the cops had "training." I don't even want to ask about some of the holes in the ceiling, walls, skips off the floor....


When discussing the "person" of the police officer, I'm generally not afraid of him/her ... but as an armed group, that could be different. I could ABSOLUTELY see the hesitation to increase the number of those with firearms, especially if I had concerns about proper training and competence.

[warpedskydiver 0]

Let alone those who shoot fellow officers, or showed up to training still wearing a non simunition firearm after being told no knives or any other weapons including sidearms.

All was to be furnished to them prior to the exercise.

Sadly two of them did not think it pertained to them.

I think they either got reprimanded or fired from their jobs.

After that no more local LEO's were allowed.

They fucked it up for everyone.

[Kennedy 0]

You realise this article is in reference to their version of SWAT. These are the guys they call on to handle the worst of the worst. They train constantly and shoot with the best of them. If you can't trust them with guns, who can you trust?

(the answer, if you hate guns, is no one other than a soldier who is overseas)

witty subliminal message
Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards.
1*

[TomAiello 26]

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If you can't trust them with guns, who can you trust?

(the answer, if you hate guns, is no one other than a soldier who is overseas)

No, the answer is "me" or, alternately, "the citizens of the republic."

Edit to explain: I trust the citizenry with arms well before I trust the government with them.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[DrewEckhardt 0]

Since police are paid to take more risks than other citizens they have no business with guns where the rest of the population doesn't need them for personal protection.

[AggieDave 6]

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No intended offense to AggieDave here... but I've seen the range after the cops had "training." I don't even want to ask about some of the holes in the ceiling, walls, skips off the floor....

No offense taken. There are some who show up to required training and shoot only the required amount and barely qualify. Then there are another group who take their responsibility to heart and practice and often.

There are even people who spend their own money and vacation time to go to outside training that is top notch.

Then there are the guys (and gals) who are nationally ranked doing things like 3-gun comps and IDPA matches and the like.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[1969912 0]

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...I trust the citizenry with arms well before I trust the government with them.

Couldn't agree more. You're really tempting me to change my sig line.

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[kbordson 8]

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No intended offense to AggieDave here... but I've seen the range after the cops had "training." I don't even want to ask about some of the holes in the ceiling, walls, skips off the floor....

No offense taken. There are some who show up to required training and shoot only the required amount and barely qualify. Then there are another group who take their responsibility to heart and practice and often.

There are even people who spend their own money and vacation time to go to outside training that is top notch.

Then there are the guys (and gals) who are nationally ranked doing things like 3-gun comps and IDPA matches and the like.

I definitely know that. And those aren't the ones that I would be concerned about. If they all took such an interest OR if there was a way to verify the level of training.

In medicine, not all physicians are board certified... and the people don't even know to ask. Likewise... in the police force, not all should be carrying.... and the people don't even know to ask.

[Andrewwhyte 1]

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Since police are paid to take more risks than other citizens they have no business with guns where the rest of the population doesn't need them for personal protection.

Do you then disagree with air marshals being armed?

[Skyrad 0]

What a load of nonsense. British Police regularly patrol the streets of British towns and cities and have done for years. The only difference is that they have done it in cars. These units are known as trojan units (Yes, very funny...sniger sniger) so whats the big deal of having them utside of cars? Honestly I couldn't care less. The only factor that I see as important is how can these officers be best deployed? On foot? Not sure about that. Having said that anyone who has gone through a British airport will have seen British Police carrying MP5's. You also see them in various places in London on foot. This is a total non story.

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[Skyrad 0]

Another example along with a story most chose to ignore...

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/07/24/1122143730016.html?oneclick=true

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[Skyrad 0]

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You realise this article is in reference to their version of SWAT. These are the guys they call on to handle the worst of the worst. They train constantly and shoot with the best of them. If you can't trust them with guns, who can you trust?

(the answer, if you hate guns, is no one other than a soldier who is overseas)

Actually, you'd be suprised

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[pincheck 0]

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What a load of nonsense. British Police regularly patrol the streets of British towns and cities and have done for years. The only difference is that they have done it in cars. These units are known as trojan units (Yes, very funny...sniger sniger) so whats the big deal of having them utside of cars? Honestly I couldn't care less. The only factor that I see as important is how can these officers be best deployed? On foot? Not sure about that. Having said that anyone who has gone through a British airport will have seen British Police carrying MP5's. You also see them in various places in London on foot. This is a total non story.

got to agree as it being a non story i don't see what the problem is ?. More surprised that someone was aloud to photograph them due to the amount of hassle photographers are getting with the section 44 law. There have been armed police officers in every British police force area for a long time get over it.

Billy-Sonic Haggis Flickr-Fun

[JackC 0]

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What a load of nonsense. British Police regularly patrol the streets of British towns and cities and have done for years. The only difference is that they have done it in cars. These units are known as trojan units (Yes, very funny...sniger sniger) so whats the big deal of having them utside of cars? Honestly I couldn't care less. The only factor that I see as important is how can these officers be best deployed? On foot? Not sure about that. Having said that anyone who has gone through a British airport will have seen British Police carrying MP5's. You also see them in various places in London on foot. This is a total non story.

got to agree as it being a non story i don't see what the problem is ?. More surprised that someone was aloud to photograph them due to the amount of hassle photographers are getting with the section 44 law. There have been armed police officers in every British police force area for a long time get over it.

You're missing the point. It isn't posted here because it's a good story, it's posted here because it's good propaganda.

[JohnRich 4]

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There have been armed police officers in every British police force area for a long time get over it.

But, but, now they're openly walking the streets with their guns displayed! And I'm scared of guns! I don't like it! It makes me feel unsafe!

Related news story:

"Look, I don’t really have a problem with stringent gun laws. For most people who abide by them, they seem tedious and unnecessary. But as long as they reduce serious crime and stop people being hurt or killed, then we should put up with them.

"And that’s the problem: they’re aren’t doing anything of the sort. According to figures obtained by the Conservatives, gun crime in the UK has almost doubled in the last decade.

"This government is in a desperate situation over gun crime. Last week, police officers armed with submachine guns were deployed on routine patrol for the first time. It was a step in the right direction: as the Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Grayling, points out, it’s guns in areas dominated by gang culture, turf wars, and drug dealing which cause the most violence and death. So why has it taken Labour twelve years to realise that it’s police patrols, not red tape, which will confront a growing threat to public safety?"

Source: http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/willheaven/100014837/police-patrols-will-confront-gun-crime-not-labours-red-tape/#at

[Andy_Copland 0]

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There have been armed police officers in every British police force area for a long time get over it.

But, but, now they're openly walking the streets with their guns displayed! And I'm scared of guns! I don't like it! It makes me feel unsafe!

As they have been. As usual you've shown just how ignorant you are.

1338

People aint made of nothin' but water and shit.

Until morale improves, the beatings will continue.