Why do cops carry guns?

Watching Chief Moose on TV talking about the sniper gave me pause for thought. Why does he need to carry a gun? When is the last time that he actually confronted a criminal? What is the likelyhood that he will ever be involved in real police work again?

There are many cops that don't need their guns for what they do. I have a friend who is a 'peer counselor'. Yep, that's his full time job but he carries a badge and a gun.

I think that they want to carry guns as a badge of office.

Why not have a system like they have in England where only cops that need guns have them. No need for the desk sgt. and the chief to carry. This isn't the movies, we don't have the Terminator crashing through the wall.

If you had the opportunity to carry a gun for an unexpected emergency, why wouldn't you, or more correctly, why shouldn't you? Perhaps Chief Moose does not need one as a front line police office on the street every day, but as a sworn officer he has the responsibilities of a police officer as well as the common law responsibility for protecting himself, his family and others. The fact he can carry a sidearm only enhances his ability to carry out those responsibilities.

Look at it this way, if every responsible citizen had the right, the ability and the discipline to carry a sidearm to carry out their common law responsibility of protecting themselves, their family and others, the crime rate would continue to fall drastically. An armed society is a polite and respectful society.

England disarmed their citizens which has created a drastic increase in crime. The latest reports are that you are six times more likely to be attacked on the streets of London than you are in New York City.

The question should be, why doesn't every citizen have the right to their own common law defense and protection.

Q) For the same reason one carries a condom in his wallet.

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'Why not have a system like they have in England where only cops that need guns have them. No need for the desk sgt. and the chief to carry. This isn't the movies, we don't have the Terminator crashing through the wall.'

Better to have a gun and not need it than to need one and not have one. You'll be hearing this more in the future, I'm sure.

# This isn't the movies, we don't have the Terminator crashing # through the wall.

That's because the Terminator knows that everyone on the other side of that wall is armed!

Moose was a street cop in Portland OR for two decades before coming to Maryland. He knows as much as any cop about using his gun, qualifies per rules, and clearly would use it properly if needed. People want CCW and think he shouldn't be carrying???? BTW, he is a source of pride in MD. It is the egomaniac States attorney who is an embarrassment to MD.

Why shouldn't the cops carry guns. I have no problem with cops carrying guns just like I have no problem with law abiding citizens carry guns. Frankly I would like to see that open carry is encouraged!

The problem I have with cops carrying guns is more to the point that I know where I live the only time some of the cops shoot their duty weapon is to qualify and the only time they clean the firearm is when they have fired it. In my opinion a LEO that carries a firearm should be required to practice with the firearm often, weekly in my opinion but certainly more than yearly.

Cops carry guns because crooks carry guns. Cops in England carry submachine guns. I know that they do because I have been there and have seen them. Since they outlawed civilian ownership of guns in England, violent crime there has risen over 30%. I don't think that sounds like a good system, do you??

I am an ex Police Officer in Michigan. I would not go out on the streets today without being armed and I also know martial arts, but that won't help me against a person with a firearm. Crooks will ALWAYS have guns if they want them.

One really good solution is to promote concealed carry - everywhere.

Dave HD

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In the interests of pure off-topic inanity, the Terminator example is a totally moot point ~

1) No conventional firearm could stop that thing anyway.

to accomplish whatever plot device they are assigned to. And as we have seen, they are incapable of being afraid to be shot.

Hey Dave,

Have you considered running for public office? We could use a few more like you.

Steve

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