# Should police officers carry guns? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 13, 2015, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-police-officers-carry-guns/717548 "2015-04-13T05:09:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptainAmerica_1987)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-police-officers-carry-guns/717548/41 "2015-04-13T19:28:26Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > So by accepting government work, do they forfeit their God-given rights? Or does God unilaterally withdraw His granting of those rights to those who serve the state? > > Armed criminals are _also_ force. If force must always be guarded against, why do you resent government’s ability to guard against it? Government is a force that can never be trusted. History has shown any power government has it abuses. As for dealing with criminals disarmed police can still deal with crime. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-police-officers-carry-guns/717548/42 "2015-04-13T19:30:30Z")
> [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](#): > > As for dealing with criminals disarmed police can still deal with crime. I suppose fifty unarmed cops can take down a criminal with a gun, give or take a couple dozen fatalities. ---
**Author:** ![CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptainAmerica_1987)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-police-officers-carry-guns/717548/43 "2015-04-13T19:31:12Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > So you’re saying that beating someone to submission with a heavy stick is _more_ humane than a brief electric shock? I’m not saying that at all but if a disarmed cop were to start beating with a baton at least they than have a chance to fight back as opposed to dealing with an armed police officer. Hmmm maybe batons and pepper spray shouldn’t be allowed either. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-police-officers-carry-guns/717548/44 "2015-04-13T19:32:21Z")
> [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](#): > > Government is a force that can never be trusted. History has shown any power government has it abuses. …So you’re basically just an anarchist, then? > [@](#): > > As for dealing with criminals disarmed police can still deal with crime. Who defines “crime” in the absence of government? ---
**Author:** ![CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptainAmerica_1987)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-police-officers-carry-guns/717548/45 "2015-04-13T19:32:30Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I suppose fifty unarmed cops can take down a criminal with a gun, give or take a couple dozen fatalities. Cops can also have armor and shields to protect themselves. ---
**Author:** ![CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptainAmerica_1987)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-police-officers-carry-guns/717548/46 "2015-04-13T19:33:32Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > …So you’re basically just an anarchist, then? Not at all I’m for civil rights and very limited government ---
**Author:** ![CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptainAmerica_1987)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-police-officers-carry-guns/717548/47 "2015-04-13T19:34:54Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > …So you’re basically just an anarchist, then? > > Who defines “crime” in the absence of government? Well if your aggresing against someone in an unjust way. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-police-officers-carry-guns/717548/48 "2015-04-13T19:38:09Z")
Should SWAT teams be allowed firearms? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-police-officers-carry-guns/717548/49 "2015-04-13T19:38:23Z")
> [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](#): > > Not at all I’m for civil rights and very limited government How does “a very limited government” protect “civil rights”? The answer history provides is; it _doesn’t_. Throughout history, “small government” has been the battle cry of those who supported slavery, institutionalized discrimination against women, homophobia, Jim Crow, Christian theocracy, and pretty much every other organizational enemy to civil rights that you can imagine. > [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](#): > > Well if your aggresing against someone in an unjust way. Who defines “just”? Who defines “aggression”? ---
**Author:** ![davida03801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@davida03801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davida03801)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-police-officers-carry-guns/717548/50 "2015-04-13T20:00:23Z")
Yes, just disarm the police and send them into harms way on our behalf to keep a civil society. An excellent suggestion to see a massive wave of cop killing ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-police-officers-carry-guns/717548/51 "2015-04-13T20:30:40Z")
You do realize that the profession of “police officer” is a choice, correct? And you don’t think there might be any problem of finding anyone that wants to do the job of risking their lives with no possible way to defend themselves? “You mean I’m tasked with responding to beatings, stabbings, shootings, etc. and I’m not allowed to carry a gun? Where do I sign up?” ---
**Author:** ![CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptainAmerica_1987)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-police-officers-carry-guns/717548/52 "2015-04-13T20:33:00Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > You do realize that the profession of “police officer” is a choice, correct? > And you don’t think there might be any problem of finding anyone that wants to do the job of risking their lives with no possible way to defend themselves? > > “You mean I’m tasked with responding to beatings, stabbings, shootings, etc. and I’m not allowed to carry a gun? Where do I sign up?” I’m well aware of that but I’m sure you will always have people who will take the job. Look there are security guards in malls who aren’t armed and at any moment a terrorist could go inside the mall and blow himself up but guess what? People are still taking the job of mall security. ---
**Author:** ![CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptainAmerica_1987)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-police-officers-carry-guns/717548/53 "2015-04-13T20:34:00Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Should SWAT teams be allowed firearms? I wouldn’t even allow SWAT TEAMS ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-police-officers-carry-guns/717548/54 "2015-04-13T20:36:49Z")
> [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](#): > > I wouldn’t even allow SWAT TEAMS So when a gang of masked men armed with assault weapons seizes an elementary school and threatens to start killing kindergarteners every ten minutes until their demands are met, you expect the police to flush them out with what? Harsh language? ---
**Author:** ![CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptainAmerica_1987)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-police-officers-carry-guns/717548/55 "2015-04-13T20:37:00Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > How does “a very limited government” protect “civil rights”? The answer history provides is; it _doesn’t_. Throughout history, “small government” has been the battle cry of those who supported slavery, institutionalized discrimination against women, homophobia, Jim Crow, Christian theocracy, and pretty much every other organizational enemy to civil rights that you can imagine. > > Who defines “just”? Who defines “aggression”? Ever hear of the Holocaust? Ever hear of prison camps in Siberia? Ever hear of war? All things caused by governments. It’s pretty easy to understand what is right and what is wrong. I don’t know why you think we need the government to do that for us. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-police-officers-carry-guns/717548/56 "2015-04-13T20:38:12Z")
> [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](#): > > Look there are security guards in malls who aren’t armed and at any moment a terrorist could go inside the mall and blow himself up but guess what? People are still taking the job of mall security. A mall security guard’s job when confronted with a situation beyond his ability to control is to call the police. You know, the same police who you are now suggesting should be restricted to giving the bad guys a stern talking-to. ---
**Author:** ![CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptainAmerica_1987)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-police-officers-carry-guns/717548/57 "2015-04-13T20:39:06Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > So when a gang of masked men armed with assault weapons seizes an elementary school and threatens to start killing kindergarteners every ten minutes until their demands are met, you expect the police to flush them out with what? Harsh language? If it really gets to that point, which I doubt, than how about having the school teachers and administrators be armed? It works very well in Israel! Israel has the best security for their schools of any school system in the world. ---
**Author:** ![CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptainAmerica_1987)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-police-officers-carry-guns/717548/58 "2015-04-13T20:40:07Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > A mall security guard’s job when confronted with a situation beyond his ability to control is to call the police. > > You know, the same police who you are now suggesting should be restricted to giving the bad guys a stern talking-to. Yes and while he is calling them he is the first line of defense there at the mall and has to deal with the situation right there at hand. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-police-officers-carry-guns/717548/59 "2015-04-13T20:41:26Z")
> [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](#): > > Ever hear of the Holocaust? Ever hear of prison camps in Siberia? Ever hear of war? All things caused by governments. Ever heard of the Civil Rights Act? Ever heard of minimum wage? Ever heard of the Kellogg-Bryand Pact? All things caused by governments. > [@](#): > > It’s pretty easy to understand what is right and what is wrong. I don’t know why you think we need the government to do that for us. If you sincerely believe that _every single person in the world agrees on what is right and what is wrong and there is no need of any intermediary to settle that matter for them_, then I’m not sure we can continue this discussion in good faith. If you acknowledge that we live in a world where people actually sometimes disagree on what is right and what is wrong, then it logically follows that there must exist some sort of authority which they both recognize as being able to put forth a binding decision about who is and isn’t correct. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-police-officers-carry-guns/717548/60 "2015-04-13T20:42:26Z")
> [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](#): > > If it really gets to that point, which I doubt, than how about having the school teachers and administrators be armed? It works very well in Israel! Israel has the best security for their schools of any school system in the world. And that security is provided by _the government_, which, you have noted, is a force which must be resisted at all costs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-police-officers-carry-guns/717548.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-police-officers-carry-guns/717548.md?page=4)