Prisons and guns

[glenn_uk]

Comrades,

Last week's column was about UK prisons, and drawing
comparisons between these institutions and their US
counterparts. Forgot to make any mention of it on this board.

As ever, I'm open to comments, criticism, questions and
corrections.

This week's column will be on the subject of guns - please
let me know if there are items you would like addressed,
and I'll work them in if they arrive ahead of publication.

In the meantime, watch this space:

powersandmorrison.com/Blogs-MainPages/Blogs-Glenn.html

Thanks,

Glenn ( [e-mail] )

[glenn_uk]

Comrades,

Further to this (and despite it being rather sad to reply to one's own
posts!), my column this week on the subject of guns is up. So I
warmly invite comments on guns, gun-cultures and arguments for
them, and particularly arguments against the UK's unarmed status.

Don't be shy!

-Glenn

[Nathan Morrison]

Glenn, I've never been a big fan of guns. I know how to load and use one, because I think it's smart to be able to use one if things ever go really bad in this country and I'm forced to defend myself or my family.

I must say having stated my personal adversity to the weapon, that I've never been able to understand why England's Policemen don't carry them.

I'm certain that Interpol Agents carry sidearms...
Why wouldn't Scotland Yard?

It just doesn't make sense in a world with guns to send out law enforcement officers without them. The infamous 'peacemaker' was a perfect symbol for 'bad guys, watch the heck out'.

Maybe that is a totally american mindset Glenn, but if I were in the UK's Law Enforcement, I'd want to be better safe than sorry.

[glenn_uk]

Hello Nathan,

While not being a fan of guns either, I know how to load/fire them too - practiced on a
range with some friends while in the US. That appears to be the only place safe to have them.

About the police - why, they don't need guns because they need only shout "Halt in the
name of the Law!" and a criminal will stop and say, "It's a fair cop, guv."

Seriously though, the relationship developed between police and criminals in the UK is
one where criminals do not expect to encounter guns when going about their activities,
from the public or the police, so they do not have a need for firepower for defence.
They also carry the risk of 5 years in jail, just for possessing a gun.

Shooting at the police is an affront to society, and even fellow criminals are unlikely to
protect them, precisely because police are unarmed. On the few occasions police have
been shot and killed, the entire country is out for them. The public is totally outraged,
and no friends will exist in the criminal world for the perpetrator. They are caught
quickly and the Court shows little mercy. You've broken a cardinal rule if you shoot
unarmed police.

If they were armed, they would be considered more as fair game, one might suppose.

Armed response teams - specialists, trained to shoot unarmed Brazilian electricians
whenever required - are never far away. If shootings occur, they will be on the scene
remarkably quickly.

The public has a huge respect for the fact that police do not carry guns. Brazilian
electricians notwithstanding, wrongful shooting is rare - something like a dozen cases in
the last 30 years (from memory). (Zero prosecutions over said wrongful deaths to date.)

This relationship is valued greatly by the police, who have no wish to put a divide between
"us and them" by carrying around lethal weapons - the very sight of which makes the
British feel nervous and uncomfortable.

It's also a relationship which works. Very few police have been shot, and in return, very
few members of the public get shot. We have little to fear from each other in that regard.

*
Not that I'm a huge fan of the British police, I should add... they lost my sympathy after
their gleeful thuggishness during the Thatcher years.

Thanks!

-Glenn

[Nathan Morrison]

Yes, it is a complete cultural divide. It is another aspect tof American society that when applied to your arguments here, reveals our fear. Our Police carry guns out of fear, and out of the will to control situations through force. It really is amazing that America has gone this long without perpetual martial law under our current system.

Great points here Glenn, I've never even considered the situation from this view.

[ccgandrt]

USA and all the Americas, in my opinion, are still unculturaled compared to most of Europe; therefore it is necessary to have knowledge of guns for protection.