With the increase in offending involving firearms, a call is being made to arm New Zealand Police officers full-time.
The renewed call follows on from pleas for the general arming of police made in 2010 at the New Zealand Police Association Conference.
NZPA president Greg O'Connor says the measures are necessary and inevitable in the wake of an increase in armed offender incidents.
'Firearms have been placed in frontline police vehicles, and that has certainly been an improvement.
'However, there has been no such improvement in the number of armed offender incidents. As recent cases in Waitakere and Otara have shown, firearms locked in vehicles are still too far away to provide police and public the protection they need.”
Read more from Greg here.
SunLive asked members of the community what they thought about the proposal.
Watch the video above to see what they said.
8 comments
Are we fooling ourselves?
Posted on 25-10-2014 18:28 | By FunandGames
i like to think we live in a society where guns are not necessary, to arm the police is like surrendering to crime. But I'd rather the police win any confrontation
For sure
Posted on 25-10-2014 19:37 | By maildrop
I'm all for it. Time to let rip and blow a few away who are asking for it. Too much pussy footing around for my liking. The world has gone soft. Get in line or eat lead. Do you feel lucky punk? Damn right.
Yes
Posted on 26-10-2014 00:00 | By sambro
And make sure the police are trained to shoot to kill.
Just what we need
Posted on 26-10-2014 08:59 | By GreertonCynic
A bunch of semi-trained Dirty Harry's running about with firearms trying to prove how tough they are. I've seen the results in Sydney in the '80s, and it's not pretty. Ask the family's of Adam Morehu or Steven Wallace for their views. I bet they're big fans of Tasers.
@GreertonCynic
Posted on 26-10-2014 12:56 | By morepork
I agree with you about the "Dirty Harrys" but we can address that with proper training. Kiwi cops are NOT Ozzie cops. The videos from SunLive were interesting and reflect the opinions of the community. "Nothing ever happens here..." How ironically prophetic that will be when something DOES happen. Does it take a 911 event before we wake up? "Cops will be more aloof if they have guns." Not so, in the US at least. I found American cops to be friendly, polite, and helpful. But you didn't mess with them... Properly trained Kiwi cops can be an asset for the security of the community as well as themselves. The very fact that police are seen to be armed can be a deterrent against casual and opportunistic crime. "Cops are idiots..." Pot calling the kettle black... We need to support our cops and prepare ourselves for Childhood's End.
No its not the way to go
Posted on 26-10-2014 13:00 | By Pamaxx
Arming the police with "deadly force" weapons raises the violence level. Crims will arm themselves with deadly force weapons and innocent citizens will get caught in the crossfire. Our present system for restraining law breakers "non lethal force (tazers and sprays with the AOF for violent offenders is working well. We don't want NZ to decline into the wild west. Max Lewis, Mt Maunganui.
Cops are Cops
Posted on 26-10-2014 15:21 | By GreertonCynic
Why would the locals be any better trained than their Aussie counterparts? Some of the cops there running around with guns weren't old enough to shave. We could wind one up remarkably easy (scary situation). Seriously doubt there will be a 9/11 event here. Max covered it eloquently.
Wishful thinking
Posted on 28-10-2014 11:14 | By morepork
Unfortunately, wishing that we didn't need armed cops doesn't make it so. I too, really hope we DON'T have a serious incident in NZ, but the evidence is pointing to it becoming more probable. I'm not suggesting that Ozzie cops are less well trained, rather that there is a cultural difference. Also, I suspect that training in Oz is being intensified in the light of recent events. Being a cop is not an easy job for anyone anywhere. We need to support them and do what we can to make sure they can defend themselves (and us...) Pamaxx, I disagree that arming the police raises the violence level; the criminals are already armed and the violence level in society is already too high. Most of us shun violence and look for better solutions, but we can no longer ignore the way of the world. We need to be prepared.
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