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Comment by theyregreat | Hacker News Reader

That’s incorrect. There are over 5000 Authorised Firearms Officers (AFO’s) in the UK.

Sure, but your local street-patrolling officer does not have a gun with them. There might be one locked in their car but your ordinary policemen don't carry weapons.

They don't have guns in the car. Only trained police officers are allowed to use firearms.

Why aren’t all cops trained to use firearms?

Because not all cops are up to the job.

If the US is any example, it is the worst-trained scaredy-pants who walk up to every traffic stop with their hand on the holster, and the cops most "up to the job" who are willing to engage suspects with words, time, and humanity.

- Not all officers are capable of ending another human's life

- Not all want that responsibility, even if they don't routinely have to carry

- It's expensive to train them

Criminals rarely have guns in the UK so enforcing the law with firearms is not usually necessary.

I think there are also philosophical reasons why the British people aren't keen on the further militarisation of the Police, especially routine patrols.

It's traditionally been the job of the Police to uphold the law with the consent of the People.

It's the job of the Military to extend the will of the Politicians by bringing violence to enemies of the State.

By further militarising the Police, it implies the People (or sections of) have become enemies of the State, which is not a great situation to be in... also this is why a lot of British people consider US Police Departments to be insanely trigger-happy.

Because armed response is rarely necessary.

That is if you ban guns.

Well, yes. Although they're not entirely banned, only handguns are banned. Shotgun licenses and hunting licenses are fairly readily available.

because it's not necessary, and not even a third of UK police even want to carry guns themselves.

We have specialist armed police units for times when weapons are required, and most of the time they are not.

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