SHOULD POLICE OFFICERS CONTINUE CARRYING GUN?

This was a live TV debate but because most Nigerians may not be privileged to watch it, I decided to present it to Nigerians on this our No-1 National Online Forum.

For the recent times, records of extra-judicial killings among Nigeria Police Officers have triggered the debate on why Federal Government should checkmate the carrying of arms by police.

The question asked was, if guns were never invented, would police officers not curb crimes?

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In the United States, it seems obvious that police officers carry guns and are allowed to use them.

In other places, however, this would be considered a provocation and a violation of law. In Britain, Germany, Canada, Ireland, Norway, Iceland and New Zealand, officers are unarmed when they are on patrol. Police are only equipped with firearms in special circumstances. It's a strategy that seems to work surprisingly well for these countries. Police officers there have saved lives --exactly because they were unable to shoot.

COULD THIS PRACTICE BE FAVOURABLE IN NIGERIA AS WELL?

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Britain and New Zealand have adopted an uncommon style of policing. Their cops typically don't carry guns on the job. You might assume this would lead to more officer fatalities, but that's not the case.

"The practice is rooted in tradition and the belief that arming the police with guns engenders more gun violence than it prevents," Guðmundur Oddsson, an assistant professor of sociology at Northern Michigan University, told The Washington Post.

This has actually worked out quite well. The UK and New Zealand fare rather well compared to other countries when it comes to violent crime. They have some of the
lowest homicide rates in the world: Gun deaths are lower in Europe and Oceania overall, too:

CAN THIS WORK IN NIGERIA?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/02/18/5-countries-where-police-officers-do-not-carry-firearms-and-it-works-well/

www.businessinsider.com/why-cops-in-britain-and-new-zealand-dont-carry-guns-2014-10

no it nt

They should but not assault rifles.

With the amount of money used to buy an AK47 we can get a Ruger or HK 9mm pistol with good stopping power, comms equipment, flak jackets etc. So we essentially get more bang for the buck.

Safety is also key. Using assault rifles in civilian populated areas, when not in response to serious firepower, is wrong on so many levels.

So I am ok with lighter caliber weapons with proper gear and right training.

Kondo for stop and searcher and maybe pistol wit few bullet then backup wit riffle and to be handled by sars and MPolice.

let them go through rigorous psychiatric tests first. whoever passes should be give a service pistol and not the Uzi and submachine guns they carry everywhere.

besides we want state police puhleaze.

To say the fact, Nigeria Police should stop carrying arms while on patrol. Guns should be carried only when they are responding to special duties, like confronting armed robbers.

Police on neutral ground intimidate, threaten and terrify common man with gun unjustly. The harassment too much.