Would gun control advocates support limiting guns for Law Enforcement Officers?

[closeupready]

And if not, why not.

[onehandle]

1. ...

[closeupready]

3. It's no strawman.

nt

[Comrade_McKenzie]

2. Yes. The police are becoming way too militarized...

A handgun is all they need.

[KansDem]

6. "A handgun is all they need."

I remember when they carried revolvers. Then, sometime around the 1970s/1980s, more and more of them were carrying semi-autos.

I was in college and noticed campus security carrying semi-autos. I asked a fellow student why and he said probably due to the violence of drug gangs. I thought "On campus? We have a drug-gang problem on campus that requires campus police to carry semi-autos? I don't think so!"

I think it was all a part of militarizing police departments. First, SWAT, then state, county, and city police. University campus police didn't want to be left behind...

[4th law of robotics]

15. Drug war heated up around then

meaning more money, meaning more gangs/guns.

We could do a lot to make the streets safer (for us and cops) if we'd call a ceasefire.

Vietnam was short, sweet, and sensible by comparison.

[closeupready]

11. Yes, or even just a billy club, as in the UK.

nt

[Warren Stupidity]

4. Absolutely. The police need to be demilitarized.

[closeupready]

12. Agreed. I see no need for heavy armor and super-lethal weapons.

We aren't being invaded by any foreign armies, and there's no threat of that happening.

[booley]

5. yes and no

The cops do need to be demilitarized.

But this argument is still a straw man.

Cops have guns as part of their jobs.

And they aren't gunning down people for the sake of gunning down people.

(beating up occupiers not withstanding)

[KansDem]

7. "And they aren't gunning down people for the sake of gunning down people."

They're coming damn close!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101743169

[booley]

9. that's the institution

not individual initiative as in the case of mass shooters.

They are both problems. But they are different problems

[movonne]

8. I hope so...that would make me more supportive of gun control..

[closeupready]

13. Exactly - me, too.

nt

[backscatter712]

10. In Britain, the cops at least sometimes walk their beats with only a nightstick.

They only break out the guns when there is a serious incident.

[closeupready]

14. Right, and I see no reason why that couldn't work here.

nt