Should US police be unarmed like the police in the UK? Is it time now?

[BSM1]

They should be disarmed and disrobed. The sight of a naked police officer commanding that you "...stop in the name of the law..." will send any hardened criminal into such a fit of laughter that the scofflaw could be easily subdued.

 

[Apex]

There obviously is much to be considered by the way of news reports involving police officers notable willingness for the use of deadly force by guns, and since 911, an incredibly staggering number totaling 5000 civilians were since killed by the police through the use of firearms alone.......

US Police Have Killed Over 5,000 Civilians Since 9/11

The Uk enjoys a fatality rate that is 40 times lower than the US (2013 statistics) involving law enforcement caused fatalities by the use of guns.

Should the US consider a police model similar to what the United Kingdom has? Has the time finally come to consider a revamping of police employment and usage of weapons as much as civilian restrictions that are in place now?

Professor says United Kingdom has unarmed police force and gun fatality rate 40 times lower than in U.S. | PolitiFact Rhode Island


Could such a police model like the United Kingdom effectively work here as well in the United States?


Why or why not?

I think this is also worth pointing out:
33 cops killed by gunfire in 2013, the lowest number since 1887 - Los Angeles Times

 

[Father Heathen]

And they haven't been raised in a culture where gun violence is viewed as a way to solve problems, instead of a way to create more.

It's too bad that the sociological, economic, and demographic landscape is far more complex than that. To over-simplify gun violence is dishonest. We should steer away from sensationalism and hysteria.

British Hero? Sherlock Holmes. American Hero? Buffalo Bill.

Hand-picking whatever "heroes" from an endless list that best suit whatever point you want doesn't really mean much.

Also, Sherlock Holmes is fictitious, whereas Buffalo Bill was not only real, he also supported the rights of women and native americans: Buffalo Bill - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[oldbadger]

I think this is also worth pointing out:
33 cops killed by gunfire in 2013, the lowest number since 1887 - Los Angeles Times

..... strict body armour rules, regardless of heat levels?

 

[Mycroft]

I think that wouldn't be possible now; not without changing US gun laws totally. Over here in Blightey the police are unarmed except in certain cases and guns are all illegal except in certain cases. And, in general, there's less armed violence as a result.

 

[abinormal]

There obviously is much to be considered by the way of news reports involving police officers notable willingness for the use of deadly force by guns, and since 911, an incredibly staggering number totaling 5000 civilians were since killed by the police through the use of firearms alone.......

US Police Have Killed Over 5,000 Civilians Since 9/11

The Uk enjoys a fatality rate that is 40 times lower than the US (2013 statistics) involving law enforcement caused fatalities by the use of guns.

Should the US consider a police model similar to what the United Kingdom has? Has the time finally come to consider a revamping of police employment and usage of weapons as much as civilian restrictions that are in place now?

Professor says United Kingdom has unarmed police force and gun fatality rate 40 times lower than in U.S. | PolitiFact Rhode Island


Could such a police model like the United Kingdom effectively work here as well in the United States?


Why or why not?

America has always been armed, and I am not sure on Britain/UK. So the problem I see, is that yes, we can dis-arm our police, but how do we make sure the "bad guys" are unarmed as well? If someone has a feasible plan for that let's have it.

 

[abinormal]

I think that wouldn't be possible now; not without changing US gun laws totally. Over here in Blightey the police are unarmed except in certain cases and guns are all illegal except in certain cases. And, in general, there's less armed violence as a result.

I think it's good how that all works for you guys. I don't know, because I am not that well read on the subject, but I imagine England also has a pretty, good handle on "gun-runners", I mean, keeping them out, and illegal gun, sales. If America could first resolve that issue, then we could slowly change into a plan like yours. I'd be all for it.

 

[Brickjectivity]

Its the police commissioners responsibility. Don't blame problems on a 'culture of corruption' or 'problems of racial prejudice'. This is the police we are talking about, and police are trained to obey in boot camps. Its the commissioners fault or the mayor or whomsoever has the reigns. Don't blame it on 'Not enough funding' either. Funding can be gotten. What is needed are good commissioners and mayors. Bad cops can be sent back to boot camp. Bad commissioners can't.

 

[abinormal]

Its the police commissioners responsibility. Don't blame problems on a 'culture of corruption' or 'problems of racial prejudice'. This is the police we are talking about, and police are trained to obey in boot camps. Its the commissioners fault or the mayor or whomsoever has the reigns. Don't blame it on 'Not enough funding' either. Funding can be gotten. What is needed are good commissioners and mayors. Bad cops can be sent back to boot camp. Bad commissioners can't.

I think it is all our responsibilities, no passing the buck. It's like trying to fix an infection with a band-aid, you have to start from the source, clean it out, otherwise nothing gets healed. And commissioners and cops aren't the source.

This is engrained in our history. The ownership of guns by "who knows" how many "bad guys", plus how do we stop the guns from being sold to the bad guys. You see what I'm saying?

I know the OP posted the question of "should our police be disarmed" something like that. The answer could be yes, eventually, but come on, there are other things that have to be implemented before we just disarm those that are protecting us (minus the bad cops of course, there are bad people everywhere, even in positions of power, right)

 

[George-ananda]

Should US police be unarmed like the police in the UK? Is it time now?

Sounds like a terrible idea to me. For those who support it, I'd like to ask what a police officer is supposed to do to protect himself and citizens from an agitated criminal with a gun?

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Until there are better regulations controlling guns, tracking them, and a dramatic reduction in the black market, police here may as just paint a target on their backs if there were to be disarmed. However their powers and authority need to be significantly reduced and weakened, there must be a way to hold them accountable, such as amending the Constitution to protect the right of the citizen to have video and audio recordings with police officers, fewer "kudos" for minor arrests, especially drugs, and a no-questions asked release and review of footage as evidence during the arriagnment at the request of the defendant or attorney.

 

[Thruve]

Until there are better regulations controlling guns, tracking them, and a dramatic reduction in the black market, police here may as just paint a target on their backs if there were to be disarmed. However their powers and authority need to be significantly reduced and weakened, there must be a way to hold them accountable, such as amending the Constitution to protect the right of the citizen to have video and audio recordings with police officers, fewer "kudos" for minor arrests, especially drugs, and a no-questions asked release and review of footage as evidence during the arriagnment at the request of the defendant or attorney.

The last two times I got pulled over I set my iPod on voice record. I still have both recordings lol

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

The last two times I got pulled over I set my iPod on voice record. I still have both recordings lol

Smart move!

 

[Thruve]

Smart move!

There of no use though unless I had decided to take the ticket to traffic court. I'm just always weary, given I drive a shady like mustang, that when I'm pulled over for a traffic violation that a deputy is going to find a reason to search my car, or provoke me. I'd obviously have nothing to hide, but I have zero tolerance for games.

 

[Sapiens]

Deputy Barney Fife had a gun, Sheriff Andy Taylor never did. I think there's a lesson there.

 

[Aquitaine]

The UK is a tiny, sleepy homogeneous country that doesn't have to deal with the same complexities on the same scale as the US.

I wouldn't quite argue that the UK is either "Sleepy" or Homogeneous. Granted, we have a smaller population and behave more like a Unitary than a Federation - however I think the main difference EDIT: in relation to this issue is (to put it bluntly) Cultural.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Deputy Barney Fife had a gun, Sheriff Andy Taylor never did. I think there's a lesson there.

Too bad reality dosent reflect our ideals as much as we would like. I would have liked to live in a place like the fictional Mayberry or at least as close as one could get to an ideal like that. Maybe someday. Maybe not.

 

[Twilight Hue]

The last two times I got pulled over I set my iPod on voice record. I still have both recordings lol

I would like to see all police with body cameras with sound. It would protect the officer as well as the person(s) the officer interacts with from a legal and ethical standpoint. It should be legal for anyone to have such devices to monitor each and every exchange. That would be a win win situation unless your a scumbag. Both ones with the badges and ones without badges.

 

[abinormal]

I wouldn't quite argue that the UK is either "Sleepy" or Homogeneous. Granted, we have a smaller population and behave more like a Unitary than a Federation - however I think the main difference EDIT: in relation to this issue is (to put it bluntly) Cultural.

As an American I would always want the UK as my allie, and sure as hell wouldn't want them as an enemy

 

[Aquitaine]

As an American I would always want the UK as my allie, and sure as hell wouldn't want them as an enemy

Aye, we make nice cupcakes.