Collins: Change to police guns policy by Xmas

Arming the police is an easy way of ignoring the fundamental failures of society. Guns are an ex post response to crime. What is actually needed is more effort in preventing crime through detective work and policing strategy rather than focusing on responding to it. Nor does arming the police offer a solution to fundamental socio-political issues which contribute to crime. Routinely arming the police is an uneven response to gun crime, as it will affect some sections of the community more than others. For example, as certain ethnic groups are often associated with particular types of criminality, police use of firearms will damage police credibility within communities which feel that they are the subject of too much police suspicion. Even if the police believe they are carrying weapons in self-defence, others will view it as an aggressive act.

The problem is not one of a lack of legislation, it is at issue that the laws we currently seek to "enforce" don't appear to be working in the good spirit they were intended.
A certain practicality is missing. That practicality is: a widely-popular public support of the "law", which will ensure that the public co-operate with the law enforcement and offenders are minimal because of the widely shared view, values, basic morals...
Such a consensus does not exist for the use and commerce in drugs and there is sufficient demand for drug products to make large accumulations of "risky to defend" portable wealth.
Enter guns - not perhaps so much in defence of threat from local police, but perhaps more a response to defending product and cash from any others who would take it from you.
A firearm puts a protective circle, and barrier around the possessor. Police will become less approachable and less welcoming of approach...
Let's face it, we are a small satalite state of the U.S.A. We can look to their country and learn from their mistakes, and look to some of the remedies places like California have begun to investigate with the introduction of legal supply of medical cannabis products.
War on drugs is a damaging policy that has turned suburban neighbourhoods into war zones.

Steff, I think you'll find a lot of criminals are acquiring their guns illegally. There are thousands of illegal firearms circulating in NZ and a black market in place for their trade. Why would any of them bother to go through the proper channels?

Before they turn armed police loose on our streets they need to teach them to shoot. there accuracy record is appaling and could lead to more innocent victims. In this case the officers being armed is unlikely to have altered the event or outcome so in this case arming wouldnt have helped. If it would have a tazer would have been effective.

Why can't this government ban the sale and possion of any weapons ie.guns to serious
offenders,there should be steps put in place
severe punishment(jail) for those criminals caught
with deadly weapon's

Ria; I agree with you and understand your fear of harms way. My question to those who believe Police Officers should NOT carry Side-arms is this - 'do you believe Police are here to Protect and to Serve or to cower and hide because they are unarmed against the criminal element?' As for Sharon - you're an "Idiot". Look up the meaning of the term "probable cause" and read it over and over again and again until you get the hang of it.......... What a dweeb.

@ Glocks I hope you realize that arming police is not about promoting the rule of law, it is more about promoting rule of the police. They are not the law, they are merely there to enforce it. As for fear, I have no problem with allowing Police to carry guns to incidents with risks above normal but to have every member of the Police carrying a holstered firearm is going to instill fear or at least apprehension in all members of society.

I think many are looking beyond the real issue here. Do we support the armed offenders squad being called out everytime some lights up a joint.. wheres the priority ?

I lived in Australia for several years (all cops are armed) they have moved to cannabis decriminalization in a few states. Diminish the problem. Look at the real issue. Not shoot first & ask questions later.. Kia-ora

Guns are LETHAL. Arming police will make them judge, jury, and executioners. Saves on court costs I suppose.

In light of recent events, I can't believe this is even being debated. Open your eyes, people: NZ in 2010 is a very different place to what it was even 10 years ago, and law enforcement needs to move with the times. I've heard all the crap about how the cops need to be nicer and try to 'earn' the respect of the community, and I say bull$hit! The people who are commiting these crimes have very different values to you or I, and are utterly opposed to the rule of law. They will NEVER respect the police, but at least if the cops get guns they might fear them.