[danielf]

Originally Posted by Mick

Because it is the US where the Police carry guns all the time and it shows there that it doesn't matter if you Arm Police in the same way they do in the US, because it will not stop hardened criminals.

But I am also saying that sending Police with little defensive Aids to any kind of incident where it not known how potentially dangerous it may be is also not right.

Police should have the equipment to do their jobs and be able to save themselves from danger.

I think the US is an inappropriate comparison as everybody owns guns there. In most of Europe, the police carry guns but gun ownership by civilians is severely limited. Police on the continent don't run around with their guns drawn half the time. It's actually pretty rare for them to draw their gun.