UK Police to Be Armed with Stun Guns
The government has announced that police will now be armed with stun guns as a way to counter threat of violence by introducing 30,000 tasers. Until now, only special forces have been given authority to carry such weapons, but the rise in crime, especially those involving guns and knives has forced the hands of the government in coming to this decision.
Also, I think what might have prompted the decision to make them more widely available is its success as a strong deterrant and to quell violence while used by the special forces. Also, no doubt, the success in America, where the police have used them to good effect barring a few incidents for a good few years now.
But despite the relatively low number of known deaths, one alarming statistic raised by a group opposing their introduction here, The Amnesty International, the well-known human rights advocate, suggests stun guns have directly or indirectly caused the death of up to 320 people in the US since they were introduced there. Its difficult to verify these statistics because the body has been known on previous ocassions to inflate figures to suit their needs. Click for more on the story
Stun guns have yet to cause any fatality here in the UK when used by the police. But having said that, there is no doubt stun guns have proved fatal in the past at least in a few cases in the US and Canada that were given widespread media coverage at the time. No doubt, there were other cases of deaths that did not receive much attention.
A stun gun works by discharging a jolt of electric charge that is designed to temporarily paralyse the aggressor or suspect. The amount of voltage can vary, but in this, it is believed a 50,000 volt stun guns are to be used. Here is an article that provides an account of what it feels like being stunned.
I think this might be a better option than carrying firearms, but it looks like we are heading the way of the US where routine members of the force have been carrying weapons for a long time, something the UK was for very long proud of not having to do. The recent rise in gun and knife related incidents, sometimes fuelled by alcohol has proved decisive in the government’s decision to increasingly take measures to use such as a means to stop, deter and also to protect the police themselves when they try to intervene.
“the rise in crime, especially those involving guns and knives has forced the hands of the government in coming to this decision.”
Gee, all firearms have been banned in the UK. How could this be possible? Perhaps the bad guys haven’t heard about the law?
I meant crime committed with guns and knives. Of course guns are banned but its not difficult for criminals to get their hands on them if they are determined.
I like it! I hope that the side effect is minimal if nothing. hehehe how long will the man be stunned once hit?