oasis51

Nor do you Etoile etc, I was in fact one of a very short list of English coppers who was attached to the Gendarmerie and I don't remember you!

Further more there are more reasons to carry guns than some people seem capable of imagining. I appreciate that they are designed to kill but I carried one for 23 years to protect people from being killed and shot no one.
Cars were not designed to kill but more people are killed in 1 day by cars in the UK than are killed by guns in a whole year. God knows how those figures pan out in France!
Keep shining.

Ka Ora!

There are plenty of reasons to carry guns but that doesn't mean everyone has the sense to and there is not enough class room education available that can ever prepare you for using a gun for it`s intended purposes.

Personally I think a Taser is more than enough for the plod, Although I think the paper work for just spotlighting some one should be abandoned, But keep it for when someone is zapped.

Comparing accidental car related deaths to gun related deaths is fruitless. Find out how many of the firearms related deaths were genuine accidents and how many of the traffic related deaths were of homicidal intent in the UK then see how the scales weigh up.

Anyone that says the human race is civilised needs their head testing.

BigRobbo

Ka Ora - I am so utterly angered by your ignorant reply I do not know what to say. As a retired ex New Scotland Yard Flying Squad Officer I can only hope you never meet me on a dark night - you obviously have no idea what it is like to have a robber point a gun at you from fifty yards away and all you have is a tazer that only extends for twenty - I enjoy your contribution to my pension, at least I can sleep at night - so many of my colleagues cannot. The term PLOD is insulting and shows your complete lack of respect for the very Police Officers who have protected your way of life so selflessly for so many decades. Why did I bother wasting thirty years of my life. Ah yes, that pension.

BigRobbo

Oh and I forgot to ask - what does CONSIERGE stand for, does that mean you are a moderator - you're doing a fine job then Ka Ora. I take it my replies will be canned pretty quick then pal - at least you read them

Ka Ora!

Sorry no insult was intended.

Not the attitude I would expect from someone that has been employed in that arena.

Police Officers are not the only professional people that get shot at on a day to day basis.

It`s a Nick name, Slang that has been around since the days of Noddy it is not a term that I used in an insulting disrespectful manner.

You will have to elaborate on the later part of that as I don't understand its relevance

Im not a moderator, We "Concierges" have different roles in the day to day running of the site.

There is no reason to remove your posts although if you feel mine are offensive feel free to report them for a Moderator or Admin to deal with.

Mitzyboy

Yes, Ka Ora does do a fine job helping the site Robbo

Sometimes things get misunderstood, and I think this is one of those occasions, eh?

Everyone has different opinions, especially on such a subject as this. So it's often a good idea just to take a deep breath and accept that not everyone will see things the same way

oasis51

I too am annoyed by your comments Ka Ora. Obviously you know as much about Taser as you do about 'traffic related deaths'. If you ever had to deliver the news of a death to a 'loved one' you would realise that reckless driver or careless shooter becomes somewhat academic, they are still bereaved.
Taser has a maximum range of 21 feet, would you like to take on an armed and aggressive criminal from 21 feet, knowing that the taser may prove ineffective in a significant number of deployments? Or are you just one of those armchair warriors who has all the answers but no experience or guts?
Your use of the term Plod is insulting, it is redolent of the kind of detached nimbyism enjoyed by people who have enjoyed the relative security and protection provided by possibly the best police force in the world, whilst nurturing the smug notion that they are all dull witted and pedantic. I feel it demeans the 33 years dedicated service I gave, frequently risking my life and safety, for no additional reward, for ingrates like you.
My faith in the human race has probably been tested a bit more than yours throughout my working life but so long as there is still room for politeness and consideration on websites like this, it remains intact.

Ka Ora!

I some what doubt it.

Honestly I really don't know where to start, A police force alone does not supply "security and protection" of a nation.

I shall try tasering myself again and see how effective it is.

My "Challenger Tank" came with the armchair pre fitted, I sometimes used the gunners head as a footstool.

oasis51

So your armchair was behind several inches of armour plate with a weapons range of several miles, you must have been really scared, especially driving around Bovington. Shall I put away the sandbags and extinguish the lantern?

Mitzyboy

OK, let me make this clear to all.

Read my post above again. ANYONE on this forum is quite able to voice their own opinion without fear of being subject to an personal attack.

Also, I am truly sorry if some ex Officers dont appreciate the term Plod. However its a commonly used term going back a long long time. Living near to an Ex Police Officer, I can say that he has no problem with it. Personally as a moderator I've got used to being referred to as a Nazi now .... I get over it

Now please ...... lets debate each others differing opinions in a reasonable manner

Ka Ora!

Every soldier is fundamentally a trained infantryman and there have been operations where we would only have our SA80 in front of us. There are and have been operations where tanks are unsuitable. Personally I wasn't based at Bovington although I did visit a few times.

oasis51

SA80, effective range 300 metres, Taser effective range 21 feet. QED.
I doubt that you enjoy being called a 'Squaddie' anymore than I 'Plod', especially in the officers mess.
I've said enough on the subject. Got to get on with my life and work now, adieu.

Etoile de Berger

I always thought the term Plod was an affectionate, very culturally individual to Britain and harmless...a bit like calling your favourite GP "my quack" or your wife "her indoors".

I would have been VERY worried if I had known that people who carry guns are so sensitive and "quick on the trigger". Thank goodness the average British policeman dont carry them if they are like this.

In fact I find this entire thread disappointing and verging on the alarming. I prefer my security to be looked after by intelligent thoughtful and careful people.

Peabrain

Indeed this is an alarming thread, interestingly "triggered" by a request for information about firearms from a gun-owner. The resulting gratuitous threats, aggression and boorishness don't do much for the gun lobby's cause.

jiminalpago

You certainly have fun here in France.
Two coppers (OK?) outed, both of whom think that it is perfectly normal for a member of the public (I presume a retired policeman is "a member of the public") to have two guns because he only wants to use them(?), sell them(?), hand them to an assassin(?) in a third country. Can either of them name a country in Western Europe where the authorities take gun ownership lightly? Why should the French authorities do so?
I can't help thinking of Dunblane and Whitehaven where local police forces were central to firearms permits being issued to two unsuitable persons, only one of whom was a Mason - sorry, sorry, a Pavlovian remark!
To offer as justification that the police are "on the wire" exposes a twisted sense of the common weal.