I’m Surprised a third of people want Gardaí with Guns

33 comments
  1. I’d like to see them be random drug tested as was suppose to happen before handing out guns to them. I still wouldn’t want every guard to have a gun.

  2. We should try having Gardai with buns first. They could reward good behaviour and defuse tense situations by offering buns.

  3. Overall I’m not for arming the police.

    I come from a country with armed police and seeing cops and security guards with MP5s was never a source of comfort.
    We grew up with bars on the windows, dogs and guns in the house and a level of anxiety for crime and hijacking.

    Seeing unarmed guards in the streets and being able to walk up to them and ask for directions or help is such a great thing.

    I think outside of the cities, they should be trained in gun use and have access to firearms in a locked safe in the boot in extreme cases. Safe can only be opened via a code from the station. I think the UK has this.
    No guard on the beat should have a holster for a lethal weapon.

  4. I’m worried about the stuff that doesn’t make the headlines.

    Like American gun makers pulling strings to get this talked about more in Irish media, social media and polls etc.

    Lobbying doesn’t work the same here as it does there but it’s still happening.

    We have armed units and the general public aren’t armed. I don’t see the positive in a local community guard having a gun on their hip.

    Not everything is a cop movie where two partners go rogue against their chief’s orders and takes down an international drug ring.

    Let’s be honest, it’s mostly biddies complaining about a neighbour’s dog or nabbing someone at a check point.

  5. This is a terrible idea for many reasons.

    Scrotes attacking them to steal the guns.

    The undoubted allegations of an unlawful killing leading to an inquiry/tribunal every few years.

  6. Why would they need guns. We don’t have an armed populous and gangland crime is very localised that can be dealt with by specialist armed GARDA. If the UK police don’t have armed police why would Ireland need it? Garda could learn a lot from British police in terms of non lethal disarmament and desecration

  7. Have ye learned nothing from batman?

    >Jim Gordon : We start carrying semi-automatics, they buy automatics. We start wearing Kevlar, they buy armor piercing rounds.

    >Batman : And?

    >Jim Gordon : And, you’re wearing a mask. Jumping off rooftops….

    Seriously though, armed guards are not needed. More guards and a better justice system. Better rehab. And better social services. Crime is a societal problem. Arming guards doesn’t help that.

    At least that’s my view on it.

  8. It’s a random poll done by the sindo with a leading question.

    Garda doesn’t need to be armed here. What they do need is to be more visible and get out of their cars and engage. Also more community policing is badly needed.

  9. Correct me if I’m wrong but I didn’t think we have a massive problem of gardaí being killed or seriously injured by armed criminals so what would the motivation be for arming the Gardaí? What do they need guns for?

  10. As a foreigner you lads are fine. I don’t see the need for Garda to have guns. The problem that should be tackled in Ireland is the laws protecting minors and the juridical system. Criminals show up in court just to get a slap on the wrist, while on the other topic there are lot of ‘little bastards’ going around unpunished.

    I mean come on, even your junkies aren’t as dangerous as in other nations. Can’t think of a reason as to why Garda needs guns. The special forces already seem to posses them anyway.

  11. Yeah I’m not on of those “fuck the police” heads but I think armed units should be kept to a minimum. More resources for them to train and pay more guards would be 100x better than the equivalent cost of arming and training the current number of gardaí in the job.

  12. It’s pretty easy to talk average people into supporting draconian stuff because the language is vague and sweeping, I wouldn’t be surprised at people supporting it. Yes someone being able to stop the bad guys at ease sounds good but you’re not discussing the fact that now a stranger gets to decide who those bad people are.

  13. The issue I have is a gun is a tool with only one outcome it isn’t the catch all solution reactionaries think it is – our issues also exist in all the countries that are heavily armed – I would rather we focused on specialised teams to deal with scrotes etc and a reformed court system but that won’t happen.

  14. I think we should use america as an example of exactly what not to do, having legal use of a firearm is a terrifying amount of power for gardaí. Ireland is a remarkably safe place already, our biggest issue is drug addicts being treated like criminals instead of people who need help. Lets focus on that first

  15. Take it from an American. Cops will rarely use their guns to protect. Mostly they will kill people who they feel threatened by, and coincidentally that will mean the underclass.

  16. Think a big driver of this view is vids circulating of teenagers harassing people, drug use, burglaries, anti social behaviour etc. and people thinking unarmed Gardaí arent enough of a deterrent.
    The killing of George Nkencho will mean arming Gardaí will always be unacceptable to a large amount of people though

  17. Do people forget we have an armed unit. If a job needs a gun, we got Gardaí for it, but not every Garda needs a gun

  18. Arming the guards without trying non lethal measures first is like dropping a nuke on a post office being robbed.

  19. This Yank who admires Ireland and has many relatives in Cork and environs begs you, implores you, beseeches you Irish, please my God do not go down the American highway. Down that dark road, lads, there’s no turning back.

  20. American here. Please don’t give law enforcement guns unless you absolutely have to. I’ll go back to being quiet now.

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