New Zealand Police should be armed with guns

Debating Speech

The New Zealand Police Should Be Armed With Guns

 Hello and welcome to this debate, as the first speaker of the affirming team I will be defining the moot for this debate. This moot is that the New Zealand Police should be armed with guns.  We believe that under this moot, New Zealand Police should be armed but they should be limited to police heading in to potentially threatening situations. The decision to arm police has already been made. It’s only a matter of degree. Some New Zealand Police are armed such as the Armed Offenders Squad and this should be extended.

As the first speaker, I will be discussing why New Zealand needs to arm police ands why it would level the playing field so that police can now finally compete fairly and also why other forms of defenses no longer satisfy the needs of today’s police.

My second speaker Ayash, will be discussing the impact of not having armed police at all. The Armed Offenders Squad would be history and all police would be reduced to carrying pepper spray. He will also discuss how citizens value police having guns.

And my third speaker Will P will be rebutting point s put forward by the negating team.

 

New Zealand Police need to be armed because some forms of crime such as the drugs trade are very profitable and this has led to criminals taking up arms and using them against other criminals.

The fact of the matter is “The sorts of criminals who might use guns are already armed and they are not armed to protect themselves against police” as said by Greg O’Connor, President of the NZ Police Association. Police need to catch up to this criminal activity and guns are the best solution.

We think that here in New Zealand we are somewhat sheltered from guns but the fact is that we have 11 times more guns per capita than Britain and 60% more guns per capita than Australia, and Australia chooses to arm their police. So why aren't we doing it? How can we be afraid of the police having guns when citizen ownership is so high?

O’Connor points out that and I quote: “Searches during routine traffic stops or house warrants are now routinely turning up not only P or cannabis, but also a firearm.”

The armed offender’s quads have to be called out, delays occur and this can be fatal. Arming police can overcome this situation.

Greg O’Connor, of the NZ Police Association pointed this out in a week where three police were shot, in two separate occasions. On both occasions tasers failed.

He then pointed out nine police had been shot in the two years leading up to these shootings. These are police who have families to look after, have worked long hours and dedicated their lives to their job to help make New Zealand a better place and here they are getting shot down in the street because police can’t properly defend themselves with tasers.

How can the police protect us, when they can’t even protect themselves?

The solution is simple. Arm more police. This way, we can be sure that police can enforce the law properly, get the respect they deserve and citizens will feel safe in knowing that the police have finally caught up to criminals.

You might say TASERS protect the police and tasers control suspects and therefore are a good alternative.

No

Firstly tasers can only be effective up to five meters away. But what if the target is further than that? Guns give police officers far greater range and accuracy.

Secondly, tasers are currently have only one shot with long reloading time so how do you apprehend more than one person? Guns can of course fire multiple bullets if needed but hopefully having the gun will deter criminals enough.

Thirdly, tasers rely on batteries. What happen when it runs out during a life threatening situation?

Forth, tasers often leave the person in pain. UN comities against torture said “The use of tasers, provoking extreme pain, constitutes as a form of torture and in some cases… death.”

Furthermore, over 50 people in the USA have died directly due to the use of tasers and as a result the company that makes tasers had been ordered to pay 6 million. People think that tasers are a safe alternative. They’re not.

Finally, tasers aren't effective for all people:

“In July 2010, police in Auckland shot a 38-year-old man after a Taser proved ineffective

A week earlier the stun gun failed during an incident in Christchurch in which two officers were shot and a police dog was killed.

Also in 2010, a 27-year-old Somali man was tasered then shot by police after an alleged kidnapping and stabbing rampage, also in Christchurch.

The man was pepper-sprayed then tasered, but witnesses said the shock did not work and made him angrier.

”––– nzherald

Guns were the backstop in these situations.

Guns can deter crime and as police will have more power and will have the tools and training they need to do the job. In situations where police are far outnumbered, they can be protected and properly enforce the law. Without power, the police are useless. By giving the NZ police guns, we can be sure citizens will be confident that they are protected. And they won’t then get their own guns to protect themselves.

Once again, How can the police protect us, when they can’t even protect themselves?