'Outrage as police officers armed with huge guns pose with children at Christmas market'

v0n · 13 Dec 2016 at 09:08

Nobody really complains about these things, it's not like there is a "inappropriate selfie hotline" to report these things to. This is slow day at newspaper manufacturing outrage for a barely warm facetwittersphere social media spin and a morning talkshow topic that will namedrop their newspaper via "we are joined by T.W Atlington from The Standard for more details" appearances.

Nodiggidy123 · 13 Dec 2016 at 09:10

Mynight said:
Am I misreading that or are you suggesting allowing the general public to own firearms?

The public already can own firearms with the correct checks and a fire arm cert.

They cannot however carry loaded weapons willy/nilly in public areas. I personally dont think they should but there is a argument for it.

i shoot firearms in a safely controlled enviroment within a local gun club and there are a lot of people who believe otherwise.

Maundie · 13 Dec 2016 at 09:11

Mynight said:
Am I misreading that or are you suggesting allowing the general public to own firearms?

I think your mis-reading it as I read it to say:-

Police carrying guns as a deterrent to soft targets ie petty crime.

This is a good thing as I grew up with the very real threat of the IRA (we always had to check the car for bombs before we got in it) and constantly saw men carrying 'huge' guns, people gotta realise that the next large attack is imminent rather than moan about a few armed police.

Mynight · 13 Dec 2016 at 09:15

Yeah I read it that way originally but started to second guess myself

.

Nodiggidy123 said:
No. I personally dont think they should but there is a argument for it.

i shoot firearms in a safely controlled enviroment within a local gun club and there are a lot of people who believe otherwise.

Ahh right, sorry.

I shoot occasionally as well but I'm completely against access to general public(well any more so than it currently is).

Holst1981 · 13 Dec 2016 at 09:39

I think it's nice to see some armed police smiling for a change.

When I see them around London they all look so serious and intimidating.

When we were on holiday in France just after the Paris attacks there are lots of army around, all armed.
Although I'd rather they weren't necessary they were much more friendly than the uk armed police.

Dj_Jestar · 13 Dec 2016 at 09:41

dowie said:
I don't think anyone is complaining about the complainers.

You are aware that you posted this very thread, right?

Tefal · 13 Dec 2016 at 09:45

Maundie said:
I think your mis-reading it as I read it to say:-

Police carrying guns as a deterrent to soft targets ie petty crime.

soft target doesn't mean petty crime it means events like these christmass markets that offer a big target to terrorists without any hardened protection like barriers, tuck stopping concrete walls etc.

theres been some cool architecture lately hiding truck stop barriers.

at arsenal where people que up the giant ARSENAL sign is actually designed to stop a loaded truck dead.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36806691

MatsyLR · 13 Dec 2016 at 10:06

Such a non issue, this sort of thing is going to be needed in the near future, get used to it.
Those complainers need to grow up.

Edrof · 13 Dec 2016 at 10:07

dowie said:
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/o...th-children-at-christmas-market-a3417856.html

WTF is wrong with people, a couple of highly trained police firearms officers, who are there of the safety of the general public decide to be all friendly and approachable, happy to pose for photos with kids, smiling etc... and people complain about it?

While I'm sure some would rather they weren't there at all there is a rather genuine threat of terror attacks against civilians in the current climate so that isn't realistic. Given that they are there I'm rather glad they are friendly and approachable as you'd expect British police officers to be. I mean what do people want them to do - stand around looking menacing and not interact with people???

I sincerely hope that the police don't change anything based on the 'backlash' in some quarters to this.

Standard media exaggerated rubbish. I agree with all of your points but I wouldn't have linked the article.

Cosimo · 13 Dec 2016 at 10:12

J.T said:
Non issue is non issue...

The Evening Standard has to justify its existence by trying to make news from such non stories.

Narj · 13 Dec 2016 at 10:16

MikeTheNative said:
I think it helps humanise the police which is a good thing, we don't want to end up like it in America with us vs them attitude.

I quite like seeing the armed police around the mainline stations and tube in London. I've had a chat with a few of them and they all seem like decent, approachable guys.

Makes me feel a little safer in all honesty - partly because I know these guys aren't the gung-ho 'Murrica types.

Everyone's offended about everything these days.

glenimp617 · 13 Dec 2016 at 10:21

I take issue with the media....talk about making a mountain out of a molehill. Stop pandering to them and they will stop. Nobody is moaning about anything in reality.

The Running Man · 13 Dec 2016 at 10:58

So who's at fault? The parents? I dont think the police held them there at gun point and forced them to take a pic and put onto facebook..

mmj_uk · 13 Dec 2016 at 11:12

So is it normal now for armed police to hang around markets? feels like we're steadily becoming a totalitarian state what with snoopers charter etc.

Cleisthenes · 13 Dec 2016 at 11:15

I don't have a problem with there being armed police around large cities, as long as they are relatively few and far between

People will always find a way to complain at EVERYTHING.

John40 · 13 Dec 2016 at 11:17

More the better, they can patrol in my road anytime.

Bassmansam · 13 Dec 2016 at 11:21

Dr.Eddie said:
It'll introduce the children to the real world we live in today, but I don't think that's a good thing for children as yound as that - we can all imagine how that conversation goes I suppose.

Those coppers wouldn't have done that unless they had permission or were told to do it.

The next generations will certainly see guns on an increasingly regular basis, I guess exposure at a young age is beneficial to some.

I don't have kids myself but would hate to bring children up in this day and age.

It's just another symptom of how we're living and how it's working these days.

Yeah because the world was a peaceful paradise 100's of years ago right?

Burnsy2023 · 13 Dec 2016 at 11:31

Could be worse, just look at this Daily Record article: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/shoppers-left-stunned-after-armed-9439531

mrk · 13 Dec 2016 at 11:31

The Running Man said:
So who's at fault? The parents? I dont think the police held them there at gun point and forced them to take a pic and put onto facebook..

Of course, it's usually always the parents at fault, and then the relevant media for not telling them to stop being stupid.

Name · 13 Dec 2016 at 11:39

Remember going on Family holidays from the age of 7-13?

Remember seeing the occasional armed policeman at the airports and thinking WOW THATS SO COOL!!? :eek:

Yeah, this is that. Most of these kids are gonna be well impressed and if anything it may well convince a few of them to sign up to our Emergency services in future.