What would happen if police didn't carry guns?

[Tbear]

Perhaps we would attract a different personality type to the profession.
I would grant that there could be some type of emergency response teams available.
But for most of the routine stuff there is just no need.

[TreasonousBastard]

1. I suspect we would see a lot more of them killed by an armed populace.

[DFW]

23. Unfortunately, I think you're right

The gun industry has already armed the civilian population in every corner of this country. The only remedy left to us is to better train cops in the use of their own weapons, and make them aware that their badges will not protect them if they use them improperly, including drawing them on unarmed civilians.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

2. Cops kill plenty of people without guns. George Floyd, Eric Garner, Elijah McClain...

It's not the tools. It's the framework of the institution itself.

[d_r]

7. guns don't kill people

cops kill people

[multireeds]

3. Why not...

try it

[stillcool]

4. they'd be the only ones without them...

or so it would seem. They choose to use them, and they choose to kill people. It is not a matter of escalation, or a degree of criminality, it's just a desire to kill black people. I think we've seen enough to draw that conclusion.

[kentuck]

5. What if all the police in the Minnesota city resigned or were fired?

What would happen?

[USALiberal]

6. Silly. nt

[tonedevil]

16. If those police...

stayed out of town it would resulit in an instant reduction in violent criminals on the streets.

[hlthe2b]

8. Impossible with a near fully armed populace, the latter being the insane, yet true, state of US

[Tbear]

9. I am trying to think of different policing activities

Traffic stop: If the stoppee shoots at you I would rather you take cover and call back up than shoot back
Robbery report: it’s already happened
Car accident: no need
Domestic violence: I would prefer people who can de-escalate over an enforcer with a gun
Crowd control, direct traffic: no need
Serving warrants: depends on who they are serving
What are the down sides?

[mwooldri]

10. Seems to work that way in the UK just fine.

Though some police forces are woefully understaffed.

[LizBeth]

15. That is cool, the people do not have guns either. US certainly not comparable.

[multigraincracker]

11. Every time a cop pulls a firearm on a person

they need to be drug tested. Any use of force, physical or other wise, drug test. Any car accident they are involved in, drug test.

You'd see a big change in policing. From narcotics to steroids, they use them too.

[misanthrope]

13. From my understanding

Mandatory drug testing is already the policy in most jurisdictions for the incidents you describe.

[multigraincracker]

17. POAs have fought it in

most places.

[LakeArenal]

12. No guns inCosta Rica. No hunting.

Very peaceful nation. No maskholes either.
Coincidence?

[EX500rider]

20. "Very peaceful nation."

Actually the homicide rate in CR is double the US rate.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate

[LakeArenal]

21. Hmm not where I live. Must over in San Jose.

We live a very quiet friendly life.

[LizBeth]

14. With all the guns out there? I think that tips the scales too much. I just read about NM cop killed

with a traffic stop and cam video of the killing. Too many guns.

[Tbear]

19. So the officer having a gun did not help him?

[BannonsLiver]

18. Too late for that

We should have thought of that before we as a country fell in love with firearms and let gun nuts make gun policy. That ship sailed long ago.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

22. You would end up with a lot of injured/dead cops,

also, you wouldn't be able to fill the ranks of PD's due to the fear of getting shot or worse.

[leftyladyfrommo]

24. It's too late to try that.

There are too many guns in the population.