From: "Graham Gartshore", [EMAIL PROTECTED] You only have to mention a gun where I live and up pops a Dunblaner. This was in todays Scottish Daily Mail. "POLICE WILL BE FORCED TO CARRY GUNS" A SENIOR police officer issued the stark warning yesterday that all officers in Scotland would soon be forced to carry guns to combat rising levels of violent crime. Deputy chief constable Mike Currie, 52, made the alarming prediction as he retired from Central Scotland Police. He said: Without a doubt officers will have to be armed. I will be sorry to see it when it happens, but I think it is inevitable. We are about the only country in the world where the police are not armed. In recent years we have seen the introduction of long handle batons and CS gas sprays look like they might be the next thing, but I can envisage a time when officers are armed. But Mr Currie's comments drew swift opposition from the Scottish Police Federation and relatives of children killed in the Dunblane massacre four years ago. Last night Joe Grant of the Scottish Police Federation said: 'It's a number of years since we last discussed this subject at our annual conference and our policy has not changed since then. 'However, if criminal profiles in the future suggest more are carrying arms, we will respond accordingly at that time.' Charlie Clydesdale, whose daughter Victoria was one of the 16 children killed at Dunblane, and who now lives In Bainsford, Stirlingshire, said: 'I think seeing a policeman ith a gun would even encourage some criminals to match them and that could lead to an increase in violence. Obviously it's necessary for special armed response units to have guns, but not every police officer in the country. Mr Currie made his comments as he prepared to retire following 35 years in the force. He replaced Douglas McMurdo as deputy chief constable of Central Scotland Police on April 1, 1996, two weeks after the Dunblane tragedy. He was heavily Involved in handling its aftermath. A spokesman for the Scottish Executive yesterday said chief constables must follow strict Government guidelines before deciding to issue firearms to any of their officers. But he said the Government was totally opposed to any moves to routinely arm police. >>>>>>>> It seems that where Dunblane is concerned you are wrong if you do and wrong if you don't. Graham Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________________________________ T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16 Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics
