Do armed police make you feel safe or scared?

[Ninastar]

Kind of shocked that I've seen a few people saying that armed police make them nervous.

Especially now seeing as the world is such a thread right now... I mean when I go to London and I see the armed police in Kings Cross, I automatically feel a lot safer. I say that as if I'm going back there soon but yeah you get my point.

I think I'd be a bit weirded out by seeing armed police in a smaller town, but thats only because I've not seen that before. I just think that with big cities and places which are at risk of attack, it's a much better idea to have armed police about.

Thoughts? (I'm talking about armed police in big cities/airports etc, as thats the only places you really get them in the UK)

[LukeB]

I hardly see them so I get nervous a bit because I feel something is going to happen but i do feel safe in a way as well.

[armand.kay]

at like an airport or big trains stations if theres like a security risk but if I was to be walking down to the corner shop and I pass armed police I think I would feel very uncomfortable.

[Daniel-X]

at like an airport or big trains stations if theres like a security risk but if I was to be walking down to the corner shop and I pass armed police I think I would feel very uncomfortable.

.

[Jamie89]

For me it's a weird mixture of both. If I see armed police where there wouldn't normally be any I straight away assume that maybe they expect something to happen, maybe they've received a tip off, and that scares me because however many armed police there are, they might not be able to stop all kinds of attack (if it's a response to a possible terrorism situation for example), and I wouldn't have all those thoughts if I didn't see them. But on the other hand I think that having their presence would put off other potential criminals, and might make the chances of a general crazy person attacking far less likely so I suppose I feel safer in that respect.

Anyway there wasn't an option for both, and I couldn't bring myself to say I sniff bumholes :laugh:... so I went with 'feel scared' because I probably lean more towards that. I tend to live in my own world most of the time and when I'm out and about I don't usually consider that something really bad might happen, and armed police (as much as they're doing a great job) tend to crush that world a bit :laugh:

[Firewire]

Make me nervous, I hate seeing them in the airport. It makes me feel like they are expecting something.

[Ammi]

..hmmm it's a funny one I guess (in terms of terrorism specifically..).. because the thing is with 'armed' is that it brings any fears to the conscious, of the reasons for being armed and being such a prominent presence...I was in Paris not that long after the Charlie Hebdo attack and there was a very heavy armed presence everywhere in the city...so how can we then not allow terrorism into our lives in a way that we don't want to and that imo, we shouldn't...because the 'armed' makes us so consciously aware of it...and in speaking to many French residents at that time as well, they also didn't want that presence around them..obviously many may feel differently as well but they're just not the ones that I personally spoke to...so yeah 'armed' may or may not mean 'safer' but it also keeps fear at the surface as well, which feeds terrorism....would targets really be in places of high armed presence anyway and increased security etc...

[arista]

Safer.

If you smell guns
and you hear them going off

"Hit The Deck"

[Liam-]

I haven't seen any, but if I were to be walking around town and spotted some lurking around, that would make me feel incredibly uneasy, having them around would make me feel like they're expecting something to happen so they're waiting there to take action, I don't like the idea of it at all.

[Livia]

They make me feel safe. Armed police are everywhere on the continent and in the US, and much more high-profile there and yet people manage to go on with their daily lives without feeling threatened. I'm baffled as to why people would be worried by them here when they're there for your safety.

[kirklancaster]

They make me feel safe. Armed police are everywhere on the continent and in the US, and much more high-profile there and yet people manage to go on with their daily lives without feeling threatened. I'm baffled as to why people would be worried by them here when they're there for your safety.

I totally agree Liv - better armed police than armed terrorists or nutjobs.

[joeysteele]

They make me feel safe. Armed police are everywhere on the continent and in the US, and much more high-profile there and yet people manage to go on with their daily lives without feeling threatened. I'm baffled as to why people would be worried by them here when they're there for your safety.

This too for me now.
As another member would likely say, sadly 'a sign of the times'.

[user104658]

They neither make me feel scared (I don't scare easily) nor safe (people armed to the teeth does not inspire confidence) so i guess I must sniff bumholes??

[kirklancaster]

This too for me now.
As another member would likely say, sadly 'a sign of the times'.

??? I've been trying to figure out who the other member can be Joey? :laugh:

[Northern Monkey]

Safer.Although the ones in Egypt worried me slightly as they are always trying to get money from you as they get paid peanuts.

[VanessaFeltz.]

Scared. At least here.

They dont do **** to protect me they just work for the vile people

[Kizzy]

Ah so it's not just me who feels unnerved? Well that's good to hear... Wouldn't like to think I was a lone voice in the darkness.

[billy123]

It does worry me but then again where i live isn't so scummy that you ever see it and owning a shotgun or 3 legally isn't out of the ordinary round here either.
I feel sorry for those that live in places where society has broken down so badly that Sig automatics are needed to be wielded by the authorities to make you feel safe to walk the streets.

[Cherie]

It does worry me but then again where i live isn't so scummy that you ever see it and owning a shotgun or 3 legally isn't out of the ordinary round here either.
I feel sorry for those that live in places where society has broken down so badly that Sig automatics are needed to be wielded by the authorities to make you feel safe to walk the streets.

:umm2: society hasn't broken down, I have to laugh really at some people's perceptions of living in the Capital :joker: do you feel sorry for people going through airports where the police are armed? Do you feel airport building contain lots of scummy people? Face up to the real reason we have armed officers why don't you rather than putting the blame everywhere but where it truly lies

[Kizzy]

So what's the need for the 600 extra armed officers then?... oh, yeah terrorism.
I wouldn't understand that being all northern :laugh:

[Cherie]

So what's the need for the 600 extra armed officers then?... oh, yeah terrorism.
I wouldn't understand that being all northern :laugh:


Yes what else are they there for? To control the tourists :joker:

[billy123]

So what's the need for the 600 extra armed officers then?... oh, yeah terrorism.
I wouldn't understand that being all northern :laugh:Bless. They are cute when they get defensive. :hehe:
I know where i would prefer to live.

[MB.]

Kind of nerved out but I get why they're necessary and I'd be grateful if I was ever in a situation that needed them

[billy123]

:umm2: society hasn't broken down, I have to laugh really at some people's perceptions of living in the Capital :joker: do you feel sorry for people going through airports where the police are armed? Do you feel airport building contain lots of scummy people? Face up to the real reason we have armed officers why don't you rather than putting the blame everywhere but where it truly liesI am ready to be enlightened. Where does the blame truly lie?

[Kizzy]

Yes what else are they there for? To control the tourists :joker:

Oh, I thought it was to keep us notherners out :laugh:

[thesheriff443]

If you see guns being carried everyday then people get used to them,
As most of us don't it does tend to make some nervous or at least question why have they got guns and am I in danger.

We have tight controls on the use of guns which I think is good, but people have still been shot by cops, one was killed in this country as he carried a chair leg home from the pub.

Mistakes can happen , most police don't want to carry guns because if they get it wrong they be will treated like a criminal for doing a thankless but very dangerous job.

[Ashley.]

Safe.

I have a lot of faith in the forces, especially when they're armed.

[Cherie]

Oh, I thought it was to keep us notherners out :laugh:


Two birds with one stone, works for me ..:hee: you are always welcome down south Kizzy just don't make any sudden moves or I might have to shoot you :fist:

[Cherie]

I am ready to be enlightened. Where does the blame truly lie?

I'll let you figure it out for yourself

[thesheriff443]

I'll let you figure it out for yourself

I think you will have to do a Dirty Harry on bobnot:laugh:
And show him your big gun:hehe:

[thesheriff443]

Arista saying, do you feel lucky punk

[kirklancaster]

Ah so it's not just me who feels unnerved? Well that's good to hear... Wouldn't like to think I was a lone voice in the darkness.

Melhiv is referring to a different country.

[Tom4784]

I don't like it. I don't trust anyone that's armed not to **** up in some way.

[Kizzy]

Melhiv is referring to a different country.

I was refering to all comments in the thread.

[billy123]

I think you will have to do a Dirty Harry on bobnot:laugh:
And show him your big gun:hehe:
Clint Eastwood eh we all know where that old turd stands. "Go ahead Trump make my day"


No a bit of simple reasoning might do it but so far it seems like nobody in favour of being herded around by armed authorities wants to explain why :shrug:

[Shaun]

I don't think I've ever seen any... never flown so not been to an airport, and can't recall seeing any wandering around St. Pancras or Victoria in London... so I think if I were ever to see them I'd be a little intimidated by the novelty. Not scared of them obviously, just suddenly aware that they must be there for a reason.

[Cherie]

Clint Eastwood the old Trump lover eh fitting really :laugh:


No a bit of simple reasoning might do it but so far it seems like nobody in favour of being herded around by armed authorities wants to explain why :shrug:



Nobody needs to explain it, because no one is being herded, gosh you are so parochial in your views it's making me itch :laugh:

[billy123]

Sigh. I give up.

https://media.giphy.com/media/mWMML2LQBsj8k/giphy.gif

[Cherie]

I don't think I've ever seen any... never flown so not been to an airport, and can't recall seeing any wandering around St. Pancras or Victoria in London... so I think if I were ever to see them I'd be a little intimidated by the novelty. Not scared of them obviously, just suddenly aware that they must be there for a reason.


After 9/11 armed police were very noticeable at airports, then it all died off, not seen any in recent years at all, or maybe I just stopped being aware of it

[Braden]

Yeah, I don't feel neither scared or safe when it comes to armed police. I have thoughts on local police officers, but those who are at airports/train stations...not so much.

I've just come back from Birmingham Airport and never saw one armed police officer there on the way to the destination or coming back. Did it make me feel less secure? Not really? Unless you count the Airport security in that same category? I can see why some people find that quite intimindating, but that could be to do with how someone is as a person. Someone who is naturally nervous would be quite scared in that scenario because they could find it quite intimidating.

I've travelled through train stations quite a lot the past year, and again, I don't regularly see armed policemen (and if I do they're not armed). If I were to see a hevealy armed policemen then I would find it quite scary because my automatic thought would be that something was going to happen, but that's probably me just being naive because I'm from a small town.

[Cherie]

Sigh. I give up.

https://media.giphy.com/media/mWMML2LQBsj8k/giphy.gif

The gif..:joker: scarily my OH makes that face at me at times :omgno:

[Brother Leon]

In Airports etc then it's fine. On the street and I feel uneasy. If I was in America then I would completely feel scared.

[billy123]

The gif..:joker: scarily my OH makes that face at me at times :omgno:Now thats funny. :joker:

[smudgie]

I have never actually seen armed police, I admit to being a bit shocked when I first saw them on the news.
I do think we have a need in the bigger cities, airports etc, however I would hate to see our streets being patrolled by armed police, most areas are covered by rapid response in case of emergency so I think that about covers it.

[kirklancaster]

It is to the credit of the Intelligence and Securities Forces of this country that we do NOT see armed officers, but they ARE there where it matters, believe me.

Heavily armed full-uniformed officers are purposely made 'visible' for specific purposes, but plain clothes armed officers are still there when it counts wherever a security threat is most likely.