Now that the police’s new Armed Response Teams are being used for “lower risk” events and not just “critical or high risk incidents” and the government’s top justice advisor has stated police have probably made their minds up already on their ‘trial’, the arming of police has become a political hot potato government ministers can’t dodge
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Mike Bush as Dirty Harry: Well, do ya trust him, punk?
All year - before and after the Christchurch mosque murders - Police Commissioner Mike Bush insisted he had no plans to routinely arm police officers. So why, this week, has he just put routinely armed teams on the streets to police a third of all New Zealanders?
Read MoreAnd if you have to carry a gun to keep your fragile seat at number one ...
Greg O'Connor thinks the shootings in Ottawa, and the way this was ended, demonstrates the need to routinely arm New Zealand's Police. He's completely wrong about that.
Read MoreFear & loathing: Guns and Greg O'Connor, that is
The attack on Bruce Mellor shouldn't be linked with arming our police. Instead, we need to unload and ask whether more guns and more fear of the police is really the best way forward?
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