Police encouraging private gun ownership

The city police is encouraging a disturbing trend in the city, that of private gun ownership. With crime on the rise and the police themselves ill-equipped and incompetent to do anything about it, they are taking the easy way out by encouraging citizens to arm themselves.

In this article in the Deccan Herald, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Administration) N Shivkumar says that people arming themselves is a healthy trend. “Guns give people confidence. It is not always possible for the police to be there at the spot every time a person is attacked. Self defence is the next best alternative,” he says.

He couldn't be more wrong. This will only lead to more crime. When emotions run high and the mind loses its balance, even temporarily, these implements will be drawn out routinely and blood will begin to flow like water. And the police will be able to do nothing to prevent it, since the incidents would involve ordinary citizens and not hardened criminals. In the heat of the moment everyone is tempted to do something rash. Now the police is equipping people with tools that could cause real damage.

One only needs to turn to some of the western countries where its all too common to witness incidents of shootouts in schools and public places. The killers are otherwise ordinary people and often kids. Do the police want to turn our city into this? An earnest request to the police department: Stand up and discharge your responsibility. Don't take the easy way out.