Exclusive: After Westgate, Interpol Chief Ponders 'Armed Citizenry'

[UWOA (RIP)]

Finally ....

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/exclus...ry?id=20637341

[Wiseman]

Looks like someone wants to retire early from Interpol.

[abc_123]

But of course in the US that "armed citizenry" would not include members of the military on military bases.

[Oldrotorhead]

I think his logic is correct. No nation can afford to secure every soft target like schools, malls, churches and sporting events as examples. A lot of damage cah be done in the time it takes for an organized government response. Armed citizens with some training could shorten or reduce the damages from a terrorist attack.

Will Europe, Canada or Californis listen? I don't think so, at least not before there are a few more mass murders by the savages.

[UWOA (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Oldrotorhead

I think his logic is correct. No nation can afford to secure every soft target like schools, malls, churches and sporting events as examples. A lot of damage cah be done in the time it takes for an organized government response. Armed citizens with some training could shorten or reduce the damages from a terrorist attack.

Will Europe, Canada or Californis listen? I don't think so, at least not before there are a few more mass murders by the savages.

I don't think that's the point. The bottom line is that the prevalence of firearms will deter an attack in the first place.

.

[Oldrotorhead]

Originally Posted by UWOA

I don't think that's the point. The bottom line is that the prevalence of firearms will deter an attack in the first place.

.

I agree that it IS the point. I'm just saying that areas with a high potential risk will not listen. My point was that logic will not trump "feelings" or liberal thought.

[eine_frau]

Just a thought...

there are really not a lot of weapons around here in Germany...
there also are no mass killings I can think of recently in this country.
So it doesn't come down to a question of "feelings" versus "logic".
It is just completely alien to our reality of life here to talk about arming people.

I hope it stays that way...

I have lived in the states, and I have lived around US military folks long enough to understand that your reality of life is different. So I am not judging what is going on else where, but in this part of Europe a suggestion like that would not even be taken serious.

[tonyz]

Originally Posted by eine_frau

Just a thought...

there are really not a lot of weapons around here in Germany...
there also are no mass killings I can think of recently in this country.
So it doesn't come down to a question of "feelings" versus "logic".
It is just completely alien to our reality of life here to talk about arming people.

I hope it stays that way...

I have lived in the states, and I have lived around US military folks long enough to understand that your reality of life is different. So I am not judging what is going on else where, but in this part of Europe a suggestion like that would not even be taken serious.

Not judging here either - but consider - if terrorists hypothetically take over, shut down, and barricade in place at one, or all of these large shopping malls, simultaneously, in the Munich area - Olympia Einkaufszentrum, The Riem Arcaden, Ingolstadt Village, or Shopping center Neuperlach pep Munich...

A couple of issues that the INTERPOL Chief appears to raise is would you (or policy makers) prefer for all civilians to be unarmed sheep to the slaughter - or would you (and policy makers) welcome a fighting chance for their citizens, armed with the natural right of self defense and a lawful concealed weapon?

What if the terrorists knew that an armed citizen response would curtail their event...would that information act as a moderate deterrent?

There are always balancing interests to this discussion and so as to not regurgitate those lengthy discussions, I encourage you to read the letter signed by the thousand (plus) experienced Professional Soldiers in the Second Amendment thread - as well as the lengthy follow up discussions and posts.

If you have not already wandered over to the Second Amendment thread - it might make for an interesting and enlightening read. The fact of the matter is that gun free zones are known to be soft targets for the bad guys. It is encouraging to see INTERPOL recognize the reality of this situation and raise the issue for reasoned discussion so that citizens might have an opportunity to voice an opinion and perhaps even protect their own lives or the lives of loved ones.

[eine_frau]

I am not disagreeing with the concept in general, and I understand the point. I am just taking the perspective of an average German.
I am not against guns either. My father and brother own rifles and I would, in case of a shtf scenario, head straight for my boss's house, he owns guns, and has the better resources... (and has military training)

I may be failing to express myself well, but I am in no way against a right to own guns in the States...
I am just convinced that in our current German society it is a completely strange thought. Looking around me I just don't know who to arm, I know very few people who would even care to have arms, and fewer of those who would be able to handle them.
I have no idea how Munich citizens would react in your scenario.
It may very well be like shooting fish in a barrel...
I simply can't see citizens trying to fight back. Most people I know would try and leave the city...

as always after a terror attack attitudes may change,
but right now you would not even get a decent amount of people to take such a suggestion serious

[tonyz]

Originally Posted by eine_frau

I am not disagreeing with the concept in general, and I understand the point. I am just taking the perspective of an average German.
I am not against guns either. My father and brother own rifles and I would, in case of a shtf scenario, head straight for my boss's house, he owns guns, and has the better resources... (and has military training)

I may be failing to express myself well, but I am in no way against a right to own guns in the States...
I am just convinced that in our current German society it is a completely strange thought. Looking around me I just don't know who to arm, I know very few people who would even care to have arms, and fewer of those who would be able to handle them.
I have no idea how Munich citizens would react in your scenario.
It may very well be like shooting fish in a barrel...
I simply can't see citizens trying to fight back. Most people I know would try and leave the city...

as always after a terror attack attitudes may change,
but right now you would not even get a decent amount of people to take such a suggestion serious

Thank you for sharing your perspective - you make some undeniable points.

Given that INTERPOLs stated vision and mission is to make the world a safer place (see below) one can surmise that the Chief quoted in the OP views the discussion of an armed citizenry to be consistent with that mission - given the reality of terrorist tactics and objectives.

He undoubtably, is aware of how controversial such a discussion (arming citizenry) would be in the international context - but nonetheless it would also seem reasonable to believe that he views the terrorist threat - to be sufficient - to raise such a controversial discussion.

We live in dangerous times.

"Our role is to enable police around the world to work together to make the world a safer place. Our high-tech infrastructure of technical and operational support helps meet the growing challenges of fighting crime in the 21st century."

http://www.interpol.int/About-INTERPOL/Overview

[Team Sergeant]

You can arm anyone you like but as most "malls" here in America are "gun free zones". I have a Arizona CCW permit and I will not shop in Arizona's malls just because they are "gun free" zones.

Some people are too stupid to understand that gun free zones only add to the danger and invite the wackos. Chicago is a prime example.

[tonyz]

Originally Posted by eine_frau

I have no idea how Munich citizens would react in your scenario.
It may very well be like shooting fish in a barrel...
I simply can't see citizens trying to fight back.

I suspect that terrorists know this and combined with being gun free zones - makes a shopping mall a particularly soft target and a dangerous place as TS points out.

The chief of INTERPOL appears to know this, too.

We shall see what, if anything, comes of his observations and remarks.

[eine_frau]

I agree.

After rereading the article I believe he was partly directing his comments at the current discussion on gun laws in the States.

I also agree with him, that things would have not been so easy for terrorists in a mall in Texas.

My hangup was just that things that may work in one place may not even be understood in another.

And even here in Munich we notice the dangerous times.
(medical professional with work location right next to the Oktoberfest - being oblivious to a terror threat is nearly impossible)

[eine_frau]

uuups posting too slow

I thought he meant arming people and letting them bring the guns to the "soft target"
or make them high security so NO weapons could get there

[tonyz]

Originally Posted by eine_frau

My hangup was just that things that may work in one place may not even be understood in another.

That is IMO one of the things that makes this place unique. I learn something new - experience a new experienced perspective - every day.