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5/15/2022 9:22:23 AM
 
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Section 8: Handguns Subject: Webley Mk IV Msg# 1159454
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Eight years ago my daughter, grandson and I were in Paris for a couple of days, we went to see Notre Dame and while standing in line to get in I noticed French Paratroopers armed with sub machine guns patrolling the area, my guess, for terrorist? The police carried semi autos, best guess, 9MM?
While waiting in line my grandson who was 14 at the time was bitching about waiting to get in, a British lady behind us admonished him "young man, don't you know this is Notre Dame"? His response was classic, "lady, I've been to Notre Dame, it's in Indiana"! |
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For reference, the above message is a reply to a message where: European cops did tend to carry pistols more as a sign of authority more than as a tool to stop bad guys--the same was true of European military officers. Some armies took it a step further. During WWI, British officers often carried only a staff--no firearm at all. When police departments were first formed in the Eastern US in the 1890s, the first handguns issued were very light caliber as well. It wasn't until the later 20th Century that law enforcement started carrying guns that had enough power to stop criminals. Prior to that, the presence of a police sidearm was often enough to convince a criminal to cease and desist his bad behavior. It wasn't always because bad guys didn't use guns, although that was sometimes the case, but the idea of engaging the police in a gunfight was apparently considered a risky decision. And it is true that it took the Europeans decades longer than Americans to start using more powerful firearms. When they did, they took it further than we did. For example, European often carry submachineguns, which would raise a hue and cry among the populace if American police did that here. |
