Should cops exchange guns for something less lethal?
By Arul John
September 22, 2010
Media reports between 2000 and this year revealed that there were more than 20 reported cases where police or auxiliary police officers fired their weapons.
Of these, 10 were suicides and four others involved an accidental discharge of the weapon.
If a police officer is more likely to use the gun on himself, is there a real need for the gun?
Mr Alvin Yeo, chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Home Affairs and Law, said: "We have had cases where criminals suddenly turned violent, or took people hostage, and they were subdued thanks to a police officer having a gun."
Mr T Mogan, 51, president of the Security Association (Singapore), said Tasers and other non-lethal weapons could be issued to police officers here.
But only if it's for less serious cases and as long as they patrol in pairs or larger groups.
