What do police officers think about gas guns?

Depends on whom you ask. The official line of their union is that every gun or device that is capable of making noise or even firing things is a real meanance to society, should be banned at once and everyone possessing such an item should be sent to an institution for the incurably insane.
On an individual basis most policemen get a little nervous when they see that you are carrying a gun with you but once they recognize that you are not a threat to them they usually relax. Comments I got were ranging from "nice piece - I want one too - where can I get it?" up to "what do you think that junk is useful for, get one like mine"
In general most policemen I talked with do not believe that a gas/alarm gun is a superior weapon for self defense but they admit that it has its uses, especially if you do not threaten your opponent but just use it.

Interesting topic.

Here (in Hungary), most average policemen do not know anything about guns, not even about their service pistols. Most of them can not even field strip it.

There is a slight circle in the police, who are gun nuts, and some of them actually know the gun laws, too.

Usually the police guys fear from the guns, even from the gas-alarm or airguns.* Most of them, especially at the higher level, hates even the idea of civilian selfdefence.

Interestingly, a lot of street cops (know the real life), not against selfedefence and carrying guns, and as they are often not allowed to carry real guns off-duty, carry gas-alarm guns, as normal citizens.

*In Hungary, for the WBK the police checks your safe (safe storage possibilty), and at my recent renewal, the policeman even feared to touch my unloaded guns to check the serial numbers.

Zitat

Original von Gabor VASS
Usually the police guys fear from the guns, even from the gas-alarm or airguns.* Most of them, especially at the higher level, hates even the idea of civilian selfdefence.

Jup, exactly my words - the higher you get in the hierarchy the less likely do they have any sane opinion on self-defense or even armed citizens.

Zitat

their main argument is: when you draw gas pistol. somebody can draw real combat pistol.

Ever suggested that this problem might be solved by substituting live guns for gas pistols? That way no one will draw a more dangerous gun when you get yours out.

when I filled out the forms for my "kleiner waffenschein" at the police station, the 2 officers could not understand why someone has an interest in defending himself with a gas-gun. they made some "stupid" comments and even tried to convince me that I should quit the whole idea of using such a weapon.

I think many police-officers are not very happy with the widespread of SSW here because misunderstandings can easily happen and always happen.

jens

"their main argument is: when you draw gas pistol. somebody can draw real combat pistol. "

Most common BULLSHIT.

right, gabor. the chance to get shot by a real gun is not very big in this country ...

jens

Hat es eigentlich einen tieferen Sinn, das Ihr euch im größten DEUTSCHSPRACHIGEN Forum für freie Waffen in englisch unterhaltet?

Gruß Monika

What police officers do think about gas guns? I don't care because it's their personal opinion. I don't violate any laws by carrying. And the opinion of most politicians and policemen towards gas guns and free weapons for self defense, is bullshit imo. They give stupid examples, that have not much to do with the real situations you get used by a weapon. They try to scary "normal" citizens by that. And many citizens in germany actually believe in that bullshit, that there would be no violence on the streets anymore, when people get no ability of defending themselfes. I think the motivation of many of them in that point is that they were never into a real self defense situation and don't know much about that and as long as they weren't they don't like to think about what could happen because it would damage their feeling of safetiness. Better trusting that the police comes fast enough and all the scary, scary people outside always hit other citizens or the neighbor... than seeing how it is in reality: mostly too late to call the police, noone of all the eyewitnesses helps you an the hooligan/ganster/whatever (who went to the fitness-studio each day for the last 10 years) beats the shit out of you...

A bit pessimistic point of view - I know. But i think the situation I described is more realistic than the myth that your counterpart mostly draws a real gun when you try to defend yourself with a gas gun (or another weapon) that's spread by politics and the police.

German speaking, but International forum.

And the question wasn't just about Deutsche Polizei!

Be tolerant.

Yes. to be killed by "professional" killer/criminal, with a real firearm is practically zero.

Murderers are usually caught by the police 60%+ of the cases.

To be robbed, stabbed, seriously hurt by bare hand or a baseball baton, or raped (if you are a woman) is much more likely. These "usual" crimes are those against we carry gas-alarm guns. And the police is especially ineffective in such cases.

Zitat

Original von Gabor VASS
To be robbed, stabbed, seriously hurt by bare hand or a baseball baton, or raped (if you are a woman) is much more likely. These "usual" crimes are those against we carry gas-alarm guns. And the police is especially ineffective in such cases.

i keep cracking up every single time a try to imagine a woman calling 911 while getting raped

Zitat

Original von Gabor VASS
Here (in Hungary), most average policemen do not know anything about guns, not even about their service pistols. Most of them can not even field strip it.

I know about that.

One of my family members is a police woman who doesn't even know what kind or brand of handgun she carrys every day.
She even told me that she wasn't at the shooting range for about half a year.

I couldn't believe that.

This is awful.
I don't want to know what happens if she gets in a really bad situation.

Zitat

Original von monika
Hat es eigentlich einen tieferen Sinn, das Ihr euch im größten DEUTSCHSPRACHIGEN Forum für freie Waffen in englisch unterhaltet?

Gruß Monika

vielleicht weil der fragesteller kein deutsch kann und hier auch nichtdeutsche angemeldet sind?

Zitat

their main argument is: when you draw gas pistol. somebody can draw real combat pistol.

I guess threatening a criminal with a gas gun can cause serious reactions of your opponent.
In my eyes a gas gun is to be used immediatly firing 1 or 2 rounds. (for sure only in situations that necessitate such an action).

Marc

Zitat

Original von Flammpanzer
right, gabor. the chance to get shot by a real gun is not very big in this country ...

jens

In Lithuania (from where Stark is, who got that statement) there is indeed a chance, i think.
On the Border between Poland and Lithuania lots of Guns were smuggeled from what i heared.
At least this was until Poland got the EU-Border, but since December 07 the Schengen Agreement is in force ( in Lithuania!), I dont know, how strict the Polish bordercontrols there still are.

But Stark will know the situation better himself.

Many policemen (and politicians) have the opion, that only "official troops" (Police/ Army) should be allowed to carry/ possess weapons.

The problem is - that they want and try, to minimize the "risk" of armed civilians,
but on the other hand, they are reducing the head counts of Cops, too.

Therfor you feel more and more left alone on the street, at home, whereever,
and those "official gunners" are far away, when you really need them.

As long as it allowed, I am taking the chance, to carry "SSW", whenever I want.
And I do not count on what policemen think and "wish".

"I guess threatening a criminal with a gas gun can cause serious reactions of your opponent.
In my eyes a gas gun is to be used immediatly firing 1 or 2 rounds. (for sure only in situations that necessitate such an action)."

I agree. The gas-alarm gun (and mostly the real gun, also) not for showing/flashing. If the situation is so serious, decide, DRAW and FIRE immediately.

In case of gas-alarm gun there is no reason to hesitate: no one will be killed, the thing is harmless.

And consider also the possibility if dog attack, which is very high here, this alone legitimize the carrying of a gas-alarm gun!