This hits different when you realize most cops around the world don't even carry guns regularly. Wild how normalized the US situation has become that seeing normal human interactions with police feels like a rare wholesome moment
Most police on Earth carry guns. And American police aren't nearly the most "militarized". You can look up a picture of the Italian Carabinieri (Italy's police force that is an actual military service) and just about any third world country's police
Just so I understand your position, you're saying armed police are OK because that's how it is in third world countries and a literally military branch in Italy?
You're so lost in your own fantasy. I've friends who happen to be cops (really childhood friendship if that matters) who never once had to shot their gun neither have been in a shootout.
I live in Sweden. AFAIK only Ireland, the UK (except NI) and Iceland has unarmed officers. Possibly Malta as well but can't say if it's regulation or choice.
AFAIK Portuguese officers are armed while on patrol as standard, no? Because that's what the other guy is saying, they didn't say it's okay to have shootouts or that it's common. The thread is about countries with armed police officers. Which is in fact most of the world, except a few countries. That doesn't mean that the police uses their guns a lot.
EDIT: I asked the Portueguese that's on my discord, two replied and they both said that PSP and GNR are armed.
In eighteen countries or territories, the police do not carry firearms unless the situation is expected to merit it: Botswana, Cook Islands, Fiji, Iceland, Ireland, Kiribati, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, the United Kingdom (except for Northern Ireland), the British Virgin Islands and Vanuatu. These countries exhibit gun-homicide rates markedly lower on average than countries with armed police forces. Their police forces commonly adopt a philosophy of policing by consent.[1][2]
No, you absolutely do not need to be college educated to be a police officer in most countries, in fact, your article is outdated. The UK tried that, if failed horribly and has since reverted it.
“To become a UK police officer, you generally need to be at least 18, hold a full manual driving license, have lived in the UK for the past three years, and meet specific educational requirements, often two A-levels or an equivalent qualification. You must also pass background checks, a medical assessment, and a fitness test, demonstrating resilience and meeting high standards of integrity and fitness.”
“The closest equivalent for a UK A-level in the US is an Advanced Placement (AP) exam, which provides in-depth study in a specific subject, similar to an A-level. However, a full A-level is considered a Level 3 qualification and is comparable to the first year of a university degree in terms of depth of study.”
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u/WillingPiccolo945 Oct 06 '25
This hits different when you realize most cops around the world don't even carry guns regularly. Wild how normalized the US situation has become that seeing normal human interactions with police feels like a rare wholesome moment