Suspect on run after 1 New Zealand police officer killed, 1 wounded

＠ Bernard Marx

But the figures speak for themselves, number of firearm-related deaths per 100,000 of population. US. - 12.21, Japan - 0.06, New Zealand - 1.07

NZ is not the US, which is why things like this happen far less often. It actually shocks people when this happens in the news in certain countries.

With fewer guns in the hands of good men, normal folk under attack have to wait for the police to arrive. Compare this with that church shooting in Texas, where the shooter was taken out very quickly thanks to good men with guns being in the congregation.

Right, sounds logical. Therefore, NZ must hastily model their guns policy on the US system, in order to protect lives. Because it works so well over there...

＠Bernard Marx

So does that mean you feel safer in America than in Japan?

@Bernard Marx, you forgot to mention the higher ratio of crimes involving firearms in the US. Criminals don't care about gun laws, I agree, but the amount of guns due to ineffective gun control here help put more in the hands of criminals who can easily steal them from the many shops that have firearms available.

And think hard about the fact that people bring guns to a PLACE OF WORSHIP in the first place meaning NOBODY FEELS SAFE in the first place with their fellow Americans. That is a far deeper issue on a societal level than just gun control/rights/etc... It's a sickness of the mind.

HalwickToday  02:29 pm JST

And so it's now open season on the police, thanks to the BLM and ANTIFA anti-police protests.

In the meantime, the police can't do anything to arrest, incarcerate and punish the suspects or else their actions would be labeled as "police brutality." The criminals go free and unpunished to kill more police.

You are reaching for straws and coming up with manure.

The cops are unarmed, and now you are surprised this happened?

I’m surprised. Shootings of police officers are rare in NZ. Please correct me if I’ve missed something and shootings of police officers are a regular occurrence in that country.

Yes I meant both the Irish and New Zealand police don't carry guns.

Even in the dark times of the IRA, they didn't need them. Even in a drug cartel murder feud they don't need them for their day to day work.

And no one in Ireland wants to see the police armed.

We don't need guns.

Only a sick society needs guns

My condolences to the victim's family. Hope the others recover.

New Zealand's gun laws have recently been made much stricter.

Not really. Some semi automatics and magazines were banned. Other legislation is currently working its way through, including a firearm register, harsher penalties, a kind of ‘red flag’ law, and a commitment to set up an independent entity (non-police) for licensing and administration.

Criminals don't care about laws.

True. Some criminals don’t care about some laws. You still need laws, though.

Compare this with that church shooting in Texas, where the shooter was taken out very quickly thanks to good men with guns being in the congregation.

Not only were they in the congregation, they were part of an armed security force, which had already identified that shooter as a possible threat.  Sad that it was necessary at all.

Looks to me like a firearms policy change for police departments will be forthcoming.

NZ's big mama is gonna be in rage again.

And Mr Marx not one person in either country would wish the police to be armed in their everyday lives as a result.

All police are armed in Japan.

Witness Elaine Taniela told The New Zealand Herald she was at home when she heard gunshots.

She didn't witness anything.

How very sad. A policeman was shot and killed in Ireland yesterday too.

Deepest sympathies to both men who died serving their communities.

And Mr Marx not one person in either country would wish the police to be armed in their everyday lives as a result.

Our societies don't require them.

Fortunately they've arrested the guy and charged him with murder among other things. Not sure about his accomplice though.

I guess it is “P” related. Only meth dealers would shoot police.

Fortunately they've arrested the guy and charged him with murder among other things. Not sure about his accomplice though.

From the BBC, armed police raided a house about four hours after the shooting and arrested two "persons of interest". A firearm was found. A 24-year-old man was subsequently charged. 

So, what was the guy's motive for killing the policemen? Perhaps he hated the police?

A lot of people do. Still... only pond scum commits murder. Here’s more here.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/300038834/auckland-police-shooting-officer-killed-identified-by-police

No motive identified.

The cops are unarmed, and now you are surprised this happened?

New Zealand's gun laws have recently been made much stricter. As always, such laws only affect law-abiding gun owners. Criminals don't care about laws. With fewer guns in the hands of good men, normal folk under attack have to wait for the police to arrive. Compare this with that church shooting in Texas, where the shooter was taken out very quickly thanks to good men with guns being in the congregation.

So does that mean you feel safer in America than in Japan?

I feel just as safe in America with a gun as I do in Japan without one. (I actually have a gun in Japan but it cannot be used for self-defense).

Right, sounds logical. Therefore, NZ must hastily model their guns policy on the US system, in order to protect lives. Because it works so well over there...

Good luck protecting your family when you don't have a gun but need one. Me, I would rather do the responsible thing. It's better to have a gun and not need it, than to need one and not have it.