Although police officials understand local clerks' concerns, they believe that adding more guns to the equation will complicate the problem.Yeah, Mike. Not only have you established a remarkable record of protecting them from violence before it happens, but really, how could a mere citizen possibly compete with one of The Only Ones?
"We always worry anytime someone has a weapon," Modesto police officer Mike Amarillas said. "Bad things can happen."
Armed clerks put customers, police and the clerks themselves in danger, he said.
In a related matter, Mod Bee staged the photo for this story.
5 comments:
If "adding more guns to the equation will complicate the problem," why do the boys in blue carry them?
I really like all the police suggestions, none of which would actually prevent an assault except for hiring someone who's more "professional".
I concur with the previous poster.
This is the list the officer gave :
Instead of carrying a gun, Amarillas said, shop clerks can protect themselves in many ways, including:
Staff at least two clerks around the clock, and hire private security guards, if feasible.
[yeah that's practical, double your labor cost, hire armed (presumably) security. I'm sure the owner of a quickie mart can afford that.]
Lock doors at night and allow customers in one at a time after they knock.
[This helps.... how? besides cutting WAY down on sales, this only serves to assure the robber that he need only concentrate on you.]
Install video surveillance cameras, and make sure the system works.
[Again this helps.... how? How does a camera PROTECT you?!?!]
Remove some of the advertisements from windows so the clerk is visible to patrol officers and traffic.
[Now this could help, assuming a patrol goes by at the moment you are being robbed. In any case it is a good idea]
Police also advised customers to check their surroundings before entering a store.
[Always a good idea, but if you sense trouble you better hope you can out run the assailant, because if he catches you and you can't protect yourself he is going to be pissed, and you are in trouble.]
The truth is that the quoted police officer doesn't want you to be able to protect yourself because in his mind having you be armed increases the risk to him.
He would prefer that the police would be the only ones armed.
"He would prefer that the police would be the only ones armed." -- Maybe it's the same numbskull that's been trolling my site, eh?
Staff at least two clerks around the clock, and hire private security guards, if feasible.
Or, better yet, staff two clerks and give one of them a firearm...
Somewhere I read (forgive the plagarism) that there are those who simplify the populace into 3 categories: law enforcement, armed criminals, and the helpless victims.
Some simply can't comprehend an average Joe or Jane using a weapon for self-defense.
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