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Q: Why do Chinese Police not carry guns?
Yesterday, I asked "Do Chinese Police have guns?"
The answer was pretty much no, except in a few specific circumstances.
It struck me how similar this is to the UK. UK Police do not carry guns. There are armed response cars of course and deadly force is used from time to time. But not very often. But the UK Police wear stab vests, they carry night sticks and CS spray. This to me separates the UK Police from the Chinese Police. Tazars, by the way, are considered a firearm in the UK, and are only issued to armed response teams.
UK Police go to work equipped to defend themselves from criminals, but not to be offensive. Chinese Police go to work in badly fitting cheap uniforms, their only protection is their... what? Flimsy shirt?
Why do Chinese Police not have guns?
Perhaps it is because the police here rarely do any work anyway so they don't need such equipment.
ScotsAlan:
Yeah. They certainly don't want to go out and argue with their mums who are dancing in the street 
might have something to do with the commies being afraid of a second armed force in the counry
Could it be because hospitals would not be able to cope with all the 'accidents' that would occur should the ordinary cop on the street be armed?
(and all the follow up 'compensation' claims)
ScotsAlan:
Given my experience of hospitals here (pay before you are seen), I often wonder when it says on the news about the victims of some event are rushed off to hospital for emergency care. Do they have to pay first? And what happens if they have no money?
I wonder who would pay if the Police shot someone.
Perhaps it is because the police here rarely do any work anyway so they don't need such equipment.
ScotsAlan:
Yeah. They certainly don't want to go out and argue with their mums who are dancing in the street
Well, Chinese police was authorized recently to use guns (since 2013). It's a hassle to carry guns around without an experience... Once I seen a picture of a Indian police dude shot himself in the arse with a rifle (don't ask)... True Story 
ScotsAlan:
I think there was a security guard shot himself in the foot here recently.
So, I asked the question. Here is what I think.
Police, in general, are not armed because they don't need to be.
Yinduoren:
yep, I also asked a Chinese colleague to confirm the theory... "China is very safe"... Also considering the punishment of illegal gun ownership includes capitol punishment.. I don't think even the police need one.
ScotsAlan:
I don't think it so much about punishment for carrying guns. I suspect there are plenty of guns in the hands of gangsters here. But yes, guns of course are banned.
I think it's more to do with the culture of Martial Arts. If you are a "real man" you know Kung Fu and see guns as a cowards tool.
You never see Jackie Chan use a gun.
In many cultures, guns are seen as the great equaliser. They make the weak the equal of the strong. In China, the strong are the strong and the weak are the weak.
I have heard many times in China..... "careful.... he knows kung fu."
