but the number is in reality lower, ´cause each sport-shooter and hunter  has more then one gun, app. 3-4 guns.

so it will be more like 7-10 people of 100 own a gun.

btw…the handling of a gun at home is also much more restricted then in the most us-staates.  for example, if you don´t have a safe for the gun and ammunition you don´t get a permission to own a gun. and you can only have one for the time you have a need for it. if you quit your shooting-hobby or hunting you have to sell them.

It’s just less visible than, for example, the Swiss practice of making citizens keep military grade firearms at home. But like the Swiss, modern Germans usually don’t romanticize their weapons.

By contrast, look at nearly any gun control discussion among Americans: Sooner or later they’ll draw the “Keep tyrants out” card, despite their fact that neither their women nor their blacks nor their gays got their rights by extensive firefights.

Godwin indeed. 

Godwin!

…and that’s a a good thing.

Guns are made for one thing, and one thing only.

Killing people.

It’s a good and healthy reaction to fear something with that kind of purpose.

(I’m German)

And don’t forget who’s the third biggest weapons dealer in the world…you could say that we do what any smart drug dealer does:
We sell, but we don’t use.

a.) we have a very thight weapon law

b.) the number of weapons, legal and also illegal, is comparing to the US very-very-very-low

c.) german/european police officers are not so trigger happy than in the US.

d.) because the chance to get shoot as a civilian or as a police-officer on duty is, comparing to the us, …like not existing.

e.) we have a history, not a good one, and we have learned that violence and weapons are not healthy

f.) …we have cars and the autobahn and NO speed-limit…we DON´T NEED weapons :-)

Of course, there’s the different definitions of “warning shot” – you seem to use “aimed at the person, but not intended to kill”, while the article seems to mean “aimed so as to not hit anyone”.

Of course, there’s the different definitions of “warning shot” – you seem to use “aimed at the person, but not intended to kill”, while the article seems to mean “aimed so as to not hit anyone”.

Of course, there’s the different definitions of “warning shot” – you seem to use “aimed at the person, but not intended to kill”, while the article seems to mean “aimed so as to not hit anyone”.

(Ref: http://inquest.gn.apc.org/website/statistics/deaths-in-police-custody/police-shootings )

That’s an average of 2 fatal police shootings per year for a population of 54 million people. (I don’t know how many bullets they used, though.)

In England and Wales, the police do not usually carry guns.  Any police shooting tends to be a big news event and lead to enquiries and public uproar.  Last year there were riots after the shooting of Mark Duggan.

(On the other hand, the Northern Ireland stats are different. The Royal Ulster Constabulary fatally shot 51 people during the troubles. Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_use_of_firearms_in_the_United_Kingdom#Notable_incidents )

Iirc §55 fo the same law which regulates the exceptions for the German police forces (among others) doesnt forbid the usage but normaly the allowed weapons are regulated by the 16 federal states in theyr own police laws.

Mostly concerns about the health and safety of the taser-victims keeps our police here fromintroducing those weapons.

and you’re basing this on….?

My take? It seems to work though. If the cop is afraid of their own gun they’ll see it as a last resort option which is only beneficial.

In general it strikes me that in North America there is way too much focus put on “might” when it comes to policing, instead of emphasizing deescalation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_balloon
(srsly)

Most police officiers in the US need to qualify with their pistols twice a year. Before the qualifications they are required to practice and they probably fire 300-500 rounds (that’s an estimate). And that’s just for basic marksmanship. 

Having police officers fire only 50 rounds a year sounds irresponsible for when the time comes when they’re going to need to use their pistols.

Compared to America, sure, it’s insanely low.  But, if you really think about it there’s still 85 times that a cop shot at another human being.

Still insanely high (maybe) – in my humbly and totally straight opinion.

…

No really, with 50 shots you can already kill a classroom full of people. That’s insane.