Skip to content

Letter: Burnaby cops carrying intimidating weapons does more harm than good

Editor : Re: Cops with semi-automatic rifles ‘new reality’ at Burnaby events: RCMP , NOW , July 31 We all value our personal and community safety, and most folks even respect and support the sometimes difficult work our police officers have to do at
vpdgun
Police carrying heavy weaponry is now a common sight at local events. Photo Nikki Zawadzki

Editor:

Re: Cops with semi-automatic rifles ‘new reality’ at Burnaby events: RCMP, NOW, July 31

We all value our personal and community safety, and most folks even respect and support the sometimes difficult work our police officers have to do at times.

But if the RCMP and city police committee don't understand the message and sensitivity of carrying and openly displaying carbine semi-automatic rifles at "community events," as they clearly are doing these days, then they don't understand (or don't care) that this intimidation and show of force is unnecessary, and actually counterproductive.
Surely at community events they should be present in uniform, being friendly and approachable, maybe helping out in practical ways to keep us safe and feeling at ease with our local officers.
If everyone is made to feel uncomfortable because of the “very slim possibility" of a violent shooting incident, then the other side have already won.

By all means, police, carry your holstered handguns, even have these carbines on hand in your vehicles, but openly displayed semi-automatic rifles carried by intimidating officers is doing more harm than good.
If you don't understand that, then maybe a "full house delegation" at a council meeting will help the mayor and chief of police to understand this.

Tim Savage, Burnaby