Garda poll shows most in favour of being armed
The online survey by Garda Review magazine found 53% of respondents believed the time had come to issue firearms to rank and file.
Some 159 members who completed the survey were asked: “Do you now believe that all uniformed gardaí on duty should routinely be armed?”
Half of respondents were attached to regular units of the force, with 63% of these in favour of being armed. Of the 47% who voted against more guns, many expressed a desire for more, and more visible, armed response units, according to Garda Review.
Little emphasis could be placed on the response from other units because of the small sample size.
The results showed a majority of detectives who responded were against the idea, but most student gardaí were in favour.
The official magazine of the Garda Representative Association claimed the results signalled a cultural shift inside the force.
In an article on the findings, the magazine said the poll results were at odds with a common perception that uniformed gardaí don’t want to carry guns.
The survey was carried out over the Garda Review website on a strictly one member/one vote basis, the magazine said.
Garda representatives said the poll gave an indication that members of the force wanted more protection, but it was unlikely uniformed members would be armed anytime soon, said GRA general secretary PJ Stone.
“We wanted to generate debate with not to implement a policy decision.”
