China: Traffic cops get machine guns
Do Chinese street cops need more weapons? On the same day earlier this month that it was reported urban riot police in one southern city were undergoing training to use crossbows, a new program began in south-central China's Chongqing Municipality which, in addition to handguns and bulletproof vests, would see traffic police there equipped with machine guns every night after nine for the purpose of carrying out drunk driving and traffic violation spot checks.
Sina blogger Zhou Pengan who made the two-city connection above points out that current police firearm regulations make it illegal for machine guns to be used in routine traffic control work. The People's Police—quite different in nature from the People's Armed Police—Wikipedia entry puts the usage limit for lethal weapons at [to] “be used if necessary to stop violent riots, to lessen the overall loss of life, or to subdue surrounded but still resisting criminals. The regulations even governed use of sirens, police lights, and whistles.”
Zhou opines:
作为特警，为了应付各种突发事件，多装备一两样武器也是很有必要的，但将老祖宗们使用过的弓弩升级一下用于防暴，我不知道它具有什么优势？如果希望不置人于死地的话，催泪弹、催泪瓦斯显然效果更好；如果是希望击毙对方，则枪支的效果则更为明显。
The latter news received quite a bit of coverage, and no shortage of discussion. Sina, via Kaysky.cn, did a poll [photos included] on support for gun-toting traffic police, the response choices for which read:
1) I don't support this. Driving and walking at gunpoint is just too terrifying.
2) I support this. It's in accordance with the law and at the same time establishes police authority and deters crime, adding to citizens’ sense of security.
3) Whatever.
Readers of one post on this at the WHXF bbs left the following select comments:
我真的被震慑住了！以后再也不敢酒后驾车、不带证驾车。。。鸟。。。保住小命要紧啊！
直接戒严算了，反正满大街都是敌人。
建议用迫击炮，市民更放心。
恐怖中求河谐
一人发把枪，怪河蟹的
除了武警,还有武装交警
Writes one reader of the report at the NewsSSC bbs:
枪杆子里面出和谐，吼吼。
And the top comments left at Netease's report:
哈哈,谁违章毙了谁.好恐怖的JC
重庆有那么乱吗? 查个车还要持冲锋枪!!!晕!!!!
知道现在社会治安咋样了吧!连个交警都配枪,你以为是在老美啊,每个人都有枪.
最好每人再配个手榴弹，这样更威风！
发现违章当场击毙