Prepare for worst hope for the best

Dear Editor: I feel obligated to respond to the comments by Neil Godbout in his column that appeared in The Daily Courier on July 17.

He criticized the RCMP for having some members equipped with rifles whilst patrolling a Canada Day celebration at a Prince George park. I can safely assume these are the AR15-style rifles used by police world-wide. These are excellent rifles for use in tactical situations where it is not safe for the police to be limited by the limitations of a handgun.

Godbout said that police didn’t need bigger weapons to do their job of watching a crowd of families on Canada Day. On the contrary, this is exactly the type of situation upon which deranged persons thrive. There are lots of potential victims with no capability of defending themselves, and there exists the element of total surprise.

Police handguns are not adequate. They are designed for close encounters. Officers are not “target shooters.” Beyond even 25 yards, stray bullets are likely.

The round chambered by the AR 15-style rifles is accurate, effective, and has little recoil. Trained officers, if they must shoot, will in all likelihood, safely stop the threat, even at a distance.

I am qualified to provide my comments based upon over 31 years of police experience in the U.S. I have had numerous conversations with police in many countries. Even in England, where constables are often now deployed on foot to large events, police routinely have rifles on their persons.

Understandably, they said that many people are having a hard time adjusting to the new reality. However, we all agree: “different counties, same stuff.” In the police services, we have a saying: “Prepare for the worst, and hope for the best.”

I generally don’t read Godbout’s column, as I have found that his opinions, especially on firearms, policing, and the United States (I won’t get started on that), to be rather poorly thought out.

My expectations are that a journalist would do at least a modicum of research before voicing an opinion. Clearly by his comments printed on July 17, he demonstrates that he is living in a fairy-tale world and not one of reality. Bob Sherman Kelowna