The Ministry of Public Security reiterated that it supports the
legal use of firearms by authorized police officers to shoot and
kill criminals when their lives, or the lives of the public, are
seriously threatened.
"Police officers are allowed to legally use guns," said ministry
spokesman Wu Heping at a regular press briefing yesterday in
Beijing.
He made such a remark in response to a statement made by Zhang
Guifang, deputy Party secretary of Guangzhong, provincial capital
of south China's Guangdong Province.
At a meeting on the city's public security situation last
Tuesday, Zhang urged police officers "not to be afraid of shooting
criminals when their lives or the lives of common people are
seriously threatened. Otherwise, it would be deplorable for the
Chinese police force," he said.
Wu echoed that legal use of guns by police officers is supported
by the Criminal Law.
He said confrontations between the police and criminals have
been escalating in recent years, as the society undergoes
structural changes.
"Police officers often encounter great dangers in face-to-face
fighting, and the use of guns is a powerful approach to combat
crime."
Ministry figures show that of the 4,548 police officers killed
or injured in the line of duty last, 43 percent were trying to
apprehend suspects. But Wu stressed that the Chinese police force
have strict rules on gun use.
According to China's regulation on police gun use issued in
1996, officers are allowed to use guns in 15 different
circumstances; such as riots, prison breaks, kidnapping, resisting
arrest with weapons, and other situations that seriously threaten
the lives of common people.
Police officers are required to give warnings to criminals
before firing, unless there is no time for a warning, or if the
warning may cause more serious life loss.
The regulation also stipulates that the police are not allowed
to shoot pregnant women or children, unless they are committing
violent crimes with guns, explosives or virulent drugs. Nor can
police officers use guns in areas where large crowds are gathered
or near stored explosives or radioactive materials.
Wu said only police officers with public security organs, state
security departments, prisons, courts, procuratorates and customs
officers on official duty can be equipped with guns. And officers
have to pass a regulation and firing exam before being issued with
a firearm.
However, there have already been disputes over whether the
official support of legal gun use will lead to an abuse of
power.
Wang Dawei, a professor with the Chinese People's Public
Security University, said the police should be cautious and avoid
gun use if at all possible. "Police officers should shot only when
it is absolutely necessary. It is a last resort, as guns kill."
(China Daily April 12, 2006)