I don't agree with this line of reasoning. Some countries don't give their police guns, because not every interaction needs to have the risk of escalating to that level.
In the very unlikely chance of regular beat police needing to defend themselves, it's ok for them to have to do that without the benefit of a gun, just like everyone else.
Agreed. Is there any moment at which it would be reasonable for a cop to point a gun (let alone shoot it?) For someone trying to steal a bike? Is there any bike in the world more valuable than a person's life?
I understand that police are put into more risk but my outside impression is that their training overcompensates for it and so we get extremely trigger-happy police that just make confrontations even that more tense (why give yourself up if you'll end up getting shot in the process anyways?)
In the very unlikely chance of regular beat police needing to defend themselves, it's ok for them to have to do that without the benefit of a gun, just like everyone else.