(Czech Republic) Experts oppose Zeman's call on people to arm themselves

Source: Prague Monitor / CTK

ČTK | 2 AUGUST 2016
Most Czech security experts whom CTK addressed yesterday do not like President Milos Zeman's call on common people to arm themselves in order to help fight the terrorist threat, but they agreed that Czech citizens should be more prepared for crisis situations.

People should carry arms so that they can use them if there is an attack by terrorists, Zeman told the Internet television channel of the tabloid daily Blesk on Sunday. Zeman said he had been against an increase in the number of legal arms among people, but that he changed his opinion due to the terror threat.

Ondrej Ditrych, an analysis focusing on terrorism, said if such a call is made by the president, it may undermine trust in the security forces, in the ability of the state bodies to guarantee security of the inhabitants.

He pointed out that the Czech arms legislation is very liberal, including the conditions under which people may carry hidden arms.
According to Ditrych, it has not been proved that more firearms among people would help prevent terrorist attacks.

Read more: http://praguemonitor.com/2016/08/02/experts-oppose-zemans-call-people-arm-themselves