Poll: Somalian pirates = guns on merchant ships?

[matnatz]

http://www.gadling.com/2009/06/29/russian-yachts-to-offer-pirate-hunting-cruises-off-somali-coas/

This...

That's... awesome.

 

[RanD00M]

Only if they're passing pirate waters. If not then no.

This

 

[Bat Vader]

If they are untrained in the use of firearms no. Perhaps all sailors going into pirate waters should be taught firearms safety.

Could also hire private contractors as well.

 

[Anarchemitis]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q-ship

 

[Cody211282]

I dont see why they shouldnt be able to carry guns on their ships

 

[Cowabungaa]

I don't see why not, you had piracy in the 18th century as well and those merchant ships armed themselfs (obviously not to the teeth, as pirates, speed was usually their main defence). The technology has improved, but the pirates never left, why should merchant vessels stop arming themselfs then? It's not like the pirates got any more civil in those years.

Sure they don't need rows of cannons, afterall the pirates don't travel in the same big boats but small speedboats, but a .50 machinegun would help a lot.

Ofcourse, only when they go through pirate waters. If not, they shouldn't arm themselfs.

PS: As for giving the untrained crew guns, no, you've got professionals for that.

 

[DazZ.]

I have a fair amount of friends in the merchant navy. I would not give them a gun.

However if/when I join then yes, they should defiantly have guns.

 

[Spacewolf]

Arn't Russian people now paying to go on mercinary ship and then they try to trick pirates into attacking them then cut them down in "self defense" as holidays

 

[MiserableOldGit]

As long as the crews have adequate training, its hard to argue against it, especially when theyve got armed tossers hitting them out to see- its not like you can just call the police, is it?
That said, it may just lead to an escalation- you get big guns, the pirates get bigger guns, and so on.

Getting naval fleets to dispatch Q-ships into trouble spots would be good- that'd sort the little bastards out.

 

[PurpleRain]

Baaad idea.. I'd rather have several gunship in the area as they could deal with the pirates with almost no risk whatsoever.

Fire arms are a bad idea, considering the fact that the reprecautions will be severe once the pirates manage to get onboard and out-gun the crew.

Very true. Plus you have the risk of the people on the ship being paranoid idiots and shooting at non-pirates.

Plus when the pirates do gain a hold of the ship, they have a new ship loaded with new guns.