Mike Yardley: Attacks on cops wouldn't happen if they were armed (Photo / 123rf) Wed, 21 Jul 2021, 10:00AM I’m sure you were sickened and disgusted by the footage of that vile piece of scum punching an Auckland police officer eight times in the head and smashing him to the ground. Would these reprobates have the same perverse bravado to have a crack at cops, if our police had guns on their hips? I don’t think so. It’s just one reason why I’ve long supported the general arming of our frontline police. But that’s not going to happen under this Government.