Firearms Officer Wins Sex Discrimination Case Because Her Firearm Was Too Big For Her.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/10643338/Petite-firearms-officer-wins-sex-discrimination-case-because-gun-was-too-big-for-her-hands.html

Well this just about takes the biscuit, why isn't there certain qualifications a person should reach before being accepted in certain positions in the police service?

[jim360]

"...isn't there certain qualifications a person should reach before being accepted in certain positions in the police service? "

It seems that this was precisely the point though. This test was meant as a minimum qualification standard to keep their job -- and, presumably, in the past they managed it -- but they've been handed a weapon they can't use. If you had to take a written test with a broken pen, or asked to write with the wrong hand, I don't think you'd do as well as you were really able to either.

In principle anyone taking a firearms test should be given a weapon they can use. Stands to reason, no?

[emmie]

couldn't they given her a slightly smaller firearm, or is that too obvious.

[joeluke]

It's a bit like women on the frontline in the army, they shouldn't be in this role

She'd be better off working in the Police canteen

[craft1948]

pmsl @ joeluke...............

[emmie]

no problem with women in any role, but feel that the gun was rather too large to use, so why not a smaller one.

[ummmm]

That's what takes the biscuit....the fact that they weren't provided with a smaller gun.

[Mamyalynne]

As these women were not immediately excluded by nature of being too 'petite' then the service should provide equipment they can use properly.

[joeluke]

Next thing you know she'd be saying the trigger was too stiff for her to pull

She shouldn't be in the role - square pegs, round holes

[anotheoldgit]

jim360

/// In principle anyone taking a firearms test should be given a weapon they can use. Stands to reason, no? ///

Perhaps 'made to measure' weapons for the police and military eh?

Or perhaps a derringer that they could keep in their handbags?

[Mamyalynne]

Oh I see, let's go down the silly route shall we.

[ummmm]

The sexist route!!

[Mamyalynne]

Aye, perhaps I should retire to powder my nose,then see if I have the strength to pick up the kettle.

[joeluke]

Maybe Firearms manufacturers need to make guns in smaller sizes especially for females?

[anotheoldgit]

ummmm

/// The sexist route!! ///

Now that is nothing new, the usual labels being pinned.

[woofgang]

well if they are going to allow people of either gender with small hands to be forearms officers then they have a duty to provide appropriately sized firearms...either that or set a minimum hand size....simples!

[anotheoldgit]

Perhaps next they will be complaining that they make very loud bangs which frightens them?

[ummmm]

They are qualified to do a job, employed to do a job, so they should be provided with the correct equipment to carry out that job.

[Mamyalynne]

Not just the gun either

// there were other problems too during the tests, including ill-fitting protection equipment, as the helmets and kneepads were too large which impeded performance.//

[emmie]

men and women use all types of guns, no one thinks that men should use a AK 47 because it's more manly, in this instance they could have provided a slightly different size gun, surely that is not too much to ask.