Gentlemen and ladies, I think that this is a reasonable question, and very poignant. I will try to present my opinion without intentionally violating forum rules.
Whether the police are equipped with revolvers or Tupperware is a secondary issue. Officers must be trained from the start to make each and every round count, then encouraged to maintain that proficiency! In my humble opinion, the two greatest moves to decrease an officer's proficiency was the introduction of the Q target and the move to make police officers social workers. A return to the decimal target will either weed-out incapable officers, or force officers to become more proficient with their duty weapons.
Before you decide whether the officers should be issued revolvers or Tupperware, look at the ammunition and the mission it must serve! My apologies to the 45 ACP, but there is no wonder cartridge that comes close to performing all of the requisite chores of all police work. While the 9mm may be appropriate for the urban street cop, it may fall very short for the open highway trooper or rural sheriff's deputy!
Which should be issued, the revolver or Tupperware? It really depends. On my way home from a match yesterday, I was passing through the suburbs of a city that could reach a flashpoint faster than the time it takes to blink. The question I started to think about was, if I suddenly encountered a flash mob of "non-violent protesters" practicing the fine art of "peaceful violence", what would I do if I couldn't turn and run? Regardless of where I was, because my home state limits me to 10 rounds, I was extremely limited in my options. I was left to potentially three options:
1) do nothing, get my a** kicked, and risk my target gear falling into the wrong hands,
2) engage the threat in the hopes that the threat diminishes like roaches when the lights come on, or
3) engage the threat until my reloads run out, and take as many threats with me before I'm killed or get my a** kicked and my target gear and my EDC fall into the wrong hands.
Honestly, I don't envision being able to de-escalate the situation by talking. In the event that the situation can't be avoided, I fear that the only recourse is a plan of brutal force, and to pray for a successful outcome.
Now, which is the better weapon to issue a LEO? It can't be a single, pat answer, but the weapon that best meets the individual needs and demands of the department for the majority of the staff in order to accomplish the stated mission! Maybe it isn't what should be issued to the officers, but maybe a more realistic approach in selecting who becomes the officer!
