Why does a traffic cop need a gun?

A police officer is not always just a traffic cop.................  A police officer needs a gun for protection due to criminals having illegal guns.

In most major metropolises, there is no traffic cops(due to red light cameras), there are patrol officers and yes they need a gun.

Are you really that dumb.

 if you Google the professions that psychopaths tend to go into “Police officer” is always near the top of the list. Psychopaths derive gratification from inflicting physical and emotional distress upon other human beings. Having guns allows them to do that more efficiently.  In other words, cops get a kick out of displaying their firearms and terrorizing people with them, making them think that they’re going to be shot and killed. Just like they did with George Floyd. Psychopaths have no conscience about torturing and killing other human beings because they lack of capacity for guilt and have no consciences. That’s why many of them  go into police work. Some of them are also ex military because in both of those professions you can legally carry firearms and use them to kill other  human beings and you have a much better chance of getting away it than a civilian would

Would you .. today.. accept any  cop position be able to do your job and feel protected if you did not have a gun on your hip??

Could you walk up to a car that was reported stolen and in good faith assume the driver was unarmed?

Did not think so.

All traffic cops scan thousands of license plates every shift.

When these license plate scanners produce a "hit" they alert the officer that this is a wanted criminal and their wants and warrants are displayed in seconds.

So they are not stopping you for no reason and the criminals all KNOW that which is why they run and why they attack officers.

let us know when you call 911

If cops did not do 'routine traffic stops', they wouldn't need a gun.

Any stop that is routine is unconstitutional.

4th Amendment.

Just mail a ticket.

Exceptions might be for a DUI where they need to stop them. Or someone fleeing a bank robbery, arson, similar extreme crimes.

But speeding, tail light, no turn signal, or NO SEAT BELT, are not justification to stop anyone.

Darwinism will fix the problem for us if we let it.

why does traffic need to be directed by police?  it seems more like a minimum wage job, or something any crossing guard can do.

Why? Because criminals have guns. 

As far as your skewed logic on traffic enforcement, you forgot the obvious... car crashes would skyrocket.