Why cargo ships do not have guns?

Why can't ships near Somalia defend themselves from pirates in small boats?Why cargo ships do not have guns?
Under Maritime Law merchant ships are civilian, however there is no reason that the owners cannot employ 'armed security guards' if they can prove that their ships are at risk from armed pirates.Why cargo ships do not have guns?
Although there are cases, and recently with the Somali pirates, and at times in history other pirates and incidents like that; thousands of merchant ships sail and have sailed for centuries where the worst problems are seasick sailors and mechanical problems (or in early days, not enough wind for the sails or things like that) Most do not run into pirates and have no need for weapons.





To have guns like on military ships, you would have to have trained men who would man the guns (';Person the guns'; to be politically correct?). While there are retired Navy people who could do that, it would increase costs enormously, if nothing else to get weaponry for the ships.





I don't see anything wrong with having some handguns or something, secured and to be used (only) in the case of attack by pirates or something, but to have armed ships like warships, I don't think is a good idea and would drive the cost of merchandise up even higher than it is now.
Pure dumb politics. Many nations such as England do not allow ';armed ships'; from coming into their ports. So to prevent problems many of the large shipping lines just say no guns on the ships.





Traditionally if a ship is ';flagged'; as a ship sailing under the flag of a particular nation, that nation is responsible for ensuring the ship is safe on the high seas. Over the years, due to a number of factors, many ships have gone with a Liberian flag. As if Liberia can protect anything.





During the Iran Iraq War, the USA allowed a number of Kuwaiti ships to be reflagged as American ships and the USA Navy protected them. That was in the days of Reagan when the US Navy was building up to over 500 ships.





Today even US flagged ships are not protected. The US Navy has less than 300 ships, the fewest since 1917. And that includes ships that are not combat ships or are commissioned only as an honor. IE: The USS Arizona and the USS Constitution are both considered US Navy ships but neither would be much help in a fight.





What you may see is in the near future is armed escort ships that follow a ship to ports but do not enter the port and instead stay outside waiting for their ship to come back out. Those escort ships will be able to be armed to the teeth.
this shoulve been resolved months ago with armed guards guarding vessels in the area!





Why is nothing being done?
I was wondering the same thing. They are like sitting ducks out there!