always an exception for Law Enforcement

[bossy22]

This is not an anti-law enforcement post- i support our officials but i question why much gun legislation makes exceptions for off-duty law enforcement. such things as safe storage laws - which are passed under the premise that it will prevent guns from being stolen or used by children- but these laws often have exceptiosn for retired and off duty LEO. Is an offduty LEO less likely to have his gun stolen? Is an off duty LEO's child less likely to shoot himself then a regular citizens child? the assault weapons ban in NY allows off-duty and retired LEO to purchase assault weapons- why? I was always taught that once taking off your uniform and your badge, you are a private citizen like everyone else, so why do the laws say differently?

[NJmaverick]

1. Law enforcement deal with the scum of the earth

Many times they are threatened by these dirtbags, the last thing you want to do is put them in a position of weakness. Beyond that LEO don't become private citizens when they go home. They are still police officers and they still can and many do take actions, when witnessing a crime.

[bossy22]

4. that is not true

you may be expected by your department to be on call at all times, but the powers of their office stay in the office when they go home from work. There department may require they carry a gun, but they must have the same permit a private citizen has in order to carry their gun (but police officers)

its the same with FF- my powers that are given to me being a FF ends when i take off my uniform and go home- i have almost no authority unless im acting under the authorization of my department.

even if what you say is true....why is it okay to put citizens in a position of weakness?

[jmg257]

20. This is not true. My badge gave me the power to carry anywhere in NY any time.

It also said I can purchase handguns "instantly" on that shield, and the gun didn't have to be for dept use. (there was paperwork to be filed though).

I also had certain police/peace officer powers off duty that normal citizens don't.

[bossy22]

21. with my NYS pistol permit

so can i....as long as i go through the NICS check which LEOs have to go through (i work at a gun store so i have done these checks atleast a dozen times on officers)

[jmg257]

23. Can you carry in NYC? Schools? Besides, what I was saying is that I didn't need the permit - I had

the shield. And you have to get a purchase coupon/amendment for your permit to add a pistol.

What I thought you were saying is that I needed a permit as a cop to carry - off duty - I didn't.

[bossy22]

24. well technically

your ID card acts as a pistol permit- and as a carry permit as well.

[jakem]

2. they also will hopefully have the brain and the training

to not be careless or stupid.

[bossy22]

5. i'm sorry

i just dont see much sense in that answer....i still don't think that justifies them as private citizens to be exempt from certain laws. when a police officers house is broken into- is his gun less likely to be stolen then if a private citizen's house gets broken into? i doubt it


my own belief on the subject is more of a political belief on it. I believe its all politics- designed to curry favor with law enforcement by basically saying "don't worry, it will never apply to you anytime in your life"

[Boomer 50]

9. I've been a firearms trainer for a long, long time

And nothing against police but they are, in general, far from competent with firearms. To most of them it's just a part of the job, it's not a hobby or passion. Private citizens are usually more competent, more interested in learning and take it more seriously than most police officers. I also find that overall, non-law enforcement citizens seek out more and better training on their own.

On the initial post, exemptions in laws for law enforcement for gun laws are basically unConstitutional and my company does not recognize such exemptions. We do not sell any item to LE that we can't sell to the average everyday law abiding citizen.

[bossy22]

10. kudos

to you and your company my friend

[DeadEyeDyck]

27. well said nt

[Recursion]

13. Police in general are not terribly well-trained with firearms

And, incidentally, they have a somewhat higher crime rate than the population as a whole (mostly because police are predominantly young males and the population as a whole isn't).

[Turbo Teg]

16. Just like CCW holders.

[Pappy]

3. The reason is obvious.

I am against all guns including the government having them too. Anytime a government places exceptions for their agents then you can only assume that the real goal is to have more power over their subjects. Its a damn shame that in the end people like me ultimately become nothing more than useful idiots. Bottom line is all law enforcement and military must have to submit to the same laws the rest of us have to otherwise the exact opposite of what these laws were meant to bring about will happen.

[bossy22]

6. agreed

i may not be against guns, but the law should apply to everyone equally.

[SteveM]

7. "Exception" mentality comes from the likes of Diane Feinstein...

She had/has a CCW and packed a handgun because she felt threatened. Fine. No problem. For HER.

The rest of us? Well, we don't rate her exalted status.

Prohibitionists claim their morals are more moral than others' morals; hence their unequal "distribution" of the right to self-defense.

[bossy22]

8. does she still have one

i heard she got rid of her CCW and her handgun....though i dont remember from where i saw this

[Boomer 50]

11. She still has it

At one point, she tried to claim that she didn't but when she renewed her permit, that line of BS went out the window.

[bossy22]

12. do you have a link

im not saying i don't trust you- i just want to have a link to show to some anti-gunners in the future...thanks

[Boomer 50]

15. I don't off hand but

The article was in the LA times. I'll try looking for it today for you.

[spin]

17. A couple of links...

"Feinstein is a strong proponent of gun control, yet is known to have carried concealed handguns herself with a normally nearly impossible to obtain California carry permit - few people, other than politicians and celebrities, are able to obtain California CCW permits. At one time, she was the only person in San Francisco to possess a concealed carry permit." http://dkosopedia.com/wiki/Dianne_Feinstein

"Interesting Personal Note: Senator Feinstein is a staunch gun control advocate. Despite her stance, in the 1970s, she obtained a concealed firearms carry permit, and carried a handgun with her. A CCW permit was then rare in California, and was the only such permit in San Francisco. At the time, she was the target of a terrorist group that had shot out all the windows in her home. She no longer carries a gun." http://usliberals.about.com/od/liberalpersonalprofiles/p/SenFeinstein.htm

[benEzra]

14. She got rid of *ONE* of her multiple handguns, as I recall...

as an example to us lowly peons. Except we're supposed to give them all up, of course.

At one time, she owned a 9mm pistol, aka "evil high-capacity baby-killing assault weapon with no other purpose than to murder as many people as possible without reloading." Don't know if she still has that or not.

Considering who her husband is, I'm sure they are surrounded by people armed with pretty serious firepower.

[Pappy]

18. The fact that these criminals have to hide behind so much firepower is proof

they are hated by allot of people and are completely out of touch with people in this country.

[bossy22]

19. remember

guns for me but not for thee...the mantra of the gun control sect. of the Dem party

[SteveM]

22. I smell a study in the making! Let's look up all the DNC members...

and see how many have (1) CCWs; (2) guns for protection; (3) armed body guards.

[iverglas]

25. here's another one!

Let's look up all the anti-firearms control posters at DU and see how many (1) occupy positions whose previous occupants were murdered, and (2) have had all the windows of their home shot out by terrorists.


Just to save on posts: maybe someone can also do a study of pro-firearms control posters at DU and identify those who are part of the alleged gun control sect of the Dem party whose alleged mantra is allegedly "guns for me but not for thee".


Or hell. We could just do a study to count all the straw people that appear in posts in the Guns forum.

[WWFZD]

26. Hold on a minute

are you trying to tell me that law abiding, ordinary citizens hate the criminal element that preys on the weak and the vulnerable? OMG. what a revelation, this has to rank with Einstein's general theory of relativity and the continuous big-bang.
Against all guns indeed!