Does Gun Control benefit Law Enforcement Officers...Artical from Officer.com

[virginia mountainman]

Interesting read, from a retired cop, note the comments...

What I think concerns me most - now that I’m retired - is how we law enforcement professionals sometimes tend to lump all “unknowns” into the “criminal” category until we discover differently. This is, obviously, necessary for officer survival especially during the first few minutes of any encounter with an unknown in the course of our duties. However, once the unknown becomes known and is proven to be a law-abiding citizen who supports and respects law enforcement, then why would we even begin to worry about them being legally armed?

I know, I know… it only takes a moment… a thought… and that law abiding armed citizen can turn criminal and then we’re dealing with an armed criminal. If that’s true, then isn’t the reverse also true? It only takes a moment, a thought, for the armed criminal to become a law abiding citizen right?

Obviously we can’t work under that assumption, so the former doesn’t make sense to me either.

In the end I believe that Gun Control laws are not of much benefit to law enforcement. Bad guys will get guns no matter what. Good guys - those citizens who respect and support us - present no threat in owning or carrying firearms (although I agree they need to be well trained!).

http://www.officer.com/interactive/2009/05/21/does-gun-control-benefit-le/

[paulsby]

1. most officers i know

including yours truly think gun control HURTS law enforcement

fortunately, i live in an area that respects RKBA and citizens where i work are frequently legally armed.

in 20 yrs of police work, i have never been assaulted (let alone fired upon) by anybody with a CCW, and I come in contact with them frequently.

i've been assaulted, been in shootouts, etc. but never with a CCW'er.

gun control HURTS law enforcement. it disarms law abiding citizens and empowers criminals.

[virginia mountainman]

3. It is amazing...

I have NEVER MET, an Anti Gun cop, granted practically all my LEO encounters have been with small town police departments, State Troopers, and rural deputies.

I wonder, why, the heads of MOST of the Police organizations, continually stand behind "The Brady Campaign" and their ilk? Clearly, their membership does not.

Also, as a CCW, I would do everything in my power to help out a LEO in need.

[paulsby]

4. that's quite simple

the heads (and to some extent the administration) aren't cops.

they are, to put it nicely, cop-o-crats.

political appointees.

no cop-o-crat police chief is going to come out as pro-RKBA when the city council and the mayor are anti-gun rights.

so their position is mostly based on the fact that they are completely political shills and somewhat because they are removed from the street reality.

former seattle chief gil kerlikowske (now on obama's staff) is a perfect example of the cop-o-crat mentality.

most SPD guys i talk to are totally proRKBA but he was against it because seattle city council and the mayor are STRONGLY anti-gun.

seattle's current mayor has proposed by "executive order" (shades of bush) banning carry in city parks. he has been told by the state attorney general, as well as anybody with a brain, that that would run contrary to WA constitution

does he care? no

just remember, the average police chief has as much in common with the average cop as the head of GM has with an assembly line worker.

[Euromutt]

9. A lot of private instructors are current or former LEOs

Quite a few names come to mind: Massad Ayoob of LFI, Marty Hayes of FAS, Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch. Basically, these are guys who acknowledge (from their own experience) that the police can't be everywhere, and that given the choice, they would rather have to draw a chalk outline around a criminal than around his victim.

[Shagbark Hickory]

11. I never met an antigun cop either but

then again if we had gun control most of the cops would be out of a job.

[Hoopla Phil]

12. Like the "bobbies" in England right?

:eyes:

[LAGC]

13. I'll disarm when the cops disarm. (n/t)

[Israfel4]

2. I agree, gun control will HURT LEO's more than help them.

Being an armed citizen you can bet your butt I'd help a LEO out if he was in a shootout.

[paulsby]

5. happened to a friend of mine

she was wreslting with a guy who had just robbed a convenience store.

he had her GUN out and it had already fired as they wrestled for it.

citizen came up and center punched the armed robber in the head, saving her life.

[spin]

6. In Florida, I can't name a police officer that I've known...

who has been opposed to citizens legally carrying concealed.

And I've known quite a few police officers over the years.

[Caliman73]

7. Same here...

I live in California and I know a dozen police officers, a DEA agent, and an FBI agent. I've shot with them all and we talk about gun control. The only guns they want controlled are those in the possession of criminals. They have no problem with law abiding citizens having firearms, but the training issue is near and dear.

[slackmaster]

8. Same here in San Diego

I know a few officers who are more into gun collecting than I am.

[Merchant Marine]

10. If you enjoy collecting

LEO is the career to have. Full automatic assault rifles for personal use? sign me up.