One of my favorite logic-defying arguments from the “Special Gun Rights for Police” crowd: “Cops need more firepower than the average citizen because they deal with violent criminals.”
Well, riddle me this: do those criminals exclusively prey on police officers? Do they even predominantly prey on police officers?
Every single harebrained gun law coming out of Congress and the various State Capitols contains an exception clause for the police. This is true even for socialist communes like New Jersey and California. That’s because the gun banners are in some sort of unholy union with the political brass in the ranks of the police, and they know good and well that the restrictions imposed on “civilians” would be considered too onerous by police if they were subject to them as well.
I’ve said before that I am firmly in favor of a “Goose and Gander” approach to firearms restrictions. You want to pass a law that limits magazine capacities and “assault rifle” features? Let it apply to the police as well. After all, if an “assault rifle” with a pistol grip and a thirty-round magazine is only good for “spraying bullets” and “killing lots of people in a short amount of time”, then why in Zeus’ name do the police need them, and why should they be exempted?
Some people will jump up and say that the cops need all that gear because they actively go and seek out the bad guys. That’s all fine and good, but the thing is that the bad guys actively go out and seek us un-anointed civilians. If anything, I have more of a need for unrestricted weaponry than a police officer. Think about it: cops travel in groups, and they have large handguns and spare magazines they don’t need to conceal. They have radios, and backup, and all kinds of intermediate-force devices at their disposal. They have training, and they’re usually in good physical shape. In contrast, your average mugging or burglary victim is usually alone, with one weapon and limited ammunition at best (and a house full of helpless family members to protect at worst), and no backup. Oh, and they may be seventy-six and only able to do the quarter mile in thirty minutes, or handicapped, or dressed only in their jammies or evening clothes, with no ballistic armor to provide a measure of safety.
Sure, Joe Citizen can call 911, but anyone who’s spent any time in the real world knows that unless the Boys in Blue are parked right down the street by chance, they’ll usually only get there in time to mop up the mess. (That’s if you even have a chance to get 911 on the horn, and you don’t live somewhere without cell phone reception…and the burglar doesn’t chop your external phone line.) Contrast that with the ability of a police officer to hit a button on his microphone to request assistance, and think about the speed with which his colleagues will reply to that call.
No, folks, if the cops need heavy-duty arms and equipment, the average Joe certainly has equal need of them, and probably more so. If nobody “needs” a certain kind of weapon, then the police certainly don’t need it, either. What ’s good for the goose is certainly appropriate for the gander…even if that gander is wearing a badge.
Want to see gun bans repealed? Require them to strike the LE exemption from any and all gun bans on the State and Federal levels, and watch the police chiefs of America huff and puff about “officer safety”. I’d love to see the faces of the officers in California who would have to trade in their “LE ONLY” magazines for ten-rounders, and turn in their AR-15s altogether. Once the local SWAT team has to shop for California-compliant long guns and pistols at Gander Mountain, the national police unions will turn into pro-Second Amendment warriors overnight.
For the record: I’m all
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"Every man dies but few truly live!" "Aim small miss small"
Wow dude, who pissed in your Cherrios! I'm a retired LEO and I agree 100% with you that law abiding citizens should have the right to own whatever firearms they want (except full auto, and I don't think cops have a need for those either!) But, if you haven't walked a mile in another man's shoes, then you really don't have the knowledge to rant about what he needs to get his job done. I won't get into a pissing match with you because it doesn't accomplish anything, but if you go to the polls and help vote these politicians out that would take away our gun RIGHTS (they are not privileges) I'll be standing there right alongside of you to do the same.
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2007 Vivid Black Ultra Classic Peace Officer Special Edition
1977 FLH Electra Glide
I am a LEO firearms instructor.I agree that any law abiding citizenshould be able to own whatever firearms they want.I live in NY and even though I am LEO I have the same firearms restictions as John Q Public.I am assigned aFullauto Colt M4,but it must stay at work.If I wanted one for personal use it would be no different than my civillian neighbors.The onlyones to blame are those dame DEMS they ruined my state now they are trying to ruin are country.
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God made Police Officers because even Firemen need hero's.
Most street cops believe in the Second Amendment and support the God-given rights of free men and women to own guns and to arm themselves. Of course, like anything else, there's always that ten percent that don't. Mostly its upper management whose job is appointed, and who must kiss all the right ass to stay employed.
Looneys and organized criminal gangs have taken a liking to firearms such as the semi-auto AKS47 among others. Over the years there has been a continuous upgrade in the weapons criminals use - from homemade zip guns to cheap "Sat. nite spl.s", to 9mm and 40s. Now they have stepped up to mid-power rifle calibers.
LEOs must keep up. I, for one, would not take kindly to confront some gangbanger slinging an AK when all I have is my issue Glock. Having an M4 would really make me happy under those circumstances. I don't begrudge them having that M4.
With that said, I also strongly believe that law-abiding citizens are entitled to purchase the same type weapon that the LEO uses, whether its selective fire or not, and it should not be at some inflated price and require a tax stamp.
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"If everything is going well, then you obviously overlooked something."
Wow dude, who pissed in your Cherrios! I'm a retired LEO and I agree 100% with you that law abiding citizens should have the right to own whatever firearms they want (except full auto, and I don't think cops have a need for those either!) But, if you haven't walked a mile in another man's shoes, then you really don't have the knowledge to rant about what he needs to get his job done. I won't get into a pissing match with you because it doesn't accomplish anything, but if you go to the polls and help vote these politicians out that would take away our gun RIGHTS (they are not privileges) I'll be standing there right alongside of you to do the same.
its funny you say that we the people (citizens) should have every right to own whatever firearm we want (except full auto) then you go on to say "vote these politicians out that would take away our gun RIGHTS (they are not privileges)
The 2A covers all types of firearms - (A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.) what part of this takes away machine guns?
The 2nd Amendment is the back bone to the Constitution - Thomas Jefferson once said “The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.
we might be in trouble is we ever have to take our goverment back.
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06 Road King Classic
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We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately. - Benjamin Franklin
Only cops need firepower!
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