OC for ME
Regular Member
Simply put, when you approach a OCer there is a possible danger to your safety, because of the reasons you cite. If/when a OCer approaches you there is no danger.No disrespect but I'm not following what you're trying to say here...
Are you saying if the OC'er initiated the contact with me then what's the danger? If that's the case then I'll say none.
I guess I'll take this opportunity to say that while most posters here probably won't believe me, I'm an advocate of the second amendment. I love seeing responsible citizens carrying guns. My wife carries a gun. My kids (8 year old twin girls and 4 year old boy) have all already shot guns. I've been to the protests at the capital against new gun legislation. I believe more guns equals less crime. I believe the second amd was meant for people not a state militia. I'm a field training officer, and I train all my rookies that OC is not RAS, and I talk to as many veteran officers about it as I can. I spoke with our legal update instructor and convinced him to save time to address OC and RAS during our department wide annual training. I believe in pretty much all the principles that OCers do.
However, due to my job i'm placed in a different position than OCers where I face bad guys with a gun an a semi-regular basis. Where I work it's like a war zone. So when I come across a gun on a traffic stop, I'm not sure if this is joe citizen responsible OCer, or a convicted felon carrying a stolen gun with the serial number filed off. The problem is that ya'll don't wear signs on you saying either "Good guy" or "Bad guy."
Granted there are times when you can reasonable conclude that an armed person is not a threat, but it's situational. The SCOTUS has allowed officers the right to use their own discretion to make that call if they have any inclination that they could be in a dangerous situation. Some officers ere on the side of caution and remove the danger in every situation, which the SCOTUS has upheld. I've never said I would disarm every person in every circumstance. I've only argued that the court has allowed me to make that call.
Thing is, people have been attacking me (and cops in general) for being concerned with our safety. So I ask, why the hell do you (OCers) carry a gun in the first place? Isn't that for YOUR own safety? Why is your safety more sacred than mine? The chances of you facing a dangerous situation in your life time is much much lower than the chances for an officer, but yet you carry FOR YOUR SAFETY. So seeing as how officers face potentially dangerous situations more regularly than the common citizen, why shouldn't we be granted a little extra leeway in protecting ourselves? That's why the courts have given us that authority.
I have nothing against OCers. I fully support that right, and I'm actually happy to see people carrying. I know ya'll won't buy that, but it's true.
Where you work certainly impacts your decision making process regarding the seizure of a OCed firearm. I will not second guess your decision making process.In your other example of seeing a gun on a person at a grocery store, I'm not having a forced interaction with him where my safety would be at risk.
I am asking, although it seems poorly asked, why is there a distinction in your mind given the above statement.
Your safety is paramount in my view, as is every officers safety. But, if I were to see you OCing I have zero authority to do what a officer could do. I guess I could call in a MWAG and stand around and watch what happens. Besides, this is thread, your thread is not about me it is about you, you asked and we are responding. I would find it very troubling if officers were disarmed.
Lastly, the "he could be a thug with a stolen gun....." very well worn statement. Not every "good guy" looks like what you think a good guy looks like. Every officer expects us to consider them good cop. I will expect every officer to be a good cop, but I must guard against the possibility that I may not be forced to interact with a officer such as yourself. I certainly hope you will understand.
Please stay safe for your family and for yourself.