imported post
Chet wrote:
I recently heard of "open carriers" when an officer safety bulletin was issued by our police department. I had heard of it in the years past but really did not pay that much attention to it.My firstreactionfirstwas "wow, this is kinda cool" and I'm more for it than against it, especiallywith the current political climate (AKA: Those dirty bum elected officials)but then I started reading what you guys are up to. What's with this us against them attitude? Why are you TRYING to provoke law enforcement the majority of which are happy to back your play????What's with the attorney following you around? It seems to me that maybe you guys are a little wacked out? I hope I am wrong becauseI think I would rather have you guys backingme than some flamingliberal!
Also what's with the making fun of the deputies who have to respond to your calls. I noticed one of your members was mentioning that the officers need diapers. Let me tell you it is not fun going to gun calls when you have no idea what the mental state is of the person you are going to contact. SO again with the narrow-minded response of the poster with the "girl scout" remark I ask myself again are you guys for us or against us?
Wow, lots of anger, here!
Chet, please understand that if there are comments here which anger you, perhaps it's because of less understanding officers than yourself have crossed local, state, and federal laws with respect to the lawful carry (concealed or open) carry of firearms.
I've never had any problem with the police with respect to firearms, despite having been stopped 11 times in five states!
I did have issues with 4 officers who grossly inflated the speed I was travelling to pad their county's coffers, but that's a different story.
So far as firearms go, no issues.
But I've been lucky. Some here haven't been so lucky.
If you're happy to "back our play," fine. However, please realized we'd much have you know, understand, and fully back the federal, state, and local firearms laws, in that order. We're law-abiding citizens! If we carry firearms, we do so legally. Please understand that and join us in adhering to all governing laws.
Also, please understand that a lawful exercise of both Constitutional rights to bear arms and local, state, and federal rights for self-defense should never be misconstrued as a "provocation." A provocation towards police is something done to cross the line of legality to see what is done. We don't do that. If any member of the various peace/police forces find themselves "provoked" by
lawful open carry, there's a disconnect between the citizen's understanding of the laws and the peace/police force's understanding of the law.
One of the major tasks of this forum is to ensure both the peace/police forces and the citizens are on the same sheet of music! Aka, the law, which governs us all. Not PD policy, which has been misleading in the past, nor gun-nut rants, which have also been misleading, but simply, the law. Again, it governs us all.
I apologize for the other posters diaper and girl-scout comments. As a retired veteran from active duty, I can assure you I've been in several combat situations wherein I've heard others either crapped their pants or required depends. I did not, but I allude this to my training, which began at the hands of my father and uncle at age 9 (hence my username), and a tradition I followed through with my son this past Christmas visit!
Again, having been in many do-or-die situations, I would simply say, always be prepared, but always remain calm. It's usually the well-prepared, well-trained, yet calm person who wins a firefight.
As for firefights, let's adopt a zero friendly fire policy! We certainly don't shoot at you! So please don't shoot at us. To help us in not presenting as the enemy, please let us know and/or develop any widely-recognized mutual procedures to help ensure we're easily recognizable as "friendlies" in any contentious situation.
As a former active duty member, I fully understand the importance of uniforms. However, I also recognize that many members of modern police departments are not uniformed (plainclothesmen). Surely you have procedures in place to differentiate friend from foe during a firefight.
I understand the adoption of a "lawful carry recognition system" would simply give criminals access to a chink in your armor! However, progress must be made along this front so as to both reduce the conflict between law-abiding citizens and those who are sworn to protect them, as well as to ensure cross-talk between these forces remains high.
Currently, it is not. Put simply, most conflicts are over within seconds or minutes, while most LE responses take considerably longer.
Therefore, I would encourage all LE folks to view us not as some sort of adversary, but simply as first-responders, as your allies. We're your eyes on the ground, your point men, the folks who first encounter an unlawful and potentially harmful situation to self, others, and property.
We're the ones who call you! Hopefully, you can get here in time! If not, we're prepared to defend ourselves and the lives of others as necessary until you do arrive. Sometimes the situation presents no opportunity to wait and we must take immediate action in accordance with local, state, and federal law to protect self, others, life, limb and property.
To put it simply, Chet, so long as you and your fellow officers are following the actual law, we're all on the same team. It would be nice if we could work together to ensure an improved hostile/friendly differentiation. I think that's one of the major points of contention on these forums, and one which needs to be addressed.
As for the rest of my fellow O/C Carriers, what say you? Did I nail the relevant issues? If not, please speak up!