imported post
chris in va wrote:
The bolded text amuses me greatly.
You know, when uneducated people see you carrying your weapon OC, they are asking, "Why is it necessary for him to walk around in a movie theater with a gun?"
Learn empathy, my friend,you are pushing the boundaries of being a hypocrit here..
No need to be on the offensive and slap my wrist with a ruler, I come from the VA area and this is the first time I've seen a uniformed police officer patrolling a movie theater. Saw the same thing over in Indiana by the Bass Pro Shops.
I was trying to figure out if there have been numerous fights or gang activity to warrant a police presence complete with two LEO-only parking spaces. Doesn't seem to be in a 'bad' part of town. I have no issue with the practice.
Besides, if you are an honest, law-abiding citizen, why do you have aproblem with police presence
Because more often than not, the LEO's I've run into over the past few years do NOT feel a citizen should be carrying a weapon and I've witnessed a trio of LEO's harassing a friend of mine for carrying legally into a Denny's at 11pm. They stated "you have no business carrying a firearm into a 'family' restaurant andwe'll just have to be called back for a 'man with a gun' call here in a few minutes. You need to leave it in the car". He had left his CC permit at home by accident and was open carrying, as many on this board obviously try to promote.
I would thinkyou of all people, being an LEO would understandthis issue. Not all officers feel the way you do. BTW this is in Louisville, not central KY where you live.
Not trying to slap anyone on the wrist. That's not my job, even when I am in uniform. Just trying to show you the parallel, but opposite side you were posting. Don't take me holding a mirror up to you as being hostile. And you did, cleary, say you thought it shouldn't be done on the government clock, so you did have "issues" with the practice.
Trust me, as an LEO, I do understand the issue, and I find that some of the people on this board not only do not understand OC, but don't understand basic law enforcement, either.
I OC all the time. Whether I am in my community, where I am fairly well-known, or outside of my community. I have never, ever been "harassed" by an LEO for OC. I think there are some reasons why...
1. I don't dress like a thug.
-First impressions are everything. No matter how much smooth talking you do, if someone thinks you are a thug, it's going to be hard to get it out of their heads.
2. I don't act like a thug.
-Lots and lots of "Please", "Thank you", "Ma'am", and "Sir" Hold the door for women and older folks. I have even had an elderly lady at Wal-Mart tell her husband, "That man with the gun was SO nice" after I picked up a 10 pound bag of dog food for her.
3. I cut my hair intoa high-and-tight every 5 days.
4. I don't OC in places where it wouldn't be appropriate, such as a high-end restaurant. (Those are the times for CC)
-We must consider our overall appearance, and whether is fits in to the enviroment to which we are going. Going to Logans Roadhouse for some ribs? Fine to OC. Going to Bella Notte for a romantic dinner? Best to CC.
5. I smile and explain that it is perfectly legal when it does get noticed.
-THIS IS THE BIG ONE. Guys, I know your right to OC means a lot to you, as it does me, but that in-your-face-it's-my-goddurned-right-and-I'll-do-it-when-I-wanna attitude does neither you nor I any favors. Not long ago, a guy started a thread in here where he suggested an OC meet in Lexington, because, "There are a lot of libs (liberals,I suppose)up there that need to be educated". I was blown away. That is exactly what I am talking about. If you choose to OC, do it as an act of exercising a right. NOT AS AN ATTEMPT TO INTENTIONALLY PISS PEOPLE OFF!! Are we in middle school here? Those are the types of people who shouldn't be carrying at all.
Here's another thing, the LEO side of things...
Just like I pointed out that
your question about the cops beingat the movieswas congruent to people wondering why
you would carry a gun to the movies.
Obviously, SOMEONE justified the fiscal expenditures to have not only the LEOs there, but the dedicated parking there. When I see a place that has dedicated parkingfor two units, I automatically think that for some reason, there isjustification forup to 4units to be in the area. A thug might think the same thing, and take his hunt for trouble somewhere else, even if there are no cruisers in the spots. It can be that powerful... "4cops could show up just to be there? I'll take my thug ass somewhere else."
And lets go this route...Lets say there was one precipitating event that happened. We will say someone was stabbed in a fight in the lobby of the theater. I guarantee the first thing the citizenry (read that as the family of the thug that was stabbed)shouted was"Why weren't there any cops there?" Ok, so the patrol captain or the chief responds by putting unitsthere on concentratedenforcement/patrol. Now people like you walk in, like you, and being unaware ofthe precipitating event, wonder why the cops are there, and say things like it's a waste of taxpayer money, when in fact, it is far cheaper to saturate an area with patrol rather that respond and clean up the mess after the fact.
That is the dichotomy of law enforcement. No one wants cops around until something happens, but then they scream that we should have been there all along when it does happen.I'm not complaining, as the average person has no idea what random patrol means or is. (See the "Kansas City Study" for an in-depth answer.)
And another thing, your story about your buddy in theDenny's...again,I can never, never understand people that 'forget' their IDor CC permit at home, but remember their gun. The permit goes with the gun. They should always be together, or the permit should always be on your person,so you don't have to remember it if you grab your weapon heading out the door. If you want to be a responsible citizen, and carry OC or even CC, it starts with the basics, and that means making sure you have the paperwork
before you grab the weapon and strap it on. That is "Responsible Citizenry 101" No excuses accepted.I never drive without my license, I never leave the house without ID, and I never carry without my police ID.