Posted by
Dave in Nevada on Thursday, December 18, 2008 5:35:07 AM
LE & CONCEALED CARRY/OPEN CARRY
I just read about two cases in which a police officer
disarmed people who were legally carrying a firearm.
http://www.metrospirit.com/index.php?cat=11011612083586983&ShowArticle_ID=11011712084357501
http://dustinsgunblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/az-gilbert-leo-disarmed-him.html
While I have my thoughts and opinion on this, I am
somewhat conflicted, having been in law enforcement. On one hand I understand
the cop’s point of view from a safety standpoint. However, on the other hand, I
disapprove of cops disarming someone who is not committing a crime.
If one has a permit to carry, or open carry is legal, why
disarm someone? From a purely officer safety standpoint, I must say that I
would have probably done the same when I was a cop and I expect an officer to
request that I hand over my firearm if I were to be stopped for any reason. I
don’t like it but I would comply.
When I was on patrol I routinely took possession of knives
when I was questioning someone. However, I had reason other than the knife to
stop the person. Interestingly, I never encountered a person with a firearm.
Further, I am conflicted concerning open carry. Doing so
is inviting cops to shake you just to see what falls out. You have to expect
it, especially when younger, less experienced cops are involved. Inexperienced
cops tend to be overly cautious and lack a well developed sixth sense. It comes
with experience. Plus, some cops just don't like it that anyone who ain't a cop is armed.
There is also the "us against them" mentality. If you aren't a cop, you're nothing. One day I'll have to write about the police psychology.
I also know that cops fabricate probable cause. In fact,
cops lie about probable cause. I’ve seen it done and it has happened to me.
Unfortunately, most people become nervous when they see an
armed person in public. I’ve seen it happen here in Vegas. I’ve also seen armed
people totally ignored. But, if no one carries openly the general public will
never get used to it.
If you carry openly, you are naïve if you don’t think the
cops are gonna shake you down.
GUNS AND AMMO GETTING SMALLER
I don’t go anyplace unarmed these days. As I get older and
more out of shape I am not as confident in my ability to overcome greater force.
I carry a really big gun with big bullets. Having been in
law enforcement I carried a lot more stuff on my duty belt than I have to carry
around now. So, a full size semi-auto loading pistol doesn’t seem all that
heavy to me. I actually don’t notice the weight until it isn’t there. Of
course, without all the other stuff as ballast I had to learn to avoid walking
in circles.
I am a big advocate of the bigger the better school of
thought. So are most of the gunriters I read.
So why is everyone so darned excited about all these
little, itsy bitsy, teeny tiny pocket guns with rounds almost too small to hold
and insert in the mag? Huh? What’s up with that?
I figure if you use a large caliber, if you miss a little
you’ll probably still hit something vital.
VIOLENCE AND FORCE
Have you heard these neurotic anti-gun nuts talking about
how using violence doesn’t help matters?
I have news for these people. Resisting violence is in
itself not violence. When I was a cop I had occasion to use force to obtain the
level of cooperation and compliance that I desired. It wasn’t violence, it was
force.
Overcoming violence with whatever means necessary or at
hand is not violence.
Violence is when a bad guy attempts to do me harm or does
in fact do me harm. If I stop the bad guy’s violent behavior with a double tap
to the chest, that is utilizing force. I suppose if I was furiously angry and yelling
obscenities as I was placing lead on target and kicked the guy when he was down
that might be considered violent.
Personally, I dislike violence, that’s why I don’t engage
in it. I also won’t tolerate it around me.