[dinosaur]

There`s a discussion on a LEO board about H.R. 218. This is the House bill on police being allowed to carry out of state.

I just read a response from a probably young officer from Chicago. (S)He seems like a nice enough fellow but he made a statement that as police we have more rights than the average citizen. I`m not sure if he realizes what he`s saying. I`m not ready to comment yet as I want a measured, reasonable response and not a flame war.

He`s also said that Chicago`s laws regarding firearms are no more restrictive than anywhere else in the country. :banghead:

I think he`s a product of his (Herr Daly`s) environment and maybe he can be shown the light.

I may just let this ride for awhile and see if any of his young contemporaries pick up on it first. It seems to have become almost a religious experience to disagree with the old timers on P.D.s nowadays. :cuss:

[Hkmp5sd]

He`s also said that Chicago`s laws regarding firearms are no more restrictive than anywhere else in the country.

In that case, he should have no problem obeying everyone else's laws while he is outside Chicago. As such, there is no need for the passage of H.R. 218 to allow him to carry outside his jurisdiction. After he leaves Chicago, he has no law enforcement authority and should have no need to be armed any differently than other non-LEO citizens.

[tyme]

I've got a better idea.

Someone should introduce a bill that makes state and local public officials subject to their jurisdiction's laws covering firearm carry, licensing, purchasing, and possession, even when they're not in their jurisdiction. In addition, there should be a mandatory 5-year $250k sentencing enhancement.

I wonder how fast all the worthless laws on the books would be disposed of?

[Hkmp5sd]

tyme,

There you go with that "equal protection under the law" crap again! :D This is America. Do you really think everyone should be treated the SAME? :neener:

BTW, I love that idea!

[whoami]

(S)He seems like a nice enough fellow but he made a statement that as police we have more rights than the average citizen.

Actually, that's true...depending on the context. Police generally have a wider range of investigative and arrest powers than an average 'citizen' as a consequence of their job. Maybe calling them 'rights' is not the proper term to use....but it's there. If that is what they are referring to, then they are correct. However, if they are making the statement that they are accorded certain rights not related to the performance of their job, or that they are while not in the execution of their duty held to a different legal standard, then they are incorrect.

He`s also said that Chicago`s laws regarding firearms are no more restrictive than anywhere else in the country

Anybody have a smilie that'd cover 'You're smoking crack!'?

[cuchulainn]

Actually, that's true...depending on the context. Police generally have a wider range of investigative and arrest powers than an average 'citizen' as a consequence of their job. Maybe calling them 'rights' is not the proper term to use....but it's there.

The correct term is powers :) (see 10th Amendment)

Governments don't have rights, and thus this cop has zero rights related to his job as a government agent. His rights derive from his humanity; his powers derive from his job.

The distinction between rights and powers is often confused these day, and it shouldn't be.

[El Tejon]

Chicago has the same laws as everyone else?:rolleyes:

Must be why I keep meeting Chicago po-po at Crown Point, Lafayette, and Indy gun shows!:D

[Tamara]

(S)He seems like a nice enough fellow but he made a statement that as police we have more rights than the average citizen.

Old cop friend to young cop friend, on the same issue: "The only thing that badge means in this state, son, is that you can make arrests for criminal misdemeanors and issue traffic citations." ;)

[Chris Rhines]

For a civil society to function, the legislators have to be subject to the laws that they enact. Same goes for the government employees who enforce such laws. That this is not the case right now is one of the big reasons for our present decline.

- Chris

[Coltdriver]

If you don't think cops have more rights than ordinary citizens then:

You try breaking down someones door and killing their 10 year old with a shotgun and getting away with it scott free.

You try breaking down someones door and killing an innocent law abiding owner only to discover you have the wrong house and you walk away from it without penalty.

You try shooting an innocent law abiding citizen who is carrying a chalk board eraser that you thought was a gun.

The police are, unfortunately, the strong arm and the muscle of the politicians.

The vast majority of police are good, decent people. But the government mechanisms behind them elevate them to a status that is certainly above any ordinary citizen and those mechanisms will spend unlimited amounts of the ordinary citizens money in order to defend any action the police take.