[Andrew Rothman]

This bill would allow off-duty cops to carry a concealed weapon throughout the 50 states. It seems like a good idea to me.

More info: http://www.hr218.com

Here is the letter I sent to my U.S. Representative:

(write your rep at http://www.house.gov/writerep/)

To the Honorable XXXXXXXX,

I would greatly appreciate your support and co-sponsorship of H.R. 218, Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2003.

Simply put, this bill would allow active and retired-in-good-standing police officers to carry their firearms throughout the nation, should they so choose.

This seems like a no-brainer: it costs nothing, and enhances homeland security in a real and meaningful way.

Even if that were not reason enough, please bear in mind that some jurisdictions go so far as banning off-duty officers from carrying a gun!

These policies have led to the deaths of many police officers as victims of revenge shootings.

Police officers put their lives on the line for us every day. Please allow them to protect themselves and us!

Your web page has a whole page for "Support Our Troops". This bill supports our OTHER troops: our state troopers, police officers and sheriff's deputies. Do they deserve any less?

I would appreciate a message from you regarding your views on this bill.

Thank you,

Matthew Payne

[Augustwest]

Sorry, it's a nice idea.

But I'm not going to urge anyone in congress to create a privileged class of carriers while we commoners have to grovel in most states in order to exercise a fundamental right.

[rock jock]

Once a LEO is out of state, they have no greater authority in enforcing the law than you or I. So, the only thing this bill would do is give them the right to carry for their own protection. In that sense, why is their life any more important than yours or mine?