How the LAPD Lost my Trust

[larryh1108]

Thanks 2010, for your service and well written opinion. I can only imagine that the LEO in mega-cities feel like they are in a war zone but it's a choice they make. I can see why they are taught to be proactive instead of reactive in an environment like that.

Thanks for the insight and experience you've given. It helps understand the culture a little better even though it does not make it right. A certain percentage of any group or culture likes to push the envelope and it seems that the law enforcement community attracts those who are aggressive, by nature. I'd want these folks watching my back but I wouldn't want them coming at me. Stealing guns from law abiding citizens under faux threats is akin to armed robbery and there should be legal recourse. We want LEOs to be on our side, not the ones stealing from us.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

Simply based on the posts above I have little doubt which side of 2A most police depts are on if push comes to shove.

 

[Baba Louie]

P.O.2010,
Thank you for your post. Your Sacrifice and Service too, but your written words provide brief clarity and remarkable insight into one aspect of the issue that we should all bear in mind. Occam's Razor being what it is.

 

[dab102999]

PO2010 wrote

If you want the Police in your area to respect your right to keep and bear arms I would suggest you inform yourself as to how your local Police are trained and that you demand that training be changed if it isn't producing the type of Officer you need in your community. Many agencies teach that guns in the possession of non-Police are as dangerous as nuclear waste and require an equally extreme response. Police Officers, both good and bad, are the way they are for a reason. Find out what that reason is and act accordingly.

There is a video on you tube. Just type in ca police and gun offensives. This video has a police chief stating that guns are not for denense. They are for offense and intimidation only. After reading 2010's post definatly see the corilation.

 

[mac66]

I was in LE for a long time and I think people need to understand the cops are often put in tough situations. It used to be that if you caught some kids drinking in the park, you made them pour out the open containers and confiscated the rest and let them go. That used to be ok, until you got some a-hole parent who came to the station claiming you harassed little Johnny and stole his property. Now, everybody gets busted and little Johnny gets a Minor in Possession ticket and big fine, ruining his driving privileges and career opportunities.

I worked in a big city once where we caught so many people carrying guns (before the shall issue concealed laws) that they wouldn't even issue an arrest warrant for them. If you caught someone with a gun, run them to see if they were wanted, run the gun to see if it was stolen, then confiscate it. I imagine that big cities in places like LA, Chicago, NYC, DC where you really can't carry a gun legally are still like that. I know people in Chicago who have guns. They are willing to take their chances if caught.

In the 'burbs, if you caught some guy carrying a gun without a concealed permit because he got mugged a couple months ago and you have to decide whether to bust him or not. Putting him through the system doesn't make much sense so he gives up his gun in exchange for not being arrested. Of course a lot of what you did depending on what he was doing at the time and his attitude. Now days, everybody gets hooked and let the courts decide.

 

[larryh1108]

Putting him through the system doesn't make much sense so he gives up his gun in exchange for not being arrested.

This is what is being discussed. If the guy gives up his gun, there is no charge. If there is no charge, there is no "evidence" so where does the gun go? It would make sense that the decision could be made as to if the gun was a Raven or a Colt 1911, right? So it almost comes to a case of whether the officer wants the gun or the collar. Now, I respect all the men and women who lay their lives on the line for us but the bad element in all aspects of life are those who give the others a bad reputation. Our LEOs need to be held in a better light and incidents like this makes them all look bad, even though it is not true.

 

[Al Thompson]

It is the declared mission of this board to achieve and provide the highest quality of firearms discussion on the Internet.

I know we have a reputation for being pro-cop and if you look closely, the threads we keep open reflect proper firearms use by a LEO, for the most part.

There is always a "piling on" when police misconduct is discussed, as we see here.

IMHO, off topic for THR.