How will the new LEO carry law play out?

[manwithoutahome]

Watchman and Art,

I took some time to sit back and rethink my position and all I have to draw on is what I've experienced.

Watchman, I'm not belittling you or what you do. You are a hard working joe, just like the rest of us. You are just like the rest of us, working people who choose their careers that they wanted to pursue, which still doesn't make one group, because of their choice of job, better than another and should get special rights.

As for "manwithoutahome". This comes from the fact that I was a Military Brat and every three to four years we moved. Then I joined the military and the next ten after that I moved or was stationed overseas. So, I am a "manwithoutahome" not due to my attitude but due to the way that I feel.

The only experiences that I can draw on is that when I needed help, Rabid cat bit me, assault by the people across the street after the owner died, an accident that left my friends car disabled in the middle of a busy street, that they refused to come to take a report (played hell on the insurance claim against the one who's fault it was) and then to add insult to injury, wouldn't even help to move the car or call anyone to help move the car. Friend ended up getting a ticket for "blocking the street".

Yet, if you go 1 mile over the speed limit there is no limits to how many cops will show up to issue a ticket. If your car is "too close to the street" while it's in your driveway, they seem to have the time to give you a hard time and push their badge around.

When I got bit by a cat that had all the signs of Rabies, the cop that was using radar about three blocks from the house (I didn't know that he was there until I passed him on my way to the ER with the now dead cat). I stopped and asked him why no one could respond to my call for help and his answer was, "we're to busy". I asked, "What, catching speeders"? And his curt answer was, "Ya".

So, you see where I get my "attitude"? See why I firmly believe that this is going to become a "I got mine, screw you". You see why they will now hope on the anti wagon with statements of, "You civies don't need to have guns, we're on duty 24/7 no matter where we're at, and don't forget that the Supreme Court has ruled that we don't have to even try to protect you".

I'll hold back and see what happens. But my crystal ball tells me that we're going to have the Us vs. Them really bad, with the LEO's leading the way.

Watchman, I thank you for what you do. From speaking with you I've gotten the impression that you are one of the good LEO's, who would jump at the chance to help and do your best in doing so. You're one of the good ones, one who knows that he now has greater Rights than us but will still fight to give the same Rights to those that are not LEO's. I was harsh on you and I do apologize. If you keep up the fight and don't gain the attitude of "well, I've got mine" then I will be by your side fighting the good fight.

Wayne

 

[MarkDido]

I haven't read each message in this thread very closely, so this may have already been addressed:

I don't believe that a LEO, who is out of his jurisdiction, has any "duty to act" if, for example, he sees a crime while he is out of state, on vacation, etc. Meaning if he's standing in line at the 7-11 and 2 armed urban youth saunter in, he is not required to act. So to me, that means that that weapon is there for the protection of the LEO.

 

[Pebcac]

I'm gonna toss my oar in for what it's worth. First, I support LEO national carry, because some folks will try to kill police officers just because of what job they chose. They have a right to defend themselves. So do I, and so I hope that the LEO national carry law will serve as a guide to national carry-permit reciprocity.

As to whether or not the police are the good guys or the bad guys, well, that depends on the individual, just like it does for everyone else. I have a very low opinion of the local metro police department thanks to some first-hand internal experience, but that does not keep me from respecting someone who will put on body armor and take a crappy salary to try to keep his neighborhood safe. The police in the 'burbs here, while being paid far less than the metro department pays, are mostly decent people.

Police officers are human beings. Some of them are warts on the butt of society, and some are stand-up people trying to do a good job. Others are somewhere in between. Unfortunately, they all have to deal with the absolute worst our society has to offer, and some deal with that better than others. Watchman, for the personal accounts you related, you have my respect.

I try not to let a couple of negative experiences color my impressions of any group to an unwarranted extent. Otherwise, I would hate everyone.

Oh, and by the way, let me point this out: According to the NHTSA, traffic accidents killed 42,815 people in 2002. I wish there were a lot more radar guns and blue lights slowing people down around here. Maybe I'm weird.

 

[rock jock]

Also, for those looking to join a reserve force to get nationwide carry, I suggest you don't. If that is your only reason for becoming involved in LE that is the wrong thing to do. The job requires a lot of commitment and sacrifice and if you aren't committed to doing the job you will end up being a danger to yourself, your fellow officers, and the people in the community.

In Texas, at least, I don't think anyone becomes a reserve LEO anymore unless they are really serious. It requires graduation from an accredited academy, which is a huge commitment in terms of time and money.