Illinois LE want more privileges for themselves...

[Autolycus]

Local Group Supports Off-Duty Weapons Bill
HARRISBURG-- A local police group is pushing for legislation that would increase their safety by letting off-duty parole agents carry weapons. The bill, HB427, is sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Police lodge 263. Members say the support it's seen so far is being hindered by Senate President Emil Jones, who isn't calling the bill for a vote.

"That's always possible that there's going to be threats out there. You just never know when or where," says Doug Pyle, a trustee for F.O.P. #263.

Members of the Fraternal Order of Police say the tasks of a parole agent can present dangers even when they're not on the job. That's why F.O.P lodge 263 is sponsoring this bill that would increase safety for those who're required to supervise released felons.

"This bill would give them that right to carry if they wish-- it would be their choice. It's not a mandatory requirement but they can carry if they wish to," says Pyle.

The bill also provides for increased training for the agents. Pyle says Senate President Emil Jones is standing in the way of the bill's progress. "We've not received any explanation as to why. We'd like to know why due to the overwhelming favoritism of the bill that we've received up to this point."

Though Jones's office wasn't able to provide Newsthree with his stance on this bill, Jones has sponsored several gun-control bills in the past.

"If he cant trust his law enforcement officials who are trained to carry their weapons-- who can he trust?" says Jim Simmons, President of F.O.P Lodge 263.

Members of the F-O-P say the bill is especially relevant to southern Illinois, where agents may have to cover as many as 24 counties at once.

"There could be maybe the closest agent or backup to you could be 30, 40, even 50 miles away," says Simmons.

Pyle says it comes down to one thing-- "Officer safety, that's the key. They want to make sure the people out there working have every opportunity to make themselves and their family safe."

If you'd like to see bill HB 427 come to a vote, you can contact Senate President Emil Jones's office at (217) 782-2728.

By: Emily Eddington
[email protected]

Link to Article

 

[Autolycus]

From Original Article:
Pyle says it comes down to one thing-- "Officer safety, that's the key. They want to make sure the people out there working have every opportunity to make themselves and their family safe."

Its funny because I want to make sure that I have every oppurtunity to make myself and my family safe... but they dont care about me, do they?

 

[wdlsguy]

Tie carry for off-duty parole agents to shall-issue concealed carry for regular citizens.

 

[Autolycus]

I dont know if that will fly but it is a good way to gain support. Perhaps I will call the sponsor of the current shall issue bill and see if he is willing to do that.

 

[scout26]

Sorry, but their life is worth no more than mine. I can't and won't support it.

 

[Autolycus]

Scout26: My sentiments exactly. I am growing tired of LEOs campaigning for more rights for them while at the same time actively campaigning against our own rights.

 

[ctyatty]

Elitist crap - like in the middle ages when noblemen had arms - the peasants had to kneel.

 

[Autolycus]

Perhaps we should start doing that in Illinois. Whenever we see a LE officer (on and off duty) we should kneel. And start groveling.

There are a lot of farms here I am sure we could get some bags of grain to pay in tribute for their protection.

Make sure that everyone knows your bowing to a LEO. THis is because a lot of LE do not like people knowing they are LE.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

Their leadership has a respect for the Constitution based on organizational utility alone--'more for us' is what they are about. That's fine--just don't pretend to holiness when calling on #$%^& Memorial Day weekend to hit me up for a donation (which they did).

 

[Don Gwinn]

Maybe we could write about bills we don't like without a lot of nonsense like that last post. That would be progress.

They face legitimate threats and should be allowed to carry concealed weapons off duty. You and I should be allowed to do that too. They want the law to recognize their right to do so. We want the law to recognize our right to do so.
Calling them names and making up elaborate fantasies about how you'll make them feel just awful is not helping. The fact that we should have this right doesn't mean they shouldn't.

If you can look past this hatred of police you might find that a lot of them are on your side--or would be, if you would allow it.

 

[Soybomb]

Calling them names and making up elaborate fantasies about how you'll make them feel just awful is not helping. The fact that we should have this right doesn't mean they shouldn't.

I think thats worth quoting. Tecumseh your posts have indicated that you think just maybe the illinois ccw bill had a chance. Do you think there is even the most slim chance the legislature would not support this but would support general ccw? Like it or not, the more people who can carry guns the better.

 

[Jeff White]

First of all, I didn't realize that Parole Officers didn't meet the definition of peace officers and weren't permitted to carry off duty. They should be allowed to just like there should be a CCW law in Illinois (for everyone but Tecumseh at least until he comes up with better tribute then grain ).

I don't think that the bill will go anywhere. The bill to allow judges and prosecutors to carry didn't go anywhere and that was right after the federal judge was murdered in Chicago.

CCW isn't going anywhere this session. We're fighting hard to keep standard capacity magazines. We're five maybe six years from seeing it here in Illinois. I would like to see it called for a vote so we can get all those opposed on record so that we know where to put our resources at.

Seriously, what chance do you think you'll have of getting CCW for civilians when you can't get the legislature to expand it in the law enforcement community? Tecumseh, you need to throw the chip you're carrying on your shoulder onto the ground before the weight of it sinks you too deep into the swamp and you disappear never to be seen again. If you think that you're going to see CCW in Illinois without the support of the LE community you're dead wrong. The police officers on this board are your allies in this fight and some of them have done more to promote RKBA in the last six months then you have in your brief life.

Politics has been called the art of the possible. If it were in my power I would wave y magic wand and right all the wrongs in this state...heck even the world. But real life doesn't work that way. We didn't get to where we're at with RKBA overnight and we certainly aren't going to fix it overnight, The antis took everything they've got incrementally and that's the way we're going to get it back. Your juvenile ranting and whining because peace officers can carry and you can't is getting old. You sound exactly like a spoiled 14 year old who has to be home by 11 when his 17 year old brother can stay out till midnight.

You whine, cry and scream about HR218, it passed in 2004 and there still isn't national reciprocity. Well you know what, it took 12 years to pass HR218. 12 years of fighting in congress and fighting the IACP and other LE organizations representing management. But because 3 years after it passed there isn't national reciprocity you accuse us of deserting you. No one has. It just takes time to pass that. Just like passing legislation in Illinois to allow corrections and parole officers to carry off duty is probably going to have to pass before you see civilian CCW. And the fights will probably take just about as long. To tell you the truth, if it wasn't for 9-11, there probably wouldn't be any nationwide carry for LE. I think it passed as a cheap way for congress to show they were doing something about the terrorist threat.

You are smart, passionate and articulate, but the divisive, I want it all now message you post hurts us more then helps us. Instead of wa, wa, wa the world is so unfair because it doesn't allow Tecumseh to carry a deadly weapon everywhere he goes, why don't you educate yourself on how the political system works and put that intelligence and passion to use in a productive way. We can use you in the fight. Right now you're working against us. What do you think a fence sitter on the CCW issue would do if we let him make his decision based on your posts on THR? Do you think he'd want Illinois residents to have CCW or do you think he'd say we weren't mature enough to handle it?

Jeff

 

[The Amigo]

You took the words out of my mouth..

The police officers on this board are your allies in this fight and some of them have done more to promote RKBA in the last six months then you have in your brief life.

Right on the nail

Tecumseh I have nothing personal against u you are a well articulate and savvy person but I must agree on this one. All your post seem to be saturated with resentment towards anyone who carries that's not you. That's understandable but your mechanisms are only scarring the feelings of some LEO,s willing to put up a fight for you and others.

I currently have 3 LEO,s in my department teaching free weapons handling courses (on their own off time)to people who cant afford the $70 mandatory class for CCW this along other things that I see is what some people who love to bash LEO,s here don't see on a daily basis.

I know that all LEO,s out there are not the cream of the crop but not all of them are out to get you either.

I hope some day you will change your way of thinking toward us. Hope all is good my friend

 

[Zach S]

If you can look past this hatred of police you might find that a lot of them are on your side--or would be, if you would allow it.

Or if the brass would allow it.

I asked one officer about the views of his department on a non-gun related subject, and he said that when they're in uniform, they're basicly representives of the department, and they have to reflect the department's views.

One officer I know got fussed at because he bought beer when he was off duty and in street clothes. He did have his "police" windbreaker on though, and that was the issue. Someone saw a cop, who is supposed to serve and protect, buying beer, which in some people's opinions, shows irresponsabilty.

So the anti-gun officer's comments in a news story may actually come from an pro-gun LEO, but he has to say otherwise to keep from getting in trouble with the brass. There may not be disciplinary action, but there will still likely be a butt-chewin, or character attacks, and those are never fun.

The San Jose police officer that made the assault weapons video in the late 80s/early 90s is a prime example of this. He was a career cop that came out with a pro-gun video, and, IIRC was eventually fired because of it.

Pro-gun LEOs are out there. However they my not be able to be "pro-gun officers."

 

[Mumwaldee]

Charlton Heston as Taylor:

TAYLOR: That's the boy. Keep 'em flying.

LUCIUS: What?

TAYLOR: The flags of discontent. It's the only way anything ever gets changed.

 

[DKSuddeth]

pro gun cops in Illinois......

well, I come from a very small town in North Central ILL. we have about 12 LEO's there. Only one of them was even remotely pro gun about something other than hunting guns.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

Can't parole officers be authorized to carry off duty by their chain of command--I seem to recall that I've heard that they do in some juristictions. I looked at this as a move to codify a practice that may already be permitted in many places. Wonder why Emil isn't on board--did the FOP get on his bad side?

 

[Deanimator]

Perhaps we should start doing that in Illinois. Whenever we see a LE officer (on and off duty) we should kneel. And start groveling.

Be careful doing that in Chicago.

Do a Google search on "Alvin Weems".

They have a short fuse and a long leash.

If a guy knows he can shoot you in the head, get a thirty day suspension for it, and then be PROMOTED to detective, he may just decide to go for it...

 

[jselvy]

Law enforcement officers should not have any more rights and priviledges than any ordinary citizen.
They are no different than the rest of us when they are not wearing the badge, and should be treated accordingly. I take umbrage to the whole concept that LEO's are in some way better than anyone else.

 

[buzz_knox]

Tie carry for off-duty parole agents to shall-issue concealed carry for regular citizens.

That was done to get national reciprocity for police. The end result was the bill passed, and the LE groups abandoned their promised support for national concealed carry for citizens.

I understand that many LEOs (but definitely not all from my personal experience) support civilians having the RKBA. But those officers don't seem to make it to the leadership of the groups that experience shows oppose us.

 

[Darko]

Law enforcement officers should not have any more rights and priviledges than any ordinary citizen.
They are no different than the rest of us when they are not wearing the badge, and should be treated accordingly. I take umbrage to the whole concept that LEO's are in some way better than anyone else.

We are cops on or off duty.

 

[ZeSpectre]

"That's always possible that there's going to be threats out there. You just never know when or where," says Doug Pyle, a trustee for F.O.P. #263.

True for all citizens, not just those with badges.

Pyle says it comes down to one thing-- "Officer safety, that's the key. They want to make sure the people out there working have every opportunity to make themselves and their family safe."

Also true for all citizens, again not just those with badges.

The irony is that the enemies I gained while working as an LEO didn't somehow just vanish after I left the force and became just another ordinary citizen. In fact one guy who wanted (still wants?) to kill me gets out of jail THIS YEAR. Makes me glad I live in Virginia where I can take responsibility for myself.

 

[romma]

That's always possible that there's going to be threats out there. You just never know when or where,"

Duh! That's how the rest of us that are not LE feel too! Illinois is really messed up about this matter.

 

[WeThePeople]

I think that the argument that the parole agents are using should be supported by all who support RKBA. They are saying that the parole agents are in danger from the parolees even when they are not on the job. The rest of us face the same exact threat. I think that we should support them unless they actually come out and say that they don't support similar laws for the rest of the Illinois citizens.

 

[romma]

I think that we should support them unless they actually come out and say that they don't support similar laws for the rest of the Illinois citizens.

I think they as a whole have already spoken against it by:

a) Not saying they support it for citizens

b) In some instances speaking against it for citizens

c) doing nothing to help the citizens of IL at all
and only looking out for themselves.

This not of course how LE feel everywhere, there are good ones that believe in the 2nd ammendment for all!