May I Recommend that YOU Join The LEAA?

[orangeninja]

Simply put, the LEAA is the Law Enforcement Alliance of America and membership is open to anyone. The reason Highroaders should join is as follows:

1.) The only national level law enforcement lobby group that supports YOUR right to keep and bear arms on the citizen level as well as police leve.

2. Read the following quotes from their website:

"focus the political debate on criminal behavior and criminal punishment

communicate the shared opinion of the majority of law enforcement officers that gun control is not an effective method of crime control"

Which sounds High Road to me.

Heres another:


"Does LEAA support civilian Right-To-Carry?

Absolutely! Part of LEAA's core mission is telling the truth from the law enforcement perspective, that gun control is NOT crime control. A simple but not well-known corollary is that honest civilians with firearms are no threat to law enforcement, they are a threat and deterrent to violent crime.

LEAA has a long (10 year+) very active history in supporting civilian right-to-carry. In fact, LEAA has actively supported passage of right to carry in nearly every single state that has adopted RTC reform in the past decade."

And another:

"What are the gun laws when traveling from one jurisdiction to another?

Many gun owners and members of the law enforcement family are acutely and personally aware that the laws governing carrying, possessing and concealing a firearm are terribly confusing and inconsistent, varying wildly from place to place, often just by driving down the road a few miles. Sadly, what is legal in one spot can be a felony just down the road.

To address this patchwork of conflicting laws LEAA supports uniform Right to Carry laws on the state level. On the national level we support the McClure-Volkmer Firearms Owner Protection law and we support passage of H.R. 218. Given the challenges that face those who choose to go armed, LEAA advises that you personally check with the jurisdiction into which the firearm will be taken before you trust anyone's website or assertion as to what is, or is not, lawful. "


Memebership annually is $32.00 with shipping etc. included.

This organization may NOT be for you if you:

A.) Hate cops because they give you tickets when you speed.

B.) Don't appreciate the efforts of the NRA or your local state NRA or lobby groups because you would have done it differently.

Guys I have been working in law enforcement for three years and law enforcement groups that are pro right to keep and bear arms for responsible citizens are few and far between.

It would behoove all 2nd amendment advocates to join these guys.

I'm NRA, now I'm LEAA to. Now where did I put that Texas State Rifle Association app.?

BTW....I am not affiliated with the LEAA, I just became a member after learning of them a few months back and doing some research into them. This is just one way I am trying to ensure our RKBA will be there tomorrow. Law Enforcement lobby groups have traditionally had a profound impact on our 2nd amendment rights in a negative way. It's good to see someone telling the truth out there.

 

[MobileSuitPilotX]

.

I was leary of the LEAA since I thought they were a stepchild to the FOP. Cam Edwards of NRA News had a couple of reps on at different times discussing various topics (right-to-carry, the Clinton Gun Ban sunsetting, etc) that completely changed my mind about them. The LEAA really does stand apart from a great many LEO groups in supporting our 2A rights. I hadn't thought about joining their organization before, but I'm considering it now.

 

[Black Snowman]

Sounds great. How can we join? Website? edit: found: http://www.leaa.org/ Only $200 for lifetime membership. Once I've got my GOA and NRA renewed I'll join LEAA as well. I think I'll put off that next gun purchase just a bit to help fund the fight.

 

[orangeninja]

I'm glad to see that big friggin' post wasn't wasted. I joined today, I am getting as many of my Officers as possible to join. I try to educate these guys that the RKBA is NOT a threat to law enforcement officers.

I think the LEAA is a great institution....NOTHING like the FOP which I refuse to join unless I have to.

 

[rock jock]

I just joined. Sounds like a good organization.

 

[orangeninja]

Good deal Rockjock. Pass the word to fellow highroaders. I think this could become a VERY effective lobby group to counter some of the damage done by the Internation Association of Chiefs of Police and the Fraternal Order of Police for 2 very good reasons.

1.) They get support from LINE LEVEL on the street in the mud and blood cops.

2.) They get support from concerned citizens who have an eye on crime AND VOTE.

 

[rock jock]

I will send it on to the membership of our local gun club. There are about 100 member who are on the email list. You're right about one thing - Police Chiefs have had WAY too much attention when it comes to LE. I hate when the press makes it sound like they speak for their departments.

 

[geegee]

Glad to hear the info about LEAA is being so well received. I've been a Life Member for a few years now, and have been gratified to see that LEAA's efforts to push for the passage of HR 218 finally payed off. Over the past few years, whenever I'd be driving long distances on my job, I'd usually have a dozen or so of LEAA's magazine, "The Shield," boxed in my trunk. I'd often stop at the front desk of small town police stations to see if I could leave a copy or two for the break room, and would invariably have a chance to talk about HR 218, a piece of legislation few street cops seemed to know much about.

Support this organization-they're very pro CHL for Mr. & Mrs. Average American.

 

[TechBrute]

I can spare $32 for a year's membership. After a year, I'll consider a lifetime.

law enforcement groups that are pro right to keep and bear arms for responsible citizens are few and far between.

Why is that, anyways?

 

[orangeninja]

"law enforcement groups that are pro right to keep and bear arms for responsible citizens are few and far between."


Techbrute...I'll tell you why and this is why it is so important to support these guys.

1.) Police Chiefs and the Internation Association of Chiefs of Police why are very anti-2nd amendment. How the shepard goes, so go the sheep. They also like to speak publicly for all cops. Like we're gonna step up and say "uh...Chief, I'm gonna have to disagree with you there."

2.) The Fraternal Order of Police...worthwhile organization (if you're a cop) though they are very, very pro gun control. They have lobbied for it, and are used as a pawn for the gun grabbers. They like to speak on behalf of all cops because people tend to believe cops concerning crime. At least most people do. This is a very powerful lobby group.

3.) Academy...cops are taught to fear the gun...not necassarily the own. The gun not in the cops control is a threat. This again stems from the top down.

THAT is why it is so important that police and police Departments become EDUCATED on guns and gun control.

 

[Brian Dale]

Good stuff, alduro. Before reading your post, I didn't know LEAA from FOP.

Thank you.

 

[El Tejon]

Founding member here, back when it was Po-po for the Second Amendment, and all this was orchard . . . I took the ferry to Shelbyville.

Excellent group for RKBA. Join if you have not already. I thank you.

 

[what42]

I'm a little hesitant to join after reading about HR218, the "Law Enforcement Officer’s Safety Act". I remember when this was passed being mad at these LEO organizations. Why should they have the right to protect their families and not us 'average' citizens? Law enforcement is a very honorable choice in careers but when off duty they are citizens just like me. I think all people deserve the right to self-defense.

Their descriptions of their goals sounds right to me but HR218 bothers me. It seems to put forward the opinion that cops are somehow superior to other citizens.

 

[geegee]

I'm a little hesitant to join after reading about HR218, the "Law Enforcement Officer’s Safety Act". I remember when this was passed being mad at these LEO organizations. Why should they have the right to protect their families and not us 'average' citizens? Law enforcement is a very honorable choice in careers but when off duty they are citizens just like me. I think all people deserve the right to self-defense.

I agree completely, and this is without question the biggest sticking points may gun owners have with HR 218. It appears to establish a special class of citizen that is allowed national reciprocity and right to carry, where that right doesn't exist for the rest of us non-LEO's.

My best response to this is that I would hope that when the time comes, and as national reciprocity gains more momentum, LEAA will add it's voice to the support of passing that legislation.

 

[CannibalCrowley]

Join and help fund an organization which supports the creation of an elite class in our society, I don't think so.

 

[Smurfslayer]

An open invitation to LEAA

I have been unsuccessful in getting LEAA to :
1: return my calls.
2: return my emails.

and obviously, I haven't been able to get any sort of position from them on any specific legislation.

Here is my proposal. LEAA says on it's website that they support "right to carry". I say prove it.

LEAA, sign on to the VCDL Petition to allow citizens and off duty police officers under the auspices of HR218 to carry firearms in National Parks and on NPS property. Download it, sign it, send it, and put out a press release supporting it.

http://www.vcdl.org/new/Petition_for_Rulemaking.pdf

That is my challenge to you. Accept that challenge, and gain our support.

 

[boohsdad]

Great organization, Know many who belong and do the right thing.

 

[StopTheGrays]

Membership is only $26.00 a year.

http://secure1.netbilling.com/cs/store.cgi?store_id=427&merchant_id=law&prod_cat=1750


(edited to add...unless you add $6.00 for S/H but for what for what idunno )

 

[orangeninja]

"Join and help fund an organization which supports the creation of an elite class in our society, I don't think so."

Okay for all of you "all or nothing" type of guys or those who fear the "elite class" I have a parable which should tell you how laws get passed and D. C. works.

There was a Shiek who had a camel he loved very much. The camel slept just outside of the shieks, tent. One cold night the camel said to the shiek, "Master, it's cold out here, could I perhaps just stick my nose in your tent to warm it?"

The Sheik replied: "Well okay, but just your nose, it is a small tent and it gets crowded quickly." So the camel sticks his nose in. A few moments later the camel again says, "Master, I really hate to ask, but it is still very cold out, perhaps if I stick my head in it will help."

The Sheik said: "Okay Camel, I will move some of my things and you may stick your head in." Which the camel did. A couple of minutes later the camel again said: "Master, may I just get one of my humps in, it is terribly cold outside and I would be forever greatful."

The Shiek pondered this and decided that an upset camel will not take him where he needs to go, so he said "Yes, just one hump." Before long the camel had inched and begged his way fully into the tent and the shiek was pushed into the cold outside. So the shiek, seeing what had happened said "Camel, it is terribly cold out here, may I stick my nose into the tent just to keep it warm."

The camel being the wiser said: "I am afraid not master, there does not seem to be room for us both."




Okay, now if you read all of that, the gun grabbers are taking your rights inch by inch. A little here, a little there, and they are willing to COMPROMISE because they see the big picture. For those of you who are not with me, it will be easier to JUSTIFY a national concealed carry for cops....because it is hard to argue against that logic. It took well over 13 years to get that passed and it was passed. Now it will be challanged in court over and over again. Once this is successful, the next logical step would be responsible citizens with CHL's in their respective states be given mandantory federal reciprocity, which again the logic would be tough to refute. However if it took 13 years for sworn LEO's, I wouldn't see this horse getting out of the gate if you were to ask for it at the same time.


Think of it as Political Tactics.

 

[Smurfslayer]

That's a good parable.

Now, if LEAA would put it's camel's nose under the NPS's tent and support VCDL's petition to lift the onerous regulations on parks, we would be more inclined.

Incidentally, 2.4 provides that a law enforcement officer may carry a weapon while on duty.

"..it is a fundamental rule of statutory construction that the inclusion of one thing in a law necessarily means the exclusion of another..." The words 'on duty' are key. That means that an off duty law enforcement officer in a park with a loaded gun is violating regulation 2.4. It's not that big a deal though, maybe a $100 fine first offense...

 

[orangeninja]

Smurfslayer, are you sure it only applies to "on duty?" I read 218 over a couple of times and I don't see that anywhere.

 

[Smurfslayer]

It's only going to be hashed out in court

I am not familiar with 218 since it has no bearing on my life... That is until I stumble across one of those violators

Yes, 2.4 explicitly states you must be on duty. Of course, if I notice an LEO carrying off duty, or exhibiting manifestly non on duty behavior, I am obligated to report it...
Here is the wording...

(e) Authorized Federal, State and local law enforcement officers may
carry firearms in the performance of their official duties.

Since it mentions "official duties" that limits the scope of the permission to carry firearms.

 

[orangeninja]

Guess I better re-read the thing. It doesn't really matter, at least here in Texas considering that you have the CHL available, plus I'm 24/7 on call, technically I'm never really off duty.

 

[Harry Tuttle]

The LEAA is an NRA offshoot

 

[orangeninja]

Tuttle,

Uh...yeah, but this one is headed by LEO's which to put it bluntly, are often characterized unfairly as being anti-gun, which most are not. In fact for many LEO's this is the only voice we have since most Departments will frown upon any Officer going against the official stated policy by stating a seperate set of beliefs.

Smurfslayer

I can't find the text you are indicating, here is my source http://www.leaa.org/218/218text.html

Can you link yours?