So you think the majority of LEO's are anti-gun?

[DC300a]

I am a member of this forum and a member of a forum for LEO's. Gun Control is a topic that comes up often and I thought my friend's on the HighRoad might find it interesting.

http://www.policelink.com/topics/19486-gun-control/posts

I am not sure if you have to be a member of the page to read the forums or not. If so, I apologize for the inconvenience. Just thought you might like to see the view from the other side of the badge.

 

[Ohio Rifleman]

I just checked; no you do not need to be a member to view it. Might be an interesting read.

Edit: Wow. I just read the first page of that thread. I assume most of those people are LEOs. Looks like law enforcement is on our side.

 

[Zundfolge]

One rather telling bit is that once public opinion turned against the OP, he (she?) never posted again.

Many of us here acknowledge that a large percentage of rank and file officers are somewhere between neutral and pro-gun.

The problem is that as you move up in rank, the percentage that are outright anti-gun grows.

Thankfully I like in a county where the Sheriff is staunchly pro-gun.

 

[Hoppy590]

doesnt matter what the officers are.

it only takes one guy at the top, then everyone below them is "just following orders"

 

[DC300a]

I agree Zundfolge. The higher ups seem to be less pro-gun. I don't particularly know why.

Maybe while all the "I want to be in charge" people are busy climbing the ladder. All the good "I want to help people" guys/gals are busy doing their jobs.

Could also be because as they climb the ladder, their jobs are less protected by contract and more subject to the whims of politicians...

In my particular job, supervisor's are not covered by the collective bargaining contract and work at the whim of the Department.

 

[akodo]

I cannot say as to all LEOs US wide, but I CAN say I have lived in some areas where the vast majority of LEOs were gun friendly, or at least gun neutral.

However, I currently live in a city where the majority of LEOs are anti-gun. (or the head LEO is anti-enough that they must all act anti to keep him happy)

 

[jerkface11]

Hoppy is right. Pro-gun or not they'd still confiscate all of your arms if ordered.

 

[McKnife]

Whenever I think of LEO's and CHL -- this thread comes to mind back from March/April of 2008 from Officer.com.

http://forums.officer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87148&highlight=CHL

True, just a few spoil the whole bunch -- and it has for me.

Just scares the hell out of me when I see some of the responses. I was actively updating the page during the onslaught... there are about 7 or 8 posts that were deleted at the end of the argument due to the complete absurdity and endorsement of illegal acts [by police]. I also recall that several posts from within the meat of the argument were deleted, probably the result of a few permanent bans of corrupt posters.

*sigh*

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Most LEOs I have known personally were pro-gun and
pro-self-defense with handguns. It was my LEO acquaintances
who convinced me to get a handgun for self-defense use.

The CLEOs quoted on the news media will be anti-gun,
but that reflects the views of the news media more than
it reflects the views of most CLEOs or LEOs.

Federal LE tends to be more anti-gun than local LE.

All general rules have exceptions.

 

[DC300a]

McKnife---

Sounds to me that thread is more about whether someone should be disarmed during a traffic stop or not. Not whether or not the officer's are pro-2ndAmendment.

However, I will note that the loudest officer's in that thread were from Detroit and Washington, DC. Two cities who are known to be antigun.

As for being disarmed during a traffic stop. First don't speed, run stop lights, or break sound ordinances and you will not get stopped. Second, if you are stopped... I can almost assume you with 98.667% certainty that if you are unarmed during the 15 minutes of said traffic stop; you will not be robbed, carjacked, raped, acosted, or otherwise offended by persons who may pass your way... so, maybe you will not have the need of said firearm until you are on your merry way.

 

[JohnnyOrygun]

Very Good thread over there, I joined their forum so I could see the 20/20 video. My experience with most LEO's is they are very 2nd Amendment Friendly, one of the gun clubs I used to belong to had several very active LEO's and they WERE good!

Other officers I have known have all been very reasonable and understanding of the uselessness of gun control laws, they are after laws and I seem to recall that criminals are people who break, wait who break, LAWS! Woa, I know here that "I am preaching to the choir", but I can't understand why gun control advocates think if a criminal breaks laws, then why would gun control laws work.

Here is a link to the 20/20 John Stossel Video referenced by one of the posters on that thread.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyoLuTjguJA

John

 

[Deanimator]

As for being disarmed during a traffic stop. First don't speed, run stop lights, or break sound ordinances and you will not get stopped. Second, if you are stopped

That is an unsupportably broad statement. You are LESS likely to be stopped. It's not a GUARANTEE.

Cops stop people for all sorts of reasons, good and bad. Any claim to the contrary is simply nonsense and any meaningful review of the media and legal system is absolute proof of it.

Every cop isn't looking for an excuse to stop you. Every cop isn't NOT looking for an excuse to stop you either.

 

[DC300a]

I like the quote in you sig line Deanimator.

 

[McKnife]

However, I will note that the loudest officer's in that thread were from Detroit and Washington, DC. Two cities who are known to be antigun.

+1 I noticed that too... makes me wonder what that DC cop was thinking after DC v Heller. haha

I can almost assume you with 98.667% certainty that if you are unarmed during the 15 minutes of said traffic stop; you will not be robbed, carjacked, raped, acosted, or otherwise offended by persons who may pass your way... so, maybe you will not have the need of said firearm until you are on your merry way.

Totally Irrelevant. If you disarm for the sake of disarming, you've already offended me and you're wrong. If I'm not a criminal (nor a threat), then give me my cite (if deserved) and have a good day. Otherwise, hands off.


I'm very professional and personable. I've never been in that situation, but I have a sick feeling that my first traffic stop with my .45 on my hip, it's going to get confiscated. -- Just a gut feeling. So, in relation to the OP, I know of NO pro-gun cops until I meet one in person, but it doesn't mean I hate them.

 

[Phil DeGraves]

Pro-gun or not they'd still confiscate all of your arms if ordered.

I doubt it. Maybe about 30% would. The other 70% would require the proper Court Authorized paperwork before following an arbitrary (and illegal) order. I tried this in a scenario based training exercise with recruits and was pleasantly surprised with the result.

 

[gripper]

The politics of the place they police often influences who gets rank amongst THE police...
Where I used to live;when the current CLEO took over;those that did not shear his views often got other than what they wanted RE assignments/hours.

 

[TAB]

I doubt it. Maybe about 30% would. The other 70% would require the proper Court Authorized paperwork before following an arbitrary (and illegal) order. I tried this in a scenario based training exercise with recruits and was pleasantly surprised with the result.

Recent history has disproved that.

 

[Phil DeGraves]

Recent history has disproved that.

No it hasn't. It just shows that 30% are willing. The other 70% wouldn't so those did. I'm assuming you are talking about Katrina.

There may be geographical considerations. Maybe in NY, NJ, Chi, Boston, etc. you might get a higher % of cops willing to be good Nazis, but as a general rule, taking all of the police in the country, I doubt you'd have a % greater than 30.

 

[TAB]

and you have these numbers how?

 

[jakemccoy]

Define "pro-gun" and "anti-gun" so that the thread can at least resemble something meaningful.

 

[geekWithA.45]

I'm not surprised to find rank & file police to be supportive of an armed citizenry. A number of surveys over the decades have been pretty consistent on that matter.

The police chiefs, who are politically motivated and beholden appointees, are another matter entirely.

 

[Phil DeGraves]

Would the police would engage in unlawful activity if told to do so by a superior. I think the majority would refuse.

As far as a definition, do the majority of police believe that the law abiding citizenry should have the right to be armed, that would mean "pro-gun." Anything else would be "anti."

 

[TAB]

I think your giving them too much credit. Most people can't aford to lose thier job/ pension. When your give a choice of, do this or your fired, and your retirement goes away. Most people will do what they are told.

 

[Werewolf]

Nice site; I'll be visiting it again.

That said:

Hoppy is right. Pro-gun or not they'd still confiscate all of your arms if ordered.

...Is something I firmly believe also. I wondered what LEO's take on that is so I did a search of the police link site. Tried every combination of key words involving firearms and confiscation I could think of. Lots of topics popped but none asked the question of LEOs "Would you take them if ordered?"

There's one particular forum dedicated to non-Leo's asking LEO's questions. They're very specific that no non-Leo can answer. I searched that one in particular over and above a general site search and nothing there either.

I did find one topic about enforcing laws LEO's didn't like. The consensus was overwhelming. LEO's on PoliceLink enforce laws even if they don't believe in them. Many mentioned they'd hate to be DC LEO's right now but that they'd still follow the mayors orders. I found this strange in light of the overwhelmingly pro-gun, anti-gun control attitude expressed in the thread linked to by the OP.

The lack of a thread addressing the issue of confiscation combined with the thread regarding enforcing laws leos don't believe in is pretty disturbing and - assuming the police link leos are representative of the law enforcement community as a whole highly indicative that your run of the mill beat cop would in fact obey orders if told to start confiscating our weapons.

 

[TeamPrecisionIT]

Im in favor of massive gun control! Every citizen who chooses to be armed and receives a state sponsored firearms training course that shows the proper attributes of gun control Or better yet, keep the government out of it, they seem to ruin everything they touch.

Damian