The cop whos afraid of guns: My roomate

[DontBurnMyFlag]

Ok, So as a few people know, Im a new police officer. Ive been a gun owner for years so naturally when I got an apartment with some other cops, I brought my weapons cache.

So as I sit at the kitchen table with my S&W model 10 cleaning it, my roomate , a cop in a different town, is watching me in awe. He states that he cant believe there is a gun in the house now. I ask what he means. He says, hes just not used to having a gun around and that its just really dangerous. I tell him that its just an object and its not dangerous until its loaded and someone is holding. So he then asks me to hold it, which naturally I comply with. He lights up like an 8 year old giggling and pointing it at the wall and pulling the trigger.

It gets worse. He then sees me playing with snap caps one day and he asks what Im doing. I told him that it helps you get used to the trigger pull etc. So he says its dangerous because I might have accidently loaded a live round.

I come home one day to find my Saiga .223 case moved and obviously touched. I open it up and it looks as if someone was trying to get inside the case and touch the gun (the case was locked). I was in pure shock and awe. He can at least ask me next time!

Long story short, he is moving out on a completely unrelated matter. Which Im glad. This is a guy who straps a Glock to his hip everyday, someone who America trusts to keep them safe and who cant handle having a gun in the house.

It just opened my eyes. I hope I dont see his video of an accidental discharge going around THR in the next few years. Argh.

Just thought Id share.

 

[psyopspec]

I do wish him the best of luck, but the moment he places others in danger with his gun handling, I hope he goes down faster than a bottle of vodka at Courtney Love's house.

 

[hardcorehunter5]

Seems like one of those liberal types that would be a better social worker than an officer. Thank god he is not who I count on for back up.

 

[10 Ring Tao]

Seems like one of those liberal types that would be a better social worker than an officer.

Absolutely. Seems like too many touchy feely types make it into law enforcement, when they should have done social work.

 

[gulogulo1970]

This just doesn't make sense to me. Why would someone choose a career where one is afraid of the tools of the job?

Its like a mechanic being afraid of wrenches or a cab driver who is afraid of cars.

 

[Old Dog]

This just doesn't make sense to me. Why would someone choose a career where one is afraid of the tools of the job?

Its like a mechanic being afraid of wrenches or a cab driver who is afraid of cars.

This is a major error in your thinking. The firearm is only one of many tools in a police officer's toolbox. And, for most cops, a tool that is not the one used the most often. Notepads, radios, MDTs, ballpoint pens ... these are some tools used daily.

Whereas those in the gun culture think it might be neat to work in an occupation that entails routine carry of firearms, use of firearms and, one would expect, encouragement by one's employer to be proficient in the use of firearms ... you just have to understand that for a huge majority of those folks entering law enforcement occupations, the fact that they get to carry a gun, are forced to maintain a certain level of qualification in the use of a gun, and may actually at some point have to use a gun in the performance of their duties, is at best a minor consideration in their decision to enter these occupations.

Many enter law enforcement simply because they are looking for an occupation that entails community service, or out of a genuine desire to enforce laws they believe in, help people out or for a myriad of other reasons.

It's not always about the gun you get to carry. Too many on this forum seem to believe police work is all about having a gun. Believe it or not, the guns are a small, small part of the job for most cops.

 

[Hoppy590]

he probibly thinks a bank shoot out can be resolved through a good heart to heart talk. and that the robbers, are just missunderstood. and are simply expressing thier rage at the inequality of the modern urban young male .

as opposed to. they wanted the money, and didnt want to work for it.

 

[DontBurnMyFlag]

its the weirdest thing with this guy. he wants to be on the SWAT team for the LAPD etc. Hes a frail little guy who never had a loud voice in the academy. I just dont know whats going on.

But on another note. The tool I use most as a police officer is my flashlight and pen. Sure, the cuffs have been used many a time, but not nearly as much as my stupid pen. I have to take notes on everything. But oh well.

 

[gulogulo1970]

I know that a gun is not used more by police than say their car or say their shoes or pencils. Mechanics use other tools other than wrenches as well.

But who really needs a gun for their job other than hunting guides and security guards, maybe police...maybe?

When a police officer needs to use his gun the situation can be a dire one. It would be really cool if the officer wasn't afraid of his sidearm. It is the tool used when their job becomes the most serious. And the gun is the tool most associated with the job. A policeman being a gun person or not, the fear better be overcome with say, a healthy respect. You would hope.

 

[gulogulo1970]

Just to add, I really respect the job the police do day in and day out. I couldn't do it, I don't much like confrontations in general. Police confront lawlessness, evil, and stupidity on a daliy basis. That will always win my respect for what thats worth.

Good luck to the guy, maybe he will mature in the the job. Maybe, weather he becomes comfortable with guns or not will have little to do with being a good cop. But I have to think it has to be a pretty important skill though, can't hurt, anyway.

 

[50 Freak]

Hey Don'tBurnMyFlag,

Congrats on being a new LE, it's a hard job. Takes a strong (I don't mean physically now) person to handle all the stress and put up with the Dregs of Society.

Just remember one thing....Not all of us are out there to get you, don't get the Us versus Them mentality.

Anyways about your roommate. I hope he gets some more training with a firearm. With more training, he'll hopefully be more at ease with a firearm and see it for what it is...a tool....and not the boogey man like the antis want us to believe.

Watch your six and trust your instincts...

 

[SNEAKS]

This guy should not be a cop and I feel sorry for anyone who has to be his presents when something goes down and the gun is the only solution. He sounds like one of those guys who goes to shoot the weapon when his life is in danger forgetting to take off the safety and when it doesnt fire looks at it like its broken. SWAT yeah I hope not. I live in LA and would not want to count on him to save someone or worse a family member. May be thats why he has a GLOCK no safety.

 

[sacp81170a]

Unfortunately, when Heinlein said "there's no such thing as a dangerous weapon, there are only dangerous people" (paraphrase, I don't remember the exact quote), he forgot to qualify it with "and some people are a constant danger to themselves and others." I'm not sure I'd trust this guy to drive in a high speed pursuit or in any other situation that called for clear thinking in a stressful situation. I've met lots of other officers who weren't "gun guys" but I've never met one who has such a childish attitude toward firearms. Are you sure he just wasn't jerking your chain?

 

[LightningJoe]

Scary. How'd this guy get past the screening board? Didn't they see he was a wiener?

 

[Ryder]

I met many people in the coastal states whom I would not let hold one of my guns. Most of them I didn't trust enough to even let them know I owned one. Those people were a huge enough threat to the immediate safety of others without a gun. I don't know what causes people to become such a hazard to everyone they meet but it's for darn sure you don't fall asleep when they're around.