Police Group Asks Congress, 'How Many More Cops Must Die?'

U.S. Newswire | 5-12-04 | Unknown

[SmithPatterson]

Police Group Asks Congress, 'How Many More Cops Must Die?'; Life Saving Legislative Priority of Rank and File Cops Stalled in Congress

5/12/2004 12:26:00 PM

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To: National Desk

Contact: Ted Deeds of the Law Enforcement Alliance of America (LEAA), 703-847-2677

WASHINGTON, May 12 /U.S. Newswire/ -- As America marks the ultimate sacrifices made by men and women in blue during National Police Week, one law enforcement group is placing at least some blame, squarely at the feet of Congress. The Law Enforcement Alliance of America (LEAA) suggests that Congress' failure to enact life-saving legislation that would allow qualified off duty and retired officers to carry their firearms in all 50 states, is partly responsible.

While the nation mourns officers killed in the line of duty and the capitol is filled with officers from across the country, politicians will make speeches, thanking and claiming support for the men and women who risk their lives to keep our neighborhoods safe. Next week, after the tears and the speeches, Congress will return to business as usual, and that business includes keeping the number one legislative priority of America's law enforcement officers on the back burner.

H.R. 218, The Law Enforcement Officers' Safety Act, (S.253 in the Senate) has overwhelming bi-partisan support, on paper. Some 293 Members of the House of Representatives and 68 Senators have signed on as cosponsors. Yet despite the bi-partisan backing which includes leadership from both sides of the aisle, this life- saving legislation has languished in Congress for more than a decade.

Backed by virtually every organization representing the rank and file law enforcement officers, this legislation has yet to receive even a simple hearing in the House of Representatives in nearly five years, despite having a majority of the Members of Congress signed on as cosponsors in the 108th and 107th Congresses.

Across the country, officers for whom H.R. 218 is the highest legislative priority, are fed up with Congress' failure to take real action in support of the officers on the street. Said one LEAA member, a patrol officer who asked not to be identified, "Our guy (Congressional Representative) told me that he agrees with me on this issue, but that's all he's done, imagine if police officers simply told the citizens they protect, 'hey, we agree with you that we don't like bad guys, but don't expect us to actually take action,' well just agreeing with me isn't enough to get my vote."

LEAA Executive Director Jim Fotis, a highly decorated retired officer, pleaded to Congressional leadership to take action, or risk alienating the public safety community. Said Fotis, "Don't come asking for support in November when you've done nothing in the last two years to advance the number one legislative priority of rank and file law enforcement."

For more information about H.R. 218 or S. 253 please visit: http://www.leaa.org/218/

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With over 75,000 Members and Supporters nationwide, the Law Enforcement Alliance of America (LEAA) is the nation's largest coalition of law enforcement professionals, crime victims, and concerned citizens dedicated to making America safer.

[Joe Brower]

[Travis McGee]

Bang!

And what makes former LEOs so special? One more sign on the road to serfdom, the world of masters and peasants.

[coloradan]

How many more citizens must die? Cops, at least, can carry guns while on the job. Not so for many citizens while on the job, or while travelling to other states.

[drypowder]

They are making the argument that concealed carry will avert crime, thus save lives. That should apply to all of us, not just retired law enforcement personnel.

[Pilsner]

I'm a prosecutor but don't support this. Off duty (much less retired) cops should have no more right to carry than any other well behaved adult citizen. A right to bear arms not granted to the rest population is a privilege of nobility and a someone who is both a republican and a Republican I oppose it.

[LambSlave]

"With over 75,000 Members and Supporters nationwide, the Law Enforcement Alliance of America (LEAA) is the nation's largest coalition of law enforcement professionals, crime victims, and concerned citizens dedicated to making America safer."
If they actually cared one iota about public safety, they would demand that the lords in congress extend this "privilege" to the serfs, and fulfil thier duty to uphold the Constitution. This sends a clear message (to me at least); "we (law enforcement unions) lobbied to support these draconian gun laws for the common people, not us!". At least the other big anti-gun union (NEA) is self-consistent.

[RetiredArmy]

Let's see. I travel out of my state into a state that does not recognize my carry permit and I get into trouble carrying a weapon if I am caught. But, an OFF DUTY or RETIRED cop can go on vacation in any state and continue to carry his weapon? Excuse me? I have several family members who are cops. My cousin is a county sheriff; I have a nephew who is a city cop; and a nephew who is an Alabama State Trooper. If I cannot carry out of state, neither should they be allowed to. Are they making stops in other states or what???

[Bellflower]

Do you think increments may be the way to go? The more responsible people out there with guns the less freedom the criminal has. I agree with you that responsible citizens are being denied their right to be armed and protected but maybe this is a step in the right direction.

[coloradan]

What assurance can you make that the increments will continue coming? I really, really don't like the possibility of passing through an increment where all government agents get all sorts of rights or priveleges that we peasants don't have, and then just deciding to stop there, "We've gone far enough."

[agitator]

Some animals are more equal than others.

[Veracious Poet]

Don't worry, big brotha will protect you from the Lords...

[TC Rider]

What do they want? Kennedy is busy trying to ban bullets.

[SevenDaysInMay]

We all must simply exercise our 2nd Amendment's affirmed rights to keep and bear arms clarified by our 14th Amendment's extention of the entire Bill of Rights to every jurisdiction of this Constitutional Republic.

The 14th Amendment's ratification means what it says; every inferior jurisdiction's fiefdom's anti-RTKABA laws and regs are unConstitutional because the 14th was RATIFIED by the several states.

Our Ratified Constitution is THE LAW of OUR Land.

We citizens do not require permission from any of our temporary employees to exercise our God-given rights affirmed by our Ratified Constitution.

THE most basic civil right is that of armed self-defense so that we citizens can have life, liberty, and our pursuit of happiness in the Grace of God.

[Eastbound]

"The Law Enforcement Alliance of America (LEAA) suggests that Congress' failure to enact life-saving legislation that would allow qualified off duty and retired officers to carry their firearms in all 50 states, is partly responsible."

Why stop there? The greatest protection the police can have is a well-armed and carrying Citizen.

[TexasTransplant]

Some animals are more equal than others.

 

AND those less equal can always dial 9-1-1

[scooter2]

'How Many More Cops Must Die?'

And just how is passage of H.R. 218 or S. 253 going to stop cops from getting killed? Let's see the documentation that shows that a large number of police officers are dying because they can't carry concealled guns in other states. Most officers are killed while on duty.

[Just another Joe]

May I take it from your post that you carry, concealed or not, where ever you go?

[DakotaGator]

I see. Law Enforcement Officers are special. So they should have special privleges.

This is BS! The only difference between LEOs and Citizens is that Citizens grant LEOs certain "sovereign immunity" protection while they act as agents of the state (You know; We, The People!).

Other than that, LEOs have no special privleges. As Citizens they have rights. To grant them anything else than the rights of a Citizen is unConstitutional (a document concerned with rights of individuals, not groups). And it's one more step towards a police state.

Concealed carry across the nation? What a concept. Maybe we should call it...The Second Ammendment! And every citizen should be able to exercise it. Not just "special" LEOs.

[dasboot]

This cop agrees: no special rights.