Posted on 07/28/2004 8:41:07 PM PDT by Ramonan
THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS' SAFETY ACT SIGNED INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT BUSH!
Chuck Canterbury, National President of the Grand Lodge, Fraternal Order of Police, proudly announced that President George W. Bush signed H.R. 218, the "Law Enforcement Officers' Safety Act" into law on Thursday.
"This triumph was the result of a long, hard-fought battle," Canterbury said. "The Fraternal Order of Police has been working toward this day for over ten years. With the stroke of his pen, the President has made real the hopes of law enforcement officers across the nation."
The legislation, sponsored by Representative Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA), was passed by the House in June, and then by the Senate earlier this month. It exempts qualified active and retired law enforcement officers from State and local prohibitions with respect to the carrying of concealed firearms.
Canterbury and F.O.P. Executive Director Jim Pasco were the only law enforcement representatives to meet with the President in the Oval Office before the bill signing. "The President has truly made this country a safer place," said Canterbury after the ceremony. "By enacting this legislation, President Bush has ensured that when officers are confronted with a situation to which they must react, they have the tools necessary to ensure their own safety, and the safety of their families and the public they have been sworn to protect."
Now that the measure has been signed into law, active and retired law enforcement officers will be able to carry their firearms even when traveling outside their own jurisdictions. The bill, which was the F.O.P.'s top legislative priority, had wide, bipartisan support in both the House and Senate during its consideration in the Congress.
"There are many people to whom we owe a debt of gratitude today. Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO), and Representatives Tom DeLay (R-TX) and Duke Cunningham (R-CA) were all instrumental in moving the bill through the legislative process. We are especially grateful to President Bush, a true friend to law enforcement. Without his tireless support, we would not be here today. But most importantly, we owe our thanks to all those F.O.P. members who have worked so hard to achieve this goal."
The Fraternal Order of Police is the largest law enforcement labor organization in the United States, with more than 318,000 members.
The law, first drafted in 1992 by Congressman Randy " Duke" Cunningham and LEAA has become the number one legislative priority of America's rank and file police officers and is also backed by nearly every national organization representing rank and file law enforcement officers. Fotis, along with other leaders from America's law enforcement community and key members of Congress were at the President's side as he signed this unprecedented, life-saving legislation.
These folks will use their firearms to defend themselves and others from violent attacks -- exactly the same way that armed civilians employ their concealed guns in the nearly 40 states that allow honest, law-abiding civilians to carry concealed." Fotis went on to make clear, "Just as we have seen time and time again with civilians who safely and responsibly carry concealed guns because of Right-to-Carry, I believe the brave men and women of law enforcement that can now carry the tools of their trade will help make America more secure." Fotis added, "America's men and women in blue have always known that President Bush stands shoulder to shoulder with them in the fight for public safety and homeland security. By signing this law, the President is making an unprecedented effort to support our nation's protectors after their shift or tour of duty has ended."
LEAA points out for the record, that while President George Bush has unequivocally demonstrated his support of Law Enforcement, including his action today on H.R. 218, just three months ago, Senator John Kerry (D-MA) made a special effort to leave the campaign trail, returning to the Senate to vote against this bill. On March 2, Senator Kerry, against the wishes of the law enforcement community, voted to kill the Senate version of H.R. 218 by voting for 'poison pill' amendments.
(Excerpt) Read more at calibrepress.com ...
Be sure and read the LAST paragraph: Fellow Law Enforcement, Kerry is NOT your friend
I hope this also says that LEO's are no longer allowed to shave their heads and/or take steroids.
BTTT for LEO's!
Do we now have to give our names to a retired LEO outside of his or her jurisdiction?
BTTT
I think Ill leave before I see the vile LEO haters...the ugliness from their generalizations arent what I am about.
Some pigs are now officially more equal than others, here in the grand old USA.
bump
Bump for the LEAA and their support for all American's rights. Screw Jim Pasco's FOP with their rights for me, but not for thee BS.
May be of some interest to you.
Is that the source of all the screaming I heard from the direction of NJ?
I say this because I have a lot of friends who are cops and one works for Philly P.D. One night the cops over in NJ were screaming bloody murder for help and they called Philly and asked them to send a couple of cops over to help. So Philly obliges, and two cars (one driven by my friend's cousin) go screaming across the Tacony-Palmyra. Whatever the problem is, they get it under control, and go home.
The next day their captain gets a call from NJ. The person on the other end wants the names of the men that went over to help the night before. The captain thinks to himself, "hey, this is great, maybe they'll get a commendation or something." He asks if this is what they have in mind.
The person on the other end replies that they want to charge the men for bringing their guns into NJ.
After taking a moment to compose himself, their captain replies that he doesn't know their names, and wouldn't tell them if he did. CLICK.
Forgive me if I hold a special dislike for the Garden State.
> Some ... are now officially more equal than others,
> here in the grand old USA.
If this survives the expected onslaught of state AGs
challenging on constitutional and other grounds, it
will enable national RTC for everyone.
Just out of curiousity, does it apply to the District
of Columbia?
Now if he would just give the same right back to me. Oh well....
No, this means that cops can ride the subways and go to bars with their guns, which they are supposed to do anyway when they are off-duty, but which WAS illegal in NYC, not any more. YEAH!
Pray for W and Our Troops
Bush's conduct is deplorable, destroying the Second Amendment and the common law and constitutions of the States, with the stroke of a pen.
Lighten up Francis
Now, if I read this right, we just got ourselves a whole legion of happenstance air marshalls free of charge.
This also paves the way for multi-state recognition of civilian ccw's. I know, all that muck is against the 2nd Amendment, but I'll take any gains back toward its recognition as a small victory. The mugger waiting to meet you on your next vacation isn't going to argue the fine points of Supreme Court tyranny.
shhhhh this is a secret the media will not be reporting.
They ahve to save the kerry convention because people are being reminded who kerry is, a mass, gun grabin' homo commie.
(/s)
Now we need every American to get the right to carry their weapons wherever.
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