Posted on 04/18/2002 11:19:04 PM PDT by JohnHuang2
A number of gun rights organizations are opposed to federal legislation that would allow police officers the right to carry concealed weapons from state to state because they believe such a right should extend to everyone.
Angel Shamaya, founder and executive director of KeepAndBearArms.com, a gun rights website, says he respects police officers and understands the dangerous nature of their work often follows them outside their own jurisdictions.
But danger also lurks for civilians no matter where they go, he argues. And furthermore, the legislation is giving preferential treatment to officers over the safety concerns of other constituents.
Specifically, Shamaya and other groups oppose H.R. 218, known as the "Community Protection Act of 2001," which would "exempt qualified current and former law enforcement officers from state laws prohibiting the carrying of concealed handguns."
The bill is heavily supported by the National Rifle Association and the Law Enforcement Alliance of America, the latter of which helped craft the legislation and has set up a special website to promote its passage, called CopConcealedCarry.com.
"Considering the many hours of training that sworn law enforcement officers receive and the experience they accumulate on the streets, it's inconceivable that Congress didn't pass H.R. 218 years ago when it was first introduced," said Jim Fotis, LEAA's executive director. "What plausible argument can anyone give for not allowing these law enforcers the right to carry their firearms outside their jurisdictions when off-duty?
"Just imagine the deterrent to crime if more than 1 million trained and equipped law enforcement professionals – active and retired – were allowed to be armed so they could utilize their skills," he said.
But Shamaya sees a dangerous precedent and double standard in approving the law.
"Once law enforcement officers are exempted from unconstitutional concealed carry laws, there will be little reason for the vast majority of them to support national concealed carry decriminalization for the people they were hired to serve," he said, adding that such a law would add to the growing public perception that police officers "are better than citizens."
He also believes resentment of police officers among civilians – especially those whose states disallow concealed carry – would also rise if the LEAA-sponsored bill passes.
If the bill becomes law, "police officers from 2,000 miles away can come and eat at the same restaurant where you've been eating for years, and they can pack heat," he said. "Not only that, but they might even bust you if the gun on your hip underneath your jacket – for defense against neighborhood thugs who concern you more than your local, unconstitutional laws do – catches their attention."
Shamaya, who has conducted an extensive study of the issue, said the bill gives police officers exemptions for laws they have to enforce on others.
The debate may be a moot point. A spokesman for the Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on crime, terrorism and homeland – where H.R. 218 currently is languishing – told WND no action was planned for the measure, mostly because the subcommittee was working on "more important issues" stemming from the Sept. 11 attacks.
Still, even many traditional supporters of laws that strengthen gun rights are not behind H.R. 218.
"H.R. 218 is discriminatory and creates a separate class of citizen," said Geoff Metcalf, host of WND's talk radio program and a weekly columnist. "If cops are permitted to carry concealed anywhere, any CCW [concealed carry of weapons license] holder should be permitted to carry anywhere."
"We'll support [this bill for police] when they support me being able to do the same thing," Larry Pratt, executive director of Gun Owners of America, said, noting that many national and local-level police organizations oppose concealed carry efforts.
"We think it's a very bad idea to say that some Americans are entitled to special privileges," he said. "Our forefathers fled countries that did things like that. Those people were called the 'nobility.'"
When off duty cops are able to start stopping crimes cause they are armed, it will move us closer to nationwide right to carry for all of us.
Let me paraphase from your line. "Idots like bybybill" who have not studied nor researched, nor been involved in this second amendment battle like Angel need to check the record before you insert you foot sock, shoe, and leg.
When you study the results of CCW by 4.5 million citizens the benefit is 99.999 percent benefit to the holder of the firearm. No JOE PUBLIC standing next to this LEO with CCW.
Bybybill you just got to get a life. First of all the only crime this off duty officer is going to stop is crime against him! Not crime against you and I.
Bybybill babybill you got to wake up and smell the coffee and get back under the rock you hide under..
If you want to talk issues, even I can handle your arguement, you see I know Angel and you can't hold a candle to Angel.
Son of the American Revolution
The Chicago Farmer
Just imagine the deterent to crime if more than 150 million trained and equiped citizens, active and retired - were allowed to be armed so that they could utilize their skills!! Whoa Nelly, who do I rob when everyone right down to that little 'ol lady could be , and probably is, packin?
EBUCK
What has Angel Shamaya done for us..nothing....only helped us fight against the gun grabbing doctors by helping out "Doctors for Sensible Gun Laws" and has a website that broke the story about the fraud that the MMM'ers did.
I don't care much for all or nothing's either. But this here is a loss.
Many times the big crucial 'swing vote' on gun issues is Law Enforcement. The LEO leaders are all ASD'ers and elitists. The rank and file are more apt to back us. I'd say 60% of the cops are our friends, and those that are our friends are usually the first to back us.
Now if LEO's DON'T get this bill, MAYBE they can back national reciprocality(SP). That's what the NRA is fighting for. I support the incrementalism method they use too. The problem is this. If LEO's get special rights now, they damn well won't go to bat for us. I don't see them pushing for 15 round magazines to be legal again.
Hell, Blagojevich backs this. Nuff said.
Are you sure about that?
They wouldn't. I think that too many cops do have an elitist attitude.
That is like saying, anything the GOP is for is good enough for me.
But it wont .... although if it did it would do two things. Scare the bejezus out of politicians when they realize how many armed veterans would be out there, and divide us further down.
Hey guys smell the coffe. If LEO's want CCW let suggest teh 1 million LEO's gain the support of 4.5 million NRA and 60 million gun owners and pass this CCW thing.
I have seen this inability of splinter groups fight one another on the 2nd issue. Michigan has it right, band togather and defeat the gun grabbers.
I am the first to reconize the vast majority of LEO's are with us, don't get me wrong, years of corporate horse trading, experience tells me unless it is in writing, Once a major group like LEO's have what they want the majority off LEO's will NOT give a damn about the other 60 million gun owners.
This if it good enought for NRA its good enought for me tells me it time to dig deeper aand look at the details for those that follow this issue.
Teamwork wins, Teamwork wins.
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