My most recent dispatch to St. Paul

[CraigJS]

Good job brother..
The problem with your letter and their responses are that the addressees (sp?) most likely never saw your letter, and was filtered down by some underling.
Thanks for fighting the good fight, be safe.

[XDM45]

tman,

As a LEO and gun owner, I know you're with us for 2A rights. I know YOU want the people to be respectful, responsible, and armed so they can protect themselves and their freedom; so I'm not asking this of you per se, but rather I'm asking this as a "in general" type of question that I hope you can answer to the best of your ability from your perspective..... now that all being said, do you believe that most LEOs like armed citizens? Obviously, everyone who supports 2A rights, the US Constitution, Freedom, et all, also wants gun owners who are are respectful, responsible, trained, etc; but since not every LEO can personally know every gun owner, what is your general vibe and opinion?

I know you can only speak from your perspective, your experience within your own life, work and department, but I'm just looking for what do the police think about armed citizens, gun rights, etc? Do we make your job harder or easier? Do we help or hinder? Are we part of the problem and looked at as such? or are we part of the solution and looked at as such?

On an unrelated side note, without any bearing on this thread or my post; I want to correct something I said in another post about not sticking my own neck out for another, the caveat to that would if it were for a LEO. I'd risk my freedom and life to defend a LEO if need be. I realize my chances of getting shot are pretty good in doing that, but that's one instances where I'd roll the dice vs. just helping Joe Shmoe.

[tman]

tman,

I'm just looking for what do the police think about armed citizens, gun rights, etc?

We pigs are like everyone else. There are those who are for an armed society, and those who are against. For the record, the majority of those I work with are pissed off at the pending legislation, too, just like you. I refuse to speak for them, however. I can only speak for myself.

On an unrelated side note, without any bearing on this thread or my post; I want to correct something I said in another post about not sticking my own neck out for another, the caveat to that would if it were for a LEO. I'd risk my freedom and life to defend a LEO if need be. I realize my chances of getting shot are pretty good in doing that, but that's one instances where I'd roll the dice vs. just helping Joe Shmoe.

I 'preciate that. Thank you.

[XDM45]

tman,

I'm just looking for what do the police think about armed citizens, gun rights, etc?

We pigs are like everyone else. There are those who are for an armed society, and those who are against. For the record, the majority of those I work with are pissed off at the pending legislation, too, just like you. I refuse to speak for them, however. I can only speak for myself.

On an unrelated side note, without any bearing on this thread or my post; I want to correct something I said in another post about not sticking my own neck out for another, the caveat to that would if it were for a LEO. I'd risk my freedom and life to defend a LEO if need be. I realize my chances of getting shot are pretty good in doing that, but that's one instances where I'd roll the dice vs. just helping Joe Shmoe.

I 'preciate that. Thank you.

You sir, are no pig.

Are there some real a-hole f-ing cops that shouldn't be cops? YES!! Some a real pr-ks, but not all. You fall into the latter, not the former. Don't call yourself a pig and associate yourself with them. You're better than that. From what I've seen you have higher standards than many, so thank you.

Even though we've disagreed at times, you have't ever been rude or a pr-k like some on here have, but maybe being a LEO gives on a thicker skin, so thank you for that as well.

[St. Olaf]

In general, urban cops are more open to gun bans and confiscations or just stay neutral on the issue.

Rural cops, in general, are more likely to vigorously oppose such things.

There are exceptions, but cops pretty much mirror the rest of the population.

[Dante]

Personally I am a big fan of self-deprecating humor...

... I am just not very good at it.

[redaudi]

I had a chuckle about the 'never feel like I brought too much ammo' comment.

I can relate, when I was pulling shifts in the tower overseas, when you KNOW there's people out there who would just as soon shoot at the guard towers than mortar/rocket/bomb your base, and it HAPPENS... I never once thought "man I wish I had less than 210 rounds for my -16."

[darkwolf45]

tman, thank you for writing in and letting them know the truth from a real law enforcement agent!

I'm starting to think that half of the people that are all for these bans are "bought and paid for"...

The truth of the matter is, exactly as you stated it! Criminals don't care! And they will get the weapons they want. Won't matter if it's legal or illegal. They will get what they want somehow.

My father was a veteran on the minneapolis police department, and spoke many times about informal surveys he made by asking his colleagues about their opinions on gun control whenever the gun control advocating police chief would make statements regarding the department's support of such measures. His results were fairly consistent- the vast majority were against gun control. However, that said, he would also remind me that if you wanted to keep your job, you didnt make too much noise about it or other hot political issues.

Now, he retired in 2000, so the info is a bit dated. But there was a consistent trend, especially when you take into account that when Bouza (if anyone remembers him) first came in to speak to my father's precinct, he opened with "all of you [white men] are dinosaurs." and was explicit that white men would be a thing of the past for his department as he forced them to changed them to his more
Progressive ideals.

Point being- police chiefs are politicians first and foremost, and they can (and do) fill out officer ranks to fit their political agendas.