Law Enforcement Officers and Gun Control

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Nightcrawler

New member
I'm taking criminal justice in college right now, and am planning on going into the air force afterwards. HOwever, I'm a little hesitant about going to work for a civilian police department if/when I get out of the military; I'm a firm believer in the Constitution, and that includes the 2nd Ammendment, and I don't want to be in a position where I have to choose between violating my principals or losing my job. I don't want to be on the gun confiscation team, in other words. So, I'm seeking the advice of any LEOs or friends/family of LEOs a TFL. What should I do? I mean, sure, it's hard to tell where gun control is going to be in 8 years or so, but still. Any suggestions?
 
Well, vote for Bush to start with. Then maybe
you won't have to worry about gun confiscation for another 8 years, if we are lucky and Bush gets elected twice.
 
Take the job; it's a good job, and you don't know where that single issue (gun control) will be during your career. as an LEO, you will be in a better position to "sway" the minds of the general public towards a positive view of guns, as they will see you as a "trained", "professional" LEO.
 
If you try to "sway" the minds of the general public on this issue, you very easily could lose your job. Cops around the country have lost their job when they spoke out on these issues, even when they were out of uniform.
 
Of course the all too often, liberal Police Chiefs can spout off all they want. I guess they didn't sign the same contract and take the same oath.

Rick
 
At a certain point, police officers or deputies stop becoming police officers/deputies and become politicians. They play the "game" and seek the path which will further their political interests. Virtually anyone who is a chief is at the mercy of the Town Manager and unless the population at large supports Second Amendment Rights, the town's policy will be anti-gun. The same goes for any position which is politically appointed (in some agencies, Captain is about as high a civil service rank you can get. Thereafter it is appointed).

Go ahead and take the job. Most rank and file cops support the Second Amendment and don't view it as any different from any of us here at TFL. When you're promoted to a position of influence, use it then to protect the Second Amendment. Sheriff Richard Mack (now out of office) certainly didn't hesitate when he took on the Brady Bill and won.
 
Only the hire-up's like police chiefs, captains, and sheriffs will be in a job violation by trying to sway people to pro gun. That high on the totem pole and you definitely have political influences even if your rebuttal is legit and can be backed up by statistics. However, I would take the job as an LEO. Vote for Bush. I wouldn't worry too much about the gun confiscation team as I believe they will give that job to the federal LEO's out there, as I believe too many state LEO's will refuse to do it.

I will not do it simply because of three reasons: 1) It is a Constitutional right to own a gun 2) I have sworn to uphold the Constitutional law of the land and 3) There will be a lot of shoot outs and dead LEO's trying to confiscate guns from angry law abiding citizens (myself included) and I won't be apart of that. The other thing you should worry about is LEO's being included as the people that should NOT own guns. This is getting closer and closer to being passed, but I see the law enforcement community fighting it very hard. Something to think about! ;)
 
Nightcrawler, I don't think this issue should discourage you from a career in law enforcement.

I'm not an LEO, but as I've learned about firearms, I've found that most of my trainers have been LEO's. Many, many rank and file LEO's I meet are pro-RKBA. Remember ... these guys and gals are the ones that draw the chalk outlines around people they couldn't save. The rookies are more problematic, but the more seasoned LEO's seem to often recognize the right and responsibility of citizens to defend themselves.

One of the most fascinating revelations to me re: firearms has been the large number of LEO's that support our fundamental right to self defense.

With the notable exception of police chiefs ... they are pond scum, quite often.

Good luck in your career, and be careful out there. We need good people like you in law enforcement. Regards from AZ
 
I would like to thank you all. Of course, my first love is flying, but 'cause of my eyes, I can't fly for the military. If I get a helicopter license before joining a police department, will that make me eligible to be a police air unit pilot, or is there some special course I have to take?
 
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