The Canton PD thing really got me thinking about what I have seen LEOs as a group commonly do in the past two years. The one thing I recall as a constant personal observation is that many, heck almost all LEOS I see seem to clutch and grasp their sidearm almost continually even in situations where they are just standing around not interacting with anyone nor are they even close to others. (The weapons stay holstered but they continue to grip the weapon)
(I dont want this to become a PD or LEO bashing fest so please respect that I want to keep this thread open for honest opinions on the question asked not all the other issues)
For myself I often see this as a brandishing almost threatening action intended to assert authority but done so without conscious though. I have also heard some members on this forum say that it may be due to weapon retention training and I can see that too (I am not a LEO and my weapon retention training is limited to a lanyard) but if your not near anyone how does that come into play?
As a CCW carrier I have purposely made a point of not fidgeting with my firearm and not positioning my hand near my weapon as a part of concealment. I could see (rightly or wrongly) a prosecutor trying to make a case of one repositioning a holster slightly during CCW and charging it as brandishing even though no weapon was drawn. How does the officers movements of a exposed holster differ, could it not be considered the same thing?
I get officers are in uniform and are operating under the color of law but regardless I see a lot of hands on weapons. How does this all work or not work and what is legal and what is not?
(Forgive my ignorance on this subject it is not meant to be offensive to any LEO but it is a true observation that has brought me to this question)
(I dont want this to become a PD or LEO bashing fest so please respect that I want to keep this thread open for honest opinions on the question asked not all the other issues)
For myself I often see this as a brandishing almost threatening action intended to assert authority but done so without conscious though. I have also heard some members on this forum say that it may be due to weapon retention training and I can see that too (I am not a LEO and my weapon retention training is limited to a lanyard) but if your not near anyone how does that come into play?
As a CCW carrier I have purposely made a point of not fidgeting with my firearm and not positioning my hand near my weapon as a part of concealment. I could see (rightly or wrongly) a prosecutor trying to make a case of one repositioning a holster slightly during CCW and charging it as brandishing even though no weapon was drawn. How does the officers movements of a exposed holster differ, could it not be considered the same thing?
I get officers are in uniform and are operating under the color of law but regardless I see a lot of hands on weapons. How does this all work or not work and what is legal and what is not?
(Forgive my ignorance on this subject it is not meant to be offensive to any LEO but it is a true observation that has brought me to this question)
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