As Pogo would say: They is us and us is them.
Which part evolved? The primary definition of "civilian," one who specializes in civil law, does appear to define the activities of the police (see below).Redworm said:Yes but not so simple when you consider that language evolves.
that's fair, many people view the evolution of language as a distortion"when you consider that language evolves."
Or becomes distorted either intentionally, or unintentionally.
exactly. those other meanings seem to have changed over the years, at least in the public consciousness. and society as a whole tends to have a much greater influence in the changes of language than the legal scholars who know the etymology of such words.Which part evolved? The primary definition of "civilian," one who specializes in civil law, does appear to define the activities of the police (see below).
It is only upon looking at secondary/tertiary meanings that we see some shifting.
hopefully the meaning stays the same for some time but the police turning into a paramilitary force would probably still happen regardless of what anyone thinks the word "police" meansAs for the police itself, its root meaning is to administer civil policy (from L. politia "civil administration," from Gk. politeia "public," from politēs "citizen," from polis "city, state"). This meaning has not changed, despite the idea (fact?) of turning the police into a paramilitary force.
Civilians. Cops are civilians who wear badges. Nothing else. If you are not subject to the UCMJ, you are a civilian.
I said, on this forum, long ago, that if I saw a cop getting his a$$ handed to him on the side of the road that I would drive on by.
Wrong. Most have already had it. Many law enforcement are prior service, or still National Guard or Reserves....Most, if not all these "military wanna be cops would not survive one week of basic combat training,...
That's OK, we'll still do our jobs, no matter what your atitude is.I refuse to aid any cop, until the military attitudes are a thing of the past.
I said, on this forum, long ago, that if I saw a cop getting his a$$ handed to him on the side of the road that I would drive on by. Well, on my way home from my oilfield rotation I saw a cop having problems fighting with a person during a traffic stop. And yes, I drove right on by. I refuse to aid any cop, until the military attitudes are a thing of the past.
No, the criminal element gets its own designations.
There is no connection between using the term and an officers views on concealed carry.