With the recent brewhaha (sorry) over open carriers at Starbucks, I thought I'd give you two examples from this past weekend that show adopting policies like Peet's Coffee and Tea or California Pizza Kitchen, where only law enforcement officers are trusted with guns, does not guarantee patrons or employees will be any safer.
A Tulsa police officer is out of jail after officers said he pointed a gun at a bouncer and threatened to kill him. Witnesses say it happened after the officer was thrown out of a downtown Tulsa bar.
An off-duty veteran Dallas police sergeant was arrested early Sunday, accused of hitting and pulling a gun on a Greenville Avenue bar owner and bouncer as both tried to get him to leave at closing time early Sunday morning.
What is it the antis expect us to swallow whole? Oh, yeah, the police are the "Only Ones" we can trust with guns--and are especially the only ones we can trust carrying them around in public. You and I are just too volatile and out of control. But if we see a government employee with a gun, we can all relax and know we're protected.
We all believe that, right?
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On the ever-present other hand...
Lest the Bradys accuse me of "denigrating law enforcement" again, here are a couple features about two peace officers to balance things out:
Travelin' Man 
From Oregon Firearms Federation:
Sheriff Glenn Palmer of Grant County has decided he wants to make it as easy as possible for non-residents to apply for Oregon CHL's. He hopes to actually travel to gun shows in adjoining states and take applications there.
They also have more on the legislator who didn't understand his own legislation and weigh in on the Starbucks flap.
Click here to read their latest alert.
Another Travelin' Man
Sheriff Richard Mack is coming out to my neck of the woods next month in a series of talks sponsored by the Ohio Second Amendment Group. He'll be in the following cities on these dates:
Findlay: March 9
Columbus: March 10
Dayton: March 11
Athens: March 12
Akron: March 13
I plan on attending the one in Akron.
Click here for further details and to download event flyers.
Comments
From the Tulsa & Dallas examples....if you cannot control your temper...then by all means do not go to bars...especially if you are one of the "only ones"....just a thought.
Even first responders are human. Humans make mistakes. However, if you are going to an establishment that serves alcohol, either don't drink or leave your weapon locked up somewhere safe. Coffee shops that don't serve alcohol and ban lawful weapons should be ashamed of themselves.
David, I recall in 2007 a Chicago police officer beat a barmaid unconscious because she refused to serve him. Here's an article link:
cbs2chicago.com/local/Chicago.Police.Anthony.2.335957.html
He avoided jail time but was latter fired from the department.
With the prospect of law enforcement agencies around the country relaxing recruiting standards to fill jobs with convicted criminals as in the recent case of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) hiring a known convicted felon in Richmond Virginia and issuing him a top security badge giving him unrestricted access to the entire airport, see article link below.
www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/business/transportation/article/AIRP04_20100203-223007/322101/
Not all LEO's are bad apples, but there is definitely a rotten stench coming from the bottom of the barrel.
We as citizens give the Police and Military additional Authority but we Never Ever gave them more rights. Under our constitution we are All equal under the law and it is a modern perversion which gives some more rights then others
A reminder of the famous Chicago Police Officer that assaulted the tiny Bartender: youtube- chicago police- beat- bartender
If a police officer cannot control his temper he cannot do his job. I would challenge anyone to find a law that allows a defense for; "He made me mad" or "I just got excited" or "the SOB had it coming" or "I wouldn't have done it, but I was drunk".
Police live in a fishbowl and will be second-guessed by the public no matter what they do. Officers find themselves dispatched to no-win situations on a daily basis. Police are expected to be right and make correct decisions 100% of the time.
Every officer should recognize these facts of life and had better learn to live with them early on. Stupidity, drunk or sober, on duty or off, has no place in a peace officer's life.
[W-III]
You did know that the gun Dan White used to kill George Moscone & Harvey Milk was owned by the SFPD?
My brother is a retired City of Hialeah Police sargeant. So I hardly qualify as a police basher. My uncle by marriage was also a sargeant in the same department. Once while on an off duty job in a department store, my uncle was in the process of pulling up his pants in the store's restroom when his duty revolver fell from the holster and discharged. His co-workers constantly asked him if he had his weapon secured and the entry and exit wound scars on his thigh were further reminders. Those on the far far left who want even "The Only Ones" disarmed may have a point. Some cops cannot safely handle firearms.
To understand the logic of gun control extremists, you must understand our vision. When guns are band for everyone including police, we will eventually want that too; Once everyone else’s guns are gone they won’t need them . . . grey skies will turn blue, flowers will bloom everywhere instantly, every direction you look will be a rainbow, Disney characters will come out of the wood work, and you can join in on a chorus of "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" which will play continuously on loud speakers in every city and town from coast to coast. . .
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah! Zip-a-dee-ay!
My, oh my, what a wonderful day?
(come on sing along)
Plenty of sunshine heading my way.
(ha-ha you too)
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah! Zip-a-dee-ay!
Doesn’t that sound wonderful?
Yours Truly,
Paul Helmke
I'm not an advocate for police in any aspect, but God bless the real "Only Ones who actually do good" despite all that goes against anyone trying to live for something decent (inside and outside of M/LE service).
Here's to ALL the Sheep Dogs!
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