Commissioner Kelly and Mayor Bloomberg/AP photo
The New York City Police Department has disarmed one of their own, a medal-winning mob infiltrator who now fears reprisals. From the New York Daily News:
An NYPD detective...has been stripped of the right to carry a firearm because of a line-of-duty injury...
[Rick] Cowan had a shunt put in his head - a device that carries a small risk of complications if he suffers a blow to the head.
Department officials are concerned that if Cowan lost consciousness, he would be unable to safeguard his firearm...
With that as the criterion, no one alive should be carrying a gun--including Mike Bloomberg's bodyguards. Not to mention anyone on or retired from the force and still carrying who suffers from a heart condition, high blood pressure, obesity...
But with a Manhattan Supreme Court judge denying his appeal, it appears former Det. Cowan is relegated to second-class citizen status along with the rest of us. And while I note he's asked NYPD to "at least remove the label so he can apply to carry a firearm in other jurisdictions," I'd have to question how a disqualifier that renders him deemed legally unsafe in one place would not pose an identical danger in all places. And come to think of it, is this presumed walking shut-off switch still allowed to drive?
So why should I care? After all, especially in New York City, there's an "Only One" mentality that elevates cops to a privileged class over the rest of us when it comes to having the means of defense. And as regular readers know, I've never believed in permitting rights anyway.
My natural inclination is to say "Welcome to the club, fellow peon. Now you can face the same judged by 12 vs. carried by six dilemma confronting just about everybody else (except a privileged, connected few).
But this may just provide an opportunity to stick it to the anti-gun Bloomberg/NYPD caliphate. And get the feds to do the heavy lifting.
Huh?
Tomorrow...
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Knife rights hearing in New Hampshire
From Pro-Gun New Hampshire:
HB 1665, the Knife Rights bill sponsored by Pro-Gun New Hampshire senior advisor Rep. Jenn Coffey, will be heard by the NH House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee this Thursday, January 28, at 1:30 p.m., in Room 204 of the Legislative Office Building (LOB) behind the State House. Please show up and support this bill, or call your state representatives; you can find them through http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/members/wml.aspx .
I note there is once again a controversy with the NRA and it's state affiliate Gun Owners of New Hampshire, so I suggest you read the arguments.
Comments
It's hardly a right if the right can be taken away. Here's a good chance to explain the difference between the right to carry and the privilege of carrying. In this case, NY has the power to take away his privilege of carrying. Other states are more forgiving.
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Knife rights hearing in New Hampshire
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Whatever is not mandatory or "permitted" is prohibited. That's where this sort of thing is headed.
Wake up and smell the ?roses?, Mr. Cowan. 25 years of service to the department and you may not live long enough to enjoy your pension. You think your “Department officials”, Commissioner Kelly, or Mayor Bloomberg give a fat rat’s anal orifice about you and your questionable future? Now, you’re a liability along with the rest of us peons. Makes you wonder now if maybe you should have chosen another line of work 25 years ago?
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That standard could be applied to anyone at any time because no human being in this world is going to be able to give the guarentee that New York is requiring of this man and that includes their own cops. Too bad the criminals don't have to apply the same standard when they carry and use firearms against citizens. In my opinion all Bloomberg and the NYPD demonstrated to the world was that just when you thought people could not get any dumber in their professions they could and did. If this kind of logic is what runs and protects New York City then I am amazed there are any sensible citzens left there. As for the officer if he moves all he needs to do is have a doctor in his new home town sign a statement he is not anymore of a risk than the average citizen and he should be able to get his permit back especially in a "thou shall issue state".
Just another reason, besides their outrageous taxes, to up and move from NYC or New York state for that matter. Nothing is stopping from moving to a southern state, with reasonable laws.
We in Ohio would welcome someone who put his life on the line everyday to retire here. Taxes are lower, people are friendlier, and you would already qualify for your concealed carry permit. By staying in NY, you're giving these clowns your taxes, and they respond by giving you the finger.
On the basis of the information provided in the New York Daily News, it appears to me that Mr. Cowan would qualify to carry a concealed firearm, in any jurisdiction, under a federal law --the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, Title 18 U.S. Code § 926C, which overrides all state and local laws and government policies to the contrary, for qualified retired officers ("Notwithstanding any other provision of the law of any State or any political subdivision thereof . . .," it says). Perhaps Mr. Cowan needs to find the right lawyer to help him pursue his federally guaranteed rights.
I am ashamed of the NYC Police Commissioner and I am ashamed of the judge who rendered that regrettable descision. Detective Cowan risked his life and the safety of his family to infiltrate the highest levels of Organized Criime (The Mob).His efforts produced the most successful Organized Crime Control Act (OCCA) prosecution in history. How was he rewarded? He was stripped of his weapon and the ability to defend himself as well as his family, who also made major sacrifices so he could get the job done. This is a travesty and an absolute disgrace. Good luck Rick and I hope that these short-sighted bufoons have a change of heart.
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