Are law enforcement officers in favor of gun-carry permits?

Question

I was wondering if LEO's are in favor of citizens having CCW / gun-carry licenses or not? I've actually heard police officers take both sides of the argument. Just wondering.

- John

Answer 1

I have a friend who served as a Law Enforcement professional for over 30 years. In that length of time he said that he has never had, or heard of, any citizen who took the time to apply for a carry permit to have committed any crime with the firearm.

Answer 2

Obviously, I cant speak for anyone but myself. I feel anyone that if legally qualified and willing to train, should be able to carry a firearm.

There may be many other street officers that feel the same way. The problem is with political Police jobs. A chief of a major city will not be in favor of anyone carrying guns. Whether it is from a political point of view or the activity in the big city.. Most street police know, they probably wont be there the exact moment you need someone to defend your life. I am certain there are probably organizations formed of Police that support firearms carrying but I do not know any right now.

Answer 3

Statistically a very tiny number of crimes are committed by people who legally own firearms, so I'm not much concerned by it. In our state, laws were recently passed that required police chiefs to give permits to anyone who met the legal requirements. This was due to inconsistency between cities and counties, and political pressure on major city chiefs not to issue permits while other places would, and took away their discretion in the matter.
I am somewhat concerned that the law does not allow any discretion on the issuer's part. I have known a couple of cases where the applicant had a very active criminal record in the area, but the crimes did not meet a high enough standard to disqualify them. In our state, 100 convictions for misdemeanor assault are not considered "crimes of violence" by state definition, so essentially you can get in a bar fight every day and still get a carry permit. Something wrong with that picture, isn't there?

Answer 4

Most officers and deputies are pro-gun and in favor of CCW. The problem is the political system (police chiefs) who must toe the line of their city councils, etc... in order to retain their job. In supporting the anti-gun mantra of their political bosses, it gives the appearance that the entire department supports gun control - in general, the street officer is not allowed to speak for the department, so his story doesn't get told.

In general, the sheriff's are slightly less political in that they have their own agenda and don't have to toe the line of someone else's opinions in order to stay in office. If the population doesn't like what the sheriff's policies are, they can just vote him out of office - more accountable to the public that way.

California Deputy

Answer 5

I'm sure there are cops on both sides of this coin. I can see both ways. Personally, I support any responsible and law-abiding citizen who wants to have a CCW.

Answer 6

Many of them are in favor of it, but police officers are like all people, you have your anti gun cops with the mindset of the Clintons, Schumers, Kennedys, Feinsteins, and Bloombergs.