[Peace-discuss] FW: [police oversight] Fla. cops allowed to carry guns nationwide

[LAURIE]

For those who may be feeling optimistic about the direction that the Federal
Government is taking or will take in the future under either Rep or Dem
leadership you need to think about this legislative act that passed in 2004
with little fanfare or public awareness and how it impacts on the notions of
Federalism, states rights, and the use of implied federal supremacy clause
with respect to such illusions as local control and accountability, local
ability to establish laws and standards for their communities, and the like.
It certainly shows how fragile any such accountability and control is, how
farcical and delusions any beliefs that we control our destiny might be, and
how easy it is for authorities with organizational clout and establishment
backing to get around roadblocks. 

  A step toward a national police force which integrates federal and local
law enforcement into a single unit beyond the reach of any local
accountability by local review boards or legislative bodies?   While I
disagree, I do understand that a case might be made for non-retired cops to
carry concealed weapons in their localities while off duty and in other
jurisdictions while on duty; but what case can be made for allowing retired
law enforcement personnel to so?  Why not go back to the wild, wild West and
allow everyone to carry concealed weapons?  Isn't it interesting how it has
become revealed after 9/11 that we are a nation of paranoids.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: policeoversight at yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:policeoversight at yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Charles D.
> Reynolds
> Sent: Saturday, June 14, 2008 9:18 AM
> To: policeoversight at yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [police oversight] Fla. cops allowed to carry guns nationwide
> 
>       05/27/2008
> 
>       Fla. cops allowed to carry guns nationwide
> 
>       By Henry Pierson Curtis
>       The Orlando Sentinel
> 
>       ORLANDO, Fla. - Florida cops and retired law-enforcement officers
> can now carry guns nationwide.
> 
>       The final step took effect two months ago.
> 
> 
>       Until then, many states refused to let them travel armed to
> investigate crimes or when on vacation.
> 
>       "Probably three years ago, we flew into New York City to talk to
> a guy in jail there," said Detective Mark Hussey of the Orange County
> Sheriff's Office homicide squad. "They had New York City detectives
> meet us at the airport and shadow us the whole time we were there
> because you're not supposed to carry concealed firearms in the state of
> New York."
> 
>       Known as H.R. 218, the federal Law Enforcement Safety Act of 2004
> covers Florida's 46,000 certified officers. The law set a national
> shooting standard for the first time so cops who passed would be
> accepted by all 50 states as knowing how to shoot.
> 
> 
>       While the law passed in 2004, it didn't take effect in the
> Sunshine State until July 2007. The reason: Florida didn't have a state
> shooting standard for cops until two years ago.
> 
>       "Frankly, H.R. 218 brought the issue back up to the state
> Training and Standards Commission about whether there ought to be
> statewide standards," said Michael Ramage, the Florida Department of
> Law Enforcement's general counsel. "They did impose them July 1 of
> 2006."
> 
>       While some agencies began certifying their own retirees last
> year, FDLE formally established the process for every part of the state
> in March, records show.
> 
>       So far, 64 retired Orange County deputies and about 20 retired
> Orlando police officers have been issued the national permits. Both
> agencies said they will only certify their own retirees, so retired
> cops who worked elsewhere must find a state-certified instructor to
> test them.
> 
>       To get the H.R. 218 permit, police must score 80 percent or
> higher every year on a shooting test that other officers only need to
> pass once every two years to meet state standards. Retirees must meet
> the same standard. Different styles of shooting are tested, including a
> quick draw and firing two shots within 4 seconds.
> 
>       The federal test sets police far above Florida's 500,000
> Concealed Weapon Permit holders, who can travel armed to 32 states
> without proving they can hit a target. Those, including Texas, have
> reciprocity agreements that let their permit holders travel armed in
> Florida.
> 
>       The head of Central Florida's largest police union supports the
> law. "Whether we want to admit it or not, there's domestic terrorism
> out there," said John Park, president of the Central Florida Police
> Benevolent Association, citing violent crime. "Better safe than sorry."
> 
>       Park, an Orange County deputy representing more than 600 PBA
> members, said the law legalizes what had been a common practice for
> many law-enforcement officers to travel armed regardless of local laws.
> 
>       "It is common sense and best for America if current and retired
> LEOs [law-enforcement officers] have the tool of their trade readily
> available to serve and protect themselves and others," he wrote in an
> e-mail. "H.R. 218 provides clear, uniform nationwide rules to replace
> the varying, confusing and uncertain local laws regarding LEOs right to
> carry their firearms, on or off duty."
> 
>       While the state concealed-weapon permit is good for five years
> compared with the national permit's one year, FDLE's Ramage thinks the
> nearly unrestricted right to carry nationwide makes passing the yearly
> test worthwhile.
> 
>       "If I were a qualified, retired law-enforcement officer, I'd
> probably want to qualify under H.R. 218, so I'd basically have one-
> size-fits-all for all 50 states," said Ramage, who cautioned that an
> H.R. 218 permit does not give officers or retirees any legal powers
> when they travel out of state.
> 
>       Copyright 2008 The Orlando Sentinel
> 
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------
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