[Sir Gawain]

±

[southern rock]

The bill's supporters say off-duty police officers face a patchwork of state laws when they travel outside their own jurisdictions;

Can't have the cops obeying the same laws as the peons have to. Might interfere with their protected class status.

[LTCJ]

"The federal government has been extensively involved in firearms issues. It has told the states who can sell a gun, who can buy a gun, what guns can be sold . . . . It's not as if this is some first and amazing precedent," said Kevin Watson of the Law Enforcement Alliance of America, a pro-gun group that is pushing the bill.

So more is better?

We can only wonder what 9/11 would have been like if the Federal government had not been so "proactive" with firearms restrictions to begin with.

[southern rock]

"It's been a burning issue," according to Bradley DeBraska, president of the Milwaukee Police Association, who says off-duty officers worry about retaliation from criminals they've arrested. "We basically have 50 different state laws that regulate police officers and concealment when we cross state lines, and we simply don't know them all. We don't have a clue."

Realize that you are not special, and join the club. What a self-important jerk.

[Billthedrill]

"If I were a Wisconsin police officer, I wouldn't want to have somebody I was suspecting of carrying a gun fumbling around in his pockets (for an ID)," Sensenbrenner said.

Um, you suspect everybody of carrying until you know otherwise. Here the antigunners are once again conjuring phantoms when real fears aren't enough - kind of reminds me of the same folks in Great Britain on a similar issue - we don't want to arm officers because bad guys might react the wrong way and be more armed themselves. What's wrong with this picture?

[elbucko]

kssssssht(click!)"Ahh, combat control to "Duke4", target hostile, repeat hostile, you are clear to engage". kssshhhh......(click!) "Ahh, roger control"...kssshhhh....

[mconder]

He says his main beef has to do with states' rights, since the bill would override laws in the handful of states - including Wisconsin - that prohibit concealed weapons.

So, "shall not be infringed" only applies to the federal government, but not states? Please clear me up on this.

[WindMinstrel]

Wow, that really is a tough issue, isn't it? My only objection/comment is that this "representative" is suggesting that the states have a right to deny people their Constitutional right to KBA.

[mconder]

Things are simplified so much when you recognize the 2nd amendment for what it is...a natural right. The 2nd amendment does not require the permission of any government local or federal to exercise. It is inherent in the exsistence of an individual to protect himself by force of arms in all places public and any private place that allows for it. This is a concept that was universally understood by the authors of the Constitution. I can prove this by flooding this threat with hundreds of quotes from the founders on the subject, but I am at work right now and I don't really have time to post them all. If you don't believe, what I am telling you, go research this...most of the quotes can be found on the web. Sadly, to understand original intent it requires you to think in the paradigm of the founders for some of the quotes.

[Blood of Tyrants]

A cop is outside his/her jusrisdiction is a private citizen. Since a cop has absolutely NO power outside his jusrisdiction, why does he need a gun?

[white trash redneck]

Talk about doing the right thing for the wrong reason. As other posters point out, it is obscene that police should not be subject to the same laws as us peons are.

[wcbtinman]

Just more effort to complete the process of turning a natural, God given right into a govt granted priveledge.

I guess Sensenbrenner can't read, and also swore an empty oath.

[Redbob]

James Sensenbrenner is a "States' Rights" supporter? He'd have to be the first such to come from Wisconsin.
Suspend disbelief all ye who enter here!

Here's why I oppose this idea: Why give cops any more special privileges that the citizens can't have?

[cruiserman]

We basically have 50 different state laws that regulate police officers and concealment when we cross state lines, and we simply don't know them all. We don't have a clue."

Now you know how us regular citizen types feel, you maroon.

[Ohioan]

The Police power is a State power. It is outside the Federal sphere--Bill Clinton's posturing on the subject notwithstanding. We need to be consistent.

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

[steve-b]

"If I were a Wisconsin police officer, I wouldn't want to have somebody I was suspecting of carrying a gun fumbling around in his pockets (for an ID)," Sensenbrenner said.

What a bunch of crap. The only legitimate reason for the cops to demand someone's ID is if they're dealing with someone who appears to be up to no good. In that case, they should assume that the suspect might be armed, and stay alert accordingly, whether ordinary law-abiding citizens are allowed to carry or not.