Officer Wally Butler
Police Memorial Building, P.O.Box 89, Jacksonville, 32201-0089 904-349-7651
e-mail: 6539wbb@jaxsheriff.com
Posted on 10/12/2002 12:19:33 AM PDT by officerwally
A letter to Senator Kennedy from Officer Wally Butler on "Law Enforcement Officers' Safety Act".
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Officer Wally Butler Police Memorial Building, P.O.Box 89, Jacksonville, 32201-0089 904-349-7651 e-mail: 6539wbb@jaxsheriff.com
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| From the desk of Wally Butler |
Roadside snipers and foreign terrorists do not disarm themselves when they travel from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, why must I?
I am a member of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and the Fraternal Order of Police, an organization of more than 300,000 local, State and Federal law enforcement officers. I am writing to ask you to support the "Law Enforcement Officers' Safety Act." The passage of this legislation (S.2480 - H.R. 218) is the top legislative priority for the Fraternal Order of Police.
The "Law Enforcement Officers' Safety Act" would exempt qualified active and retired law enforcement officers from State and local prohibitions with respect to the carrying of concealed firearms. For me, in a time of terrorism this is an issue of public safety and homeland security. Roadside snipers and foreign terrorists do not disarm themselves when they travel from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, why must I? Criminals are never off-duty. I am a target in uniform and out; on duty and off, active or retired. The danger inherent to police work does not end with my shift. This bill gives Law Officers the ability to defend the American people, ourselves, and our loved ones at all times.
In the wake of 9-11-2001 it became a critical public safety and homeland security issue. Immediately after the attacks, the ranks of volunteers in New York City, Pennsylvania, northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. were swelled by off-duty and retired law enforcement officers and other emergency services personnel from every region of the country who had come to volunteer their services. It was an honor for our department, located in Jacksonville Florida, to send a Greyhound Bus full of Officers to help in New York City.
Many of the off-duty and retired law officers who responded and carried their firearms were actually in legal jeopardy! For instance the State of New York and New York City restrict the ability of off-duty police officers from other jurisdictions to carry firearms.
On September 12th 2001 Senator Bob Graham said: "A page of history has now turned the time of innocence has passed a time of vigilance is ... which we will be living."
In this time of roadside snipers and foreign terrorists it is unthinkable to ask officers to help but...leave their guns home!
The Officers are the thin blue line. Every Police Officer is "sworn in" and takes an oath to DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, the Government of the United States, and to protect the lives and property of the American People. Now more that ever America needs its Law Officers to be both armed and vigilant at all times... on duty, off duty, downtown and out of town. To do anything less is needlessly putting Americans in danger.
I would also remind you that on 30 June 1993, the Senate passed H.R. 1189, the "Armored Car Industry Reciprocity Act". That bill, which was ultimately was signed into law, mandated reciprocity for weapons licenses issued to armored car company crew members among the several States (including the District of Columbia). Armored car guards do not have the same level of training and qualifications as law enforcement officers. They protect money... we protect people.
By passing "Armored Car Industry Reciprocity Act" into law and not passing "Law Enforcement Officers' Safety Act", the message Congress is sending to the American Public is that Congress is willing to protect American Money but not American People!
I don't think that is the message you want to send. I don't think that is really the message Congress wants to send... so let's work together to pass the "Law Enforcement Officers' Safety Act".
This will give the same authority to fully-trained Law Enforcement Officers as Congress has already given to Armored Car Guards. This will also correct a oversight in Federal Law.
If Congress can see fit to support firearms for airline pilots and private guards, why not extend similar authority to fully-sworn, fully-trained and government-employed law enforcement officers, be they active or retired?
It is important to remember that criminals, snipers and terrorists are never off-duty, and the danger inherent to police work does not end with the shift. Police officers like me are targets in uniform and out, on duty and off, active or retired. This bill would enable me to carry my firearm when I travel outside of Jacksonville, Florida.(Congress has already granted this to money couriers)...It will also allow me to defend the safety of the public in an emergency situation.
I'm not asking for much... this won't cost any additional money... in fact it's a win-win request.
All I am really asking for is permission. Permission to better serve you and the American Public outside of my home town.
This is a critically important bill for our nation's police officers, and I hope you will demonstrate your support for law enforcement by supporting this bill. If you need further information about this legislation, contact the National F.O.P. in Washington at (202) 547-8189.
Thank you for your help!
Officer Wally Butler - 23 years of service-Badge 6539,
(904)349-7651
Police Memorial Building, P.O.Box 89
Jacksonville, Florida 32201-0089
Actually, that Right already exists, and is enumerated in the 2nd amendment to the US Constitution. The problem is that most politicians no longer recognize that Right, nor the Constitution for that matter.
I'm not opposed to police officers (or anyone else) carrying out of state, but I am opposed to Congress creating a special class of citizens. I see this bill as another step towards the federalization of our local police departments.
In the meantime, get a CCW "permit" like we peasants have to do. A Florida CCW will make you legal in about 19 states, I believe.
Ditto!
It's more important to note that everyone is subject to assault by criminals. When they are, they are usually alone and in many areas forced to maintain inadequate defense under penalty of law for various reasons. In the Spirit of a Free Country this legislation should cover all citizens. Only then would Freedom, equality under the law and justice hold.
"A well-regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed." - Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
Molon Labe !
This guy does not know his job. He enforces the law. Police are protective only in the sense that a marked car may dissuade criminal activity.
Also, why does he think he has more right to go armed than do I? Arm all CITIZENS and let them travel unmolested. With armed citizens on airplanes September 11 th, the war on terror would now be at an end and the WTC would still be standing.
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