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Posted on 10/03/2001 9:00:22 PM PDT by Gun142

F.O.P. Says Let Police Carry Firearms Nationwide
U.S. Newswire
2 Oct 18:05

F.O.P. Says Let Police Officers Carry Firearms Nationwide:
Administration, Congress Consider the 'Community Protection Act'
To: National Desk
Contact: Tim Richardson of the Fraternal Order of Police,
202-547-8189
 

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Steve Young, national
president of the Fraternal Order of Police, told high-level officials
at both the White House and the Department of Justice that
legislation enabling qualified active and retired law enforcement
officers to carry their firearms when traveling outside their own
jurisdiction would make the nation safer. He urged them to include
H.R. 218, the "Community Protection Act," into legislation aimed at
improving public safety.

"For too long, this has been considered to be a 'firearms issue,'"
Young said. "If it ever was just a 'firearms issue' it certainly is
that no longer. On September 11, 2001 it became a critical public
safety issue."

The legislation would exempt qualified active and retired law
enforcement officers from State and local prohibitions on the
carrying of concealed firearms. This would enable off-duty and
retired law enforcement officers to carry their firearms, even when
traveling outside their home jurisdiction. The photographic
identification issued to them by the agency for which they work or
worked would function as a permit to carry in every U.S.
jurisdiction.

"Law enforcement officers are a dedicated and trained body of men
and women, who, unlike other professionals, are rarely 'off-duty,'"
Young said. "When terrorists struck the Pentagon, the first man on
the scene was a law enforcement officer. Whenever there is a threat
to the peace or to public safety, the police officer is sworn to
answer the call of duty, on the clock or off. Society charges the
police officer to keep the peace, to protect our streets and
neighborhoods from crime. The police officer's oath to serve and
protect is just as binding at the end of a shift as it is at the
beginning."

The "Community Protection Act" has a great deal of support from
the general public and Members of Congress. The bill has one hundred
and ninety-three cosponsors -- only twenty-five shy of a House
majority. In 1999, an amendment identical to the "Community
Protection Act" passed the House by an overwhelming vote of 372-53.
Though the underlying measure was ultimately defeated, it has strong,
bipartisan support on its own merits.

"The tools of the police officer are the badge and the gun. The
badge symbolizes the officer's authority; the gun enforces it," Young
explained. "These tools are given in trust to the officer to enforce
the peace and fight crime. The Fraternal Order of Police seeks a
measured extension of that trust improve the safety and security of
the public."

The proposal carefully defines who will and will not be able to
carry under this bill -- employees of a government agency who are or
were authorized by law to engage in or supervise the prevention,
detection, investigation or prosecution of, or the incarceration of
any person for, any violation of law, and have or had statutory
powers of arrest. Active officers must be authorized to carry a
firearm and meet the standards established by the agency, which
require the employee to regularly qualify in the use of a firearm.
Retired officers must have retired in good standing from a government
agency with a nonforfeitable right to benefits under the retirement
plan of the agency. Every twelve months, retired officers who wish
to carry under this bill must requalify with their firearm at their
own expense and meet the standards for training and qualification to
carry a firearm in the State in which they reside.

"Officers who are traveling from one jurisdiction to another do
not leave their instincts or training behind, but without their
weapon, their knowledge and training is rendered virtually useless in
a time of emergency. The 'Community Protection Act' will provide the
means for law enforcement officers to enforce the law, keep the peace
and respond to crisis situations -- enabling them to put to use that
training and answer the call to duty when need arises," Young said.
"Without a weapon, the law enforcement officer is like a rescue diver
without diving gear; all the right training and talent to lend to an
emergency situation, but with out the equipment needed to make that
training of any use."

"Neither criminals or terrorists give up their weapons when they
cross jurisdictional boundaries, why should police officers be
required to do so?" Young asked.

"Even in the horror of the events of 11 September, we heard
extraordinary tales of heroism, of men and women risking their lives
to save others. We too often forget the everyday heroism of our
police officers and firefighters, but the tragedies in at the World
Trade Center and the Pentagon reminded us," Young said. "Americans
will not live in fear -- not now, not ever. We are blessed with the
knowledge that, at any moment, no matter what happens, a police
officer, may be uniform, may be not, will be ready to come to the aid
of his or her fellow citizens -- honoring the oath to protect and
serve. Ensuring that our first line of defense is prepared to answer
the crisis no matter what they are wearing is too important to delay
any longer. Congress must make H.R. 218, the 'Community Protection
Act,' into law."

------
The Fraternal Order of Police is the largest law enforcement labor
organization in the United States, with over 299,000 members.
 

KEYWORDS:

GUNS/FIREARMS, POLICY, GOVERNMENT
 

-0-
/U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/
10/02 18:05

Copyright 2001, U.S. Newswire

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