Baltimore Police Issue 2nd Amendment Decal Warning
Maryland –-(Ammoland.com)- On May 29, 2011, the Baltimore Police Criminal Intelligence Section issued an “Intelligence Bulletin” warning officers about persons displaying the 2nd Amendment decal pictured here. The bulletin contains the following caption in bold red letters:
“….while the individual who is displaying the symbol may not be armed, the presence of the symbol provides an early warning indicator that you MAY be about to encounter an armed individual.”
It apparently never occurred to the Intelligence Section that perhaps we the people could use a warning that the presence of a badge provides an early warning that we are about to encounter an armed individual. While this may seem a bit sarcastic, it is certainly not unfair for Maryland citizens to have reason for concern when they are approached by an officer.
This is especially true when the officers are overly tense because they have been warned that a citizen with a decal or patch MAY be armed.
This Association asked James H. Green, of the Baltimore City Police Department to explain why the Baltimore City Police Department feels the need to profile persons who choose to support the U.S. Constitution.
Mr. Green responded with the following statement:
“I have spoken with our Criminal Intelligence Section and the bulletin was created in response to a number of recent inquires asking about the decal and its meaning and information generally provided to law enforcement about officer safety. All law enforcement agencies attempt to inform our officers or citizens as appropriate when inquiries such as this arise.
I certainly disagree with your characterization of “profiling.” Clearly the bulletin is informational and does not remotely suggest a suppression of Constitutional rights. In fact, as you are aware, many law enforcement personnel are members of the NRA or affiliated organizations.
As you are also aware, traffic stops are the single most dangerous encounter for law enforcement. It certainly is practice for law enforcement to ask operators about weapons for safety reasons only. The presence of a decal is NOT justification in itself for a traffic stop.
I hope that this addresses your inquiry and clears up any confusion about the bulletin.”
Note: “ WRTAC” stands for “Washington Regional Threat Analysis Center”
This Association has already submitted a Public Information Act request for information regarding similar bulletins involving NRA decals, patches and license plates.
It is quite interesting that the Washington Regional Threat Analysis Center and the Baltimore Police believe that showing support for the U.S. Constitution is considered a threat to police officers.
The actual Baltimore City Police Bulletin
Click here to purchase a 2nd Amendment support decal.
About:
Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore, Inc. (AGC), located in Marriottsville, Maryland. The Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore, Inc. was formed on July 1, 1944 when a number of World War II veterans in the Baltimore, Maryland area began looking for a place for recreational and competitive shooting. They organized with several other Baltimore area shooting clubs to form the “AGC” Visit: www.associatedgunclubs.org
the "Criminal Intelligence" section seems aptly named. obviously clear thinking and rationality are not welcome there.
They should be worried about the vehicles without gunrights stickers. Im sure most criminals and thugs with illegal handguns arent members of the NRA or any other group!
Right on Larken! Besides the police have no requirement to protect citizens at all, this has been repeated at the Supreme Court level and in over twenty state court hearings. These rulings states that the 'police job is to arrest code breakers.." In review of Coumbine and other actions where police response was warranted, they took the non action of waiting for SWAT Teams and other special units to arrive. These actions clearly show that those court rulings were in fact correct, becuase if they are to "serve and protect" this lack of action would result in them being sued.… Read more »
The mentality of "He has a gun, so be careful!" is slightly akin to "He's wearing a seat belt, so he may intend to crash into you!" The notion that the mercenaries of the state have the right to know if you're armed, know where your gun is, and disarm you by default "for their protection" is fascist bunk. The idea that the king's guards should ever be armed when the peasantry is not, though currently popular, is the mentality of slaves and tyrants. And to be blunt, if you are doing a job that makes you scared that the… Read more »
In Ohio, LEGAL gun carriers can be identified by running our license plate. If you have a LEGAL permit to carry a gun, your licenses will be linked. I find it interesting, because the ILLEGAL gun carriers are more likely to open fire on a cop. the LEGAL carriers know their information has already been identified.
I was wondering if Mr. James H. Green or someone at AGC or Ammoland misused “you” instead of “your” twice and got the plurality wrong in “address” for the posting on Ammoland.com?
• I certainly disagree with [you] characterization of “profiling.”
• I hope that this [address you] inquiry and clears up any confusion about the bulletin.