Grand Junction, CO –-(Ammoland.com)-Â This contains some concepts that many folks haven’t considered.
We are not siding with or against the police or advancing excuses for them and we hope it does not appear we are picking on them either; we aren’t.
For this work, we interviewed 17 chiefs and sheriffs from around the country. From those conversations (emails and phone) we have some quotes in this work. We were asked not to source the particular quotes and that is fair since this was not an on the record news interview, we just wanted their thoughts and opinions. So, as Joe Friday said, “just the facts ma’am.”
When it comes to various politicians and others speaking against gun ownership (the 2nd Amendment and Constitution by definition) politicians will many times cite city and state police chiefs who allegedly may support the anti-gun movement. These politicians may have police chiefs and their officers appear with them as props or spokesmen in news conferences.
So the logical question to ask is why are these top cops so seemingly against firearm ownership?
Chiefs are at the beck and call of their political bosses, mayors and city councils. “We chiefs get our opinion on firearm ownership when it is issued to us.”–A recent quote by a chief.
A sheriff told us “There is an active debate between sheriffs and chiefs that is affected by the big city chief culture because chiefs tend to emulate each other.”
For our purpose here let’s just deal with city police, not state/national officials. If city politicians are against gun ownership (Chicago, Washington D.C, San Francisco, and New York for example) and the chief doesn’t agree he can (and probably will) be fired or demoted by the mayor or possibly by a simple majority of the City Council. In most towns over 50,000 population chiefs generally get paid between $70,000 and $140,000 a year plus benefits and retirement. Large city chiefs get well over $200,000 plus benefits, retirement and every once in a while you run into a chief earning well over $300,000.00 plus benefits. They want to hang onto that “chief” position, title and income.
This is why you see chiefs and their officers in the background when privileged officials posture against citizen firearm ownership and the Constitution by definition. Sure some chiefs may believe in citizen gun control and may be willing as a backdrop for self-serving politicians–especially if they were appointed by those in power at the time. So whenever a mayor, senator, representative or president wants a show of “top cops” showing support, a message is delivered to the particular city where the top officials are anti-2nd Amendment requesting top cops as props. The chiefs and officers are obediently delivered for props or advised to get their resume updated.
Sheriffs are by and large a different breed. They are elected by the people with a larger proportional number of citizens than city officials. The sheriff does not have to please a few city council members, a goofy mayor (or a governor). Sheriffs represent the beliefs and values of the majority of the area of his or her citizens who directly voted them into office. Yes, there will be sheriffs who do not want guns in the hands of citizens, but nothing like the number of police chiefs who have a near immediate career ending gun held to their heads by anti-Constitution politicians or the chief culture.
And most sheriffs take their Oath supporting the Constitution very seriously. And while they currently follow and enforce Constitutional applicable federal, state and county laws they reserve the power invested in their oath and position as elected officers of their county to resist or not to enforce Constitutional infringing law if or when that might come. If that were to occur, the state police and/or federal government may be ordered to step into that particular sheriff’s county to enforce those particular unconstitutional laws. The ramifications of those legal incursions might be very interesting to watch, especially, we were told, if that particular sheriff is actively supported by the citizens of that county.
The bottom line is: city, state and even federal chiefs will almost always bend to the will of their political masters–He who has the gold makes the rules.” Then this might be something to bring up in various press conferences with officers in the background.
Shults Media Relations, LLC
A PR firm that seriously supports the outdoor and firearms industry and our Constitution.
For more information please contact:
Jim Shults
Shults Media Relations, LLC
www.smrpr.com
Photo Op Cop yup how true. They all ought to have to run for election! But the question that Police unions and organizations really need to ask is , how many of us and how many citizens will die in this agenda "to reduce gun violence"? Also pointing out the sheer hypocrisy of such would be a idea. So how many firefights a day will it take
Funny how with a stroke of his pen, the POTUS can turn regular, everyday joes into felons, simply because they are in possession of a weapon that, before the stroke of that pen, were legal and constitutional to buy, own and sell. I learned from old Dirty Harry about A$$ kissing chief of police and it always disgusted me how they would suspend Harry simply because he didn't bend to their whims. On the flip side, I learned about the Sheriff's ability to defy the Mayor or Governor because they were elected by the people,from old Sheriff Arpaio in AZ.… Read more »
The question is not will they give up their guns. We know they can have anything they want whether on or off duty. The thing that is going to cost them is if they try to give up ours. We are serious as a heart attack about this and would much rather have them on our side than against us. It is their choice. All police officers should agree that there are enough criminals out there for everyone. We don't need to start inventing more who have done nothing to break the law, but the administration has by walking guns… Read more »
It doesn't make any difference at all! There are not enough of them to enforce SQUAT !
As a retired Police Officer, I can tell you that if you don't bend to the will of the mayor and council, you will not become the Chief of Police. It's not a job based on abilities, it's a political position for those that meet the needs of the mayor and council. The real cops believe in the constitution and also will not be willing to give up their guns. Just start asking them when the brass isn't around.
The largest most antigun group of Americans is cops. Never trust them with your guns, never.
When govt goes rogue, it won't be politicians or mama who will come for you and your gun.