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>One thing weird to me about the gun debate is that it always seems to exclude police -- on duty or off, current or former -- and nobody questions that in the s

>One thing weird to me about the gun debate is that it always seems to exclude police -- on duty or off, current or former -- and nobody questions that in the slightest. Other commenters have already covered possible motives I will cover the practicality side. It would be impossible to pass gun control with that massive voting block (law enforcement and everyone that supports them) against you. Public safety or something along those lines is one of the reasons people advocate for gun control. If you don't exempt the police then basically every police chief will go on record saying your gun control will be terrible for public safety.

joe_the_user 7y ago
Well, the problem with your argument is you seem to be arguing that any gun control is good gun control so it's reasonable to push for a completely ineffective gun.
devnulloverflow 7y ago
A public safety rationale would be about cops service weapons. The parent post sounds like he means individual cops can buy guns on the open market as private citizens would be allowed to do in states with looser gun laws.
- zepto 7y ago
  He does and that is currently the law in CA. Police officers can buy any handgun with any magazine capacity they like as personal property.
  - devnulloverflow 7y ago
    That looks, on it's face, like a violation of the 14th amendment equal protection clause.
    - zepto 7y ago
      Great point! I’ve never heard that said before.
- solidsnack9000 7y ago
  Cops actually buy most of their equipment on the open market, replacing and upgrading it as needed. Think about it: we don't have special, government-only clothing, boot or weapons factories in the US anymore. If we did, we'd have the same planned economy shortages and overruns that any other such system does. Cops are also allowed to keep guns after they retire. It's important to remember that guns are issued to police for self-defence, since the work they undertake puts them in harm's way. That doesn't change after they retire.
  - some_random 7y ago
    Oh come on, they really aren't in harms way after retiring with maybe a handful of exceptions. There's no reason they should be allowed to CC in all 50 states. Especially since literally no one else has that right.
    - solidsnack9000 7y ago
      Oh come on, they really are. Think about it: they typically retire in the area where they've been a cop. Criminals know who they are and where they live, and have for years -- and criminals never retire. Cops should definitely be allowed to carry concealed in all 50 states. That no one else has that right maybe tells us we should expand CCW reciprocity. It's already something like 35 states.
      - learc83 7y ago
        >Criminals know who they are and where they live, and have for years I'd need to see some stats on how often retited police officers are retaliated against by criminals before I'll buy that this is anywhere near likely enough to worry about.
        mandelbrotwurst 7y ago
        Even if the answer is zero that doesn't prove what you're hoping it would because as has been discussed, in reality those retired cops still have their weapons and criminals are aware of that.

joe_the_user 7y ago

Well, the problem with your argument is you seem to be arguing that any gun control is good gun control so it's reasonable to push for a completely ineffective gun.

devnulloverflow 7y ago

A public safety rationale would be about cops service weapons. The parent post sounds like he means individual cops can buy guns on the open market as private citizens would be allowed to do in states with looser gun laws.

zepto 7y ago
He does and that is currently the law in CA. Police officers can buy any handgun with any magazine capacity they like as personal property.
- devnulloverflow 7y ago
  That looks, on it's face, like a violation of the 14th amendment equal protection clause.
  - zepto 7y ago
    Great point! I’ve never heard that said before.
solidsnack9000 7y ago
Cops actually buy most of their equipment on the open market, replacing and upgrading it as needed. Think about it: we don't have special, government-only clothing, boot or weapons factories in the US anymore. If we did, we'd have the same planned economy shortages and overruns that any other such system does. Cops are also allowed to keep guns after they retire. It's important to remember that guns are issued to police for self-defence, since the work they undertake puts them in harm's way. That doesn't change after they retire.
- some_random 7y ago
  Oh come on, they really aren't in harms way after retiring with maybe a handful of exceptions. There's no reason they should be allowed to CC in all 50 states. Especially since literally no one else has that right.
  - solidsnack9000 7y ago
    Oh come on, they really are. Think about it: they typically retire in the area where they've been a cop. Criminals know who they are and where they live, and have for years -- and criminals never retire. Cops should definitely be allowed to carry concealed in all 50 states. That no one else has that right maybe tells us we should expand CCW reciprocity. It's already something like 35 states.
    - learc83 7y ago
      >Criminals know who they are and where they live, and have for years I'd need to see some stats on how often retited police officers are retaliated against by criminals before I'll buy that this is anywhere near likely enough to worry about.
      - mandelbrotwurst 7y ago
        Even if the answer is zero that doesn't prove what you're hoping it would because as has been discussed, in reality those retired cops still have their weapons and criminals are aware of that.