Political Activism "In-House"

The following email exchange occurred as a result of a list member advising that the firearms information on a police training website was more politically correct than accurate. The information at that website was very sincere and complete, and some of the political implications were relayed as an example of how LEOs who support the RKBA can interact within the profession. No flames intended, non promoted. Just spreading the word:

From: Joe Horn [crowtalk@theriver.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2001 11:18 PM
To: patrolandbeyond.com
Subject: [2ampd] Gun Violence Article

I am unable to find any reference in the CDC at: http://webapp.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/mortrate.html that remotely resembles or supports the spurious rate suggested by NCPC. This number has been discredited nationally many times over. Further, the term Gun Violence implies, somehow that guns are responsible for their misuse by human beings. I must point out that this is more Voodoo than social science.

In the face of drastically reduced violent crime rates over the past 32 years, this hysterical hyperbole does nothing to address the roots of violent crime or its demographics which are specifically identifiable and are primarily related to gangs and drugs.

Some of NCPC's sponsors are: the Lilly Endowment, Packard Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Allstate Foundation, Milstein Family Foundation, Florence V. Burden Foundation, and Chevron. These are well known liberal organizations that would eliminate the 2nd Amendment from the Constitution, had they the power. Since the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that no individual citizen has an expectation to individual response from the police, who is responsible for the citizen's defense until the police do arrive?

I would suggest you verify the content of that which you print, if for no other reason than to retain credibility. As a career peace officer, I have never and do not now fear armed citizens, rather, I view them as a resource for community defense in very bad times, i.e., L.A. Riots. I also know from years as a street cop in a very challenging environment exactly what can happen to unarmed citizens at the hands of violent criminals.

I swore an oath to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution three times, in Military service to our country and as a Deputy Sheriff serving the community, not to engage in voodoo and blaming inanimate objects because the disturbed youth in this country have not been taught restraint, self discipline, responsibility and personal accountability. Self esteem does not come with warm fuzzys, it comes with hard work and competition. Only when they learn all the aforegoing, disturbed and sociopathic youth will continue their activity whether firearms are exist or not.

I agree with some of your points. We only re-published ( from http://www.patrolandbeyond.com/crime_prevention/gun_violence.htm - National Crime Prevention Council ). The article is not about keeping weapons out of your home, just on how to better secure them around children, making a safer home and school environment and so on. I am a 12 year officer, one town west of Chicago and a SWAT Operator with Nipas - EST. My partner who posted that info is also a police officer and the primary shield operator on our SWAT team. All we ask is for a safer neighborhoods, not to remove weapons from your house. Sorry if the info insulted you, but we feel it's about making a safer environment for children, not that the biggest thing killing kids are handguns. Everyone reads articles and you may read/view it differently then we do. Interpretation is in the eye of the reader. It appears ( to us ) as just safety tips. Once again sorry you feel this way but we are not out to remove guns from the average person trying to protect their homes. We are out to remove weapons from criminals and to keep our children safe.

Joe Horn
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Ret.
crowtalk@theriver.com

Disclaimer: All comments are the personal opinion of the writer and not intended to represent any government agency, whatsoever.

http://www.lasd.org/