Concealed Carry, Good Cops & Bad Cops

by al vennemeyer on 05/25/12

Many citizens take police officers for granted and often don’t appreciate how important they are until assistance is needed.  Also, there are occasions when we practice our “Indy 500” driving skills in heavy traffic at excessive speeds and cops become a pain in the…they just don’t seem to understand good vehicle handling skills and should be looking for the "real" law breakers.

 

The danger of being a cop is documented each year with an average of 60,000 police officers being assaulted and 160 killed while on duty in the US.  The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. is dedicated to police officers across the country that died in service.  It is a great place to visit, pay homage and learn about the history of law enforcement.

 

Not all police are “Good Cops” and out of 900,000 police officials across the country we should expect a few “Bad Cops”.  A rare incident in Canton, Ohio on July 21, 2011, is a gross illustration of disgusting, non-professional police behavior.   The detained, concealed carry, driver showed compliance and respect which headed off an even greater conflict.  News to date indicates that the officer was suspended. See video: http://www.policemag.com/Videos/Channel/Weapons/2011/07/Ohio-Officer-Threatens-CCW-Holder.aspx

You may not have been pulled over while carrying a weapon yet, but, it’s best to prepare by understanding and following the rules for concealed carry in your state. The NRA-ILA also has useful information on this subject.   An understanding of the perils being a policeman, who is constantly situated in life threatening environments, should prompt us to be exceptionally cooperative and follow the rules.  Our main focus should not be deciding whether we are talking to a good cop or bad cop, but rather be calm, show respect and understand your obligations while concealed carrying a firearm regardless of the officer’s demeanor.