Cast Your Orbs On This
 

They needed a poll to get those answers??? Most people with common sense already knew that!

Thanks for posting.

I believe they did that poll because of all the claims that cops are outgunned and that police are in favor of more gun control. The police unions are anti-gun, or at least the IBPO is. When I was secretary of our local, I questioned where they got their facts and figures from when they came out with statements that their members were for more gun control. I asked quite a few locals if they were ever queried and not one said yes. I never got an answer! Go figure. I'll dig out the letter I wrote and post it.

September 19, 1996

THE POLICE CHRONICLE
c/o Editor
159 Burgin Parkway
Quincy, Ma. 02169-4213

Dear Sir or Madam,

I just received and read the September 1996 issue of The Police Chronicle, and I'm a bit bewildered as to where your writers get their information about police officer's views regarding assault weapons. It would seem to any layman who would read our chronicle, that the averaage "street cop" is against the private ownership of so-called assault weapons. I'm a Massachusetts Criminal Justice Trai ning Council certified firearms instructor and a Ruger factory trained armorer. I attend numerous training sessions in Massachusetts and when in attendance, have asked brother police officers, if they or their department has ever been polled regarding the Brady Bill, or the proposed assault weapons ban. I've yet to find any police officers in Massachusetts with whom I've spoken, that have been queried/polled as to their sentiments in these matters. As a matter of fact, every police officer I have talked to about these bills, has stated they are in favor of the private ownership of assault weapons in the hands of law abiding citizens. What has been said is, the person who commits a crime with these weapons should be jailed in accordance with statute law which already exits in Massachusetts.

What's become of the mandatory 1 year sentencing for crimes committed with a firearm? No one I'm aware of, who has committed a crime with a firearms has been sentenced to the one year mandatory sentence in my local court. This sentence was not supposed to be plea bargained, what happened? Are you also aware that NO police officers have been killed in Massachusetts by someone using a so-called "assault rifle". There have been 7 homicides with these rifles in the last ten years, and three of those were suicides, these according to Massachusetts State Police records. It's also been proven that criminals don't generally bother people who are known to have the ability to defend themselves. The assault weapons legislation will have no effect on the criminal community. They're the ones who break the law and they'll break the weapons ban law as well.

Your time would be better spent focusing your efforts on more prisons, truth in sentencing, enforcing mandatory sentences and court reform. The feel good legislation you are backing will only affect the shooting sportsman, who are not bothering the police. You present a slanted view of the National Rifle Association (NRA), but they are the ones who made it possible for the Town of Fairhaven to present the Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program to the local schools. There are numerous cities and towns in Massachusetts, who have used the Eddie Eagle program through the NRA, at NO cost. The NRA is not the bogeyman in this issue, nor is GOAL. The criminals are. I resent the fact that you use a portion of my dues, to present a view which is contrary to mine and many other police officers. Please provide me with some figures, as to how many police officers who are members of IBPO, are in favor of the Brady Bill, the assault weapons ban, or gun control in general and what portion of my dues you use to promote (lobby) such legislation. Should you decide to publish this letter in the POLICE CHRONICLE, please do so in its entirety.

Very truly yours,



He rb Souza
Secretary IBPO Local 381

Great letter Herb