Hey guys, lots and lots of talk amongst you regarding the issue of open/concealed carry and how it relates to rights, wants etc................
Dont get me wrong I have no problem with either but I felt like adding a story from an old flat foot cop as to how it was just for cops............so just indulge me cause Im old, cranky, and almost a crummudgon
Some of you old cops should remember this, you new guys wont.
When I got into Law enforcement back in 74 gun control was strict. Even for the cops..........Even commissioned active duty types could not carry off duty outside of their own jurisdiction. (period)
Some departments even restricted off duty cops from carrying at all.
On duty civilian cloths types, you carried concealed period, even in August.
Some departments issued firearms each day and they had to be checked in.............
It was well know around the state that some towns you better NOT be caught carrying off duty as they would arrest off duty cops. Tulsa was the BIG bad bugger in that one. But there were other cities in Oklahoma like that though not as bad.
Well, we clammered, we griped, we bitched at elected people until the laws were changed and off duty were finally allowed to carry concealed outside of their jurisdiction..........Tulsa fought that.
But we still had problems in that OTHER STATES still prohibited officers from carrying in their jurisdictions, even on duty officers, though frankly most PD's gave that one a wink and a nod...........so We grinched again and got the states, through the Feds to begin passing reciprocity laws to honor law enforcement within their boundries ..................
Well thats about when states begin to realize that concealed carry for its citizens was also a good idea and ..................guys look where we are today
So even if this open carry doesnt clear the house this year, the gates are now open, nation wide, and the tide of gun control at the individual level is turning............
My point..........agitate, agitate, agitate, get involved, vote em in or vote em out......................but dont give up as we can get this done.................
Dont get me wrong I have no problem with either but I felt like adding a story from an old flat foot cop as to how it was just for cops............so just indulge me cause Im old, cranky, and almost a crummudgon
Some of you old cops should remember this, you new guys wont.
When I got into Law enforcement back in 74 gun control was strict. Even for the cops..........Even commissioned active duty types could not carry off duty outside of their own jurisdiction. (period)
Some departments even restricted off duty cops from carrying at all.
On duty civilian cloths types, you carried concealed period, even in August.
Some departments issued firearms each day and they had to be checked in.............
It was well know around the state that some towns you better NOT be caught carrying off duty as they would arrest off duty cops. Tulsa was the BIG bad bugger in that one. But there were other cities in Oklahoma like that though not as bad.
Well, we clammered, we griped, we bitched at elected people until the laws were changed and off duty were finally allowed to carry concealed outside of their jurisdiction..........Tulsa fought that.
But we still had problems in that OTHER STATES still prohibited officers from carrying in their jurisdictions, even on duty officers, though frankly most PD's gave that one a wink and a nod...........so We grinched again and got the states, through the Feds to begin passing reciprocity laws to honor law enforcement within their boundries ..................
Well thats about when states begin to realize that concealed carry for its citizens was also a good idea and ..................guys look where we are today
So even if this open carry doesnt clear the house this year, the gates are now open, nation wide, and the tide of gun control at the individual level is turning............
My point..........agitate, agitate, agitate, get involved, vote em in or vote em out......................but dont give up as we can get this done.................