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Fraternal Order of Police Whines for Cops-Only Rec
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
Durbin Amendments Prevent Committee Vote, Says Fraternal Order of
Police
To: National Desk
Contact: Tim Richardson of the Fraternal Order of Police,
202-547-8189
WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Steve Young, National
President of the Fraternal Order of Police, had strong words for
Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) following news that a vote on the
F.O.P.'s top priority, S. 2480, the "Law Enforcement Officers'
Safety Act," was postponed due to the number and nature of
amendments he planned to offer.
"I am not sure that Senator Durbin understands that this bill
isn't about firearms, it's about the safety of law enforcement
officers and the safety of our citizens," Young said. "The
National Fraternal Order of Police will be working with the more
than 35,000 members of the Illinois State Lodge to persuade Mr.
Durbin to be more sensitive to the public safety implications of
the legislation."
S. 2480, introduced by Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick J.
Leahy (D-VT) and Ranking Member Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT), would exempt
qualified active and retired law enforcement officers from State
and local prohibitions on the carrying of concealed firearms,
enabling off-duty and retired law enforcement officers to carry
their firearms, even when traveling outside their home
jurisdiction. The Senate bill currently has thirty-four (34)
cosponsors, eleven (11) of whom are members of the Judiciary
Committee.
"Chairman Leahy's support on this legislation has been tireless
and unwavering," Young said. "But he can't stop other Senators
from trying to block, delay or damage legislation considered by his
committee--even when that legislation is his own."
Senator Durbin strongly opposes the inclusion of retired law
enforcement officers in the bill and designed several amendments to
eliminate and restrict the bill's exemption for retirees. The
F.O.P. refused to support amendments eliminating the retirees from
the bill, because these officers are in no less jeopardy than
active duty officers. The Senator also proposed another amendment
which would extend the concealed carry authority beyond police
officers to include active and retired judges, prosecutors, public
defenders, probation officers as well as victims of violent crimes
and their family members.
"His last amendment is a 'poison pill' to prevent the bill from
being considered on the Senate floor. Mr. Durbin knows that we
have the votes in committee to defeat his pointless and damaging
amendments," Young explained. "Apparently, he will do or say
anything to block the passage of our number one legislative
priority."
Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) had also circulated amendments
to the bill which the F.O.P. opposed. The number of both Senator's
proposals forced Judiciary Chairman Patrick J. Leahy to postpone
the vote.
"This isn't a controversial bill to anyone but Senators Durbin
and Kennedy," Young said. "I hope the committee will be able to
reschedule the vote soon. Every day that goes by is one more day
in which police officers are at risk."
The Fraternal Order of Police is the largest law enforcement
labor organization in the United States, with more than 300,000
members.
http://www.usnewswire.com
-0-
/U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/
09/06 11:04
Copyright 2002, U.S. Newswire
http://www.usnewswire.com/topnews/prime/0906-116.html
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
Police
To: National Desk
Contact: Tim Richardson of the Fraternal Order of Police,
202-547-8189
WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Steve Young, National
President of the Fraternal Order of Police, had strong words for
Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) following news that a vote on the
F.O.P.'s top priority, S. 2480, the "Law Enforcement Officers'
Safety Act," was postponed due to the number and nature of
amendments he planned to offer.
"I am not sure that Senator Durbin understands that this bill
isn't about firearms, it's about the safety of law enforcement
officers and the safety of our citizens," Young said. "The
National Fraternal Order of Police will be working with the more
than 35,000 members of the Illinois State Lodge to persuade Mr.
Durbin to be more sensitive to the public safety implications of
the legislation."
S. 2480, introduced by Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick J.
Leahy (D-VT) and Ranking Member Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT), would exempt
qualified active and retired law enforcement officers from State
and local prohibitions on the carrying of concealed firearms,
enabling off-duty and retired law enforcement officers to carry
their firearms, even when traveling outside their home
jurisdiction. The Senate bill currently has thirty-four (34)
cosponsors, eleven (11) of whom are members of the Judiciary
Committee.
"Chairman Leahy's support on this legislation has been tireless
and unwavering," Young said. "But he can't stop other Senators
from trying to block, delay or damage legislation considered by his
committee--even when that legislation is his own."
Senator Durbin strongly opposes the inclusion of retired law
enforcement officers in the bill and designed several amendments to
eliminate and restrict the bill's exemption for retirees. The
F.O.P. refused to support amendments eliminating the retirees from
the bill, because these officers are in no less jeopardy than
active duty officers. The Senator also proposed another amendment
which would extend the concealed carry authority beyond police
officers to include active and retired judges, prosecutors, public
defenders, probation officers as well as victims of violent crimes
and their family members.
"His last amendment is a 'poison pill' to prevent the bill from
being considered on the Senate floor. Mr. Durbin knows that we
have the votes in committee to defeat his pointless and damaging
amendments," Young explained. "Apparently, he will do or say
anything to block the passage of our number one legislative
priority."
Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) had also circulated amendments
to the bill which the F.O.P. opposed. The number of both Senator's
proposals forced Judiciary Chairman Patrick J. Leahy to postpone
the vote.
"This isn't a controversial bill to anyone but Senators Durbin
and Kennedy," Young said. "I hope the committee will be able to
reschedule the vote soon. Every day that goes by is one more day
in which police officers are at risk."
The Fraternal Order of Police is the largest law enforcement
labor organization in the United States, with more than 300,000
members.
http://www.usnewswire.com
-0-
/U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/
09/06 11:04
Copyright 2002, U.S. Newswire
http://www.usnewswire.com/topnews/prime/0906-116.html
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
Comments
which would extend the concealed carry authority beyond police
officers to include active and retired judges, prosecutors, public
defenders, probation officers as well as victims of violent crimes
and their family members.
[/quote]
So basically, the congress thinks it is important for Government employes to have the avbility to defend themselves, no matter where they are. But the rest of us, well the government does not think that our right to self preservation is important.
This is a bad bill. For every reason the politicians and the FOP come up with as to why cops need this bill, you can come up with an equal amount of reasons(and in many cases, the same reasons) why the people should have that same privelage.
All this bill does, is give special privelages to people in Government, or former government employment.
Besides that, it appears grossly unconstitutional.
"Sometimes the people have to give up some individual rights for the safety of society."
-Bill Clinton(MTV interview)
That, obviously, doesn't hold true for those of us who don't have a cop suit to wear. I think Leahy is merely sucking up to the FOP for votes.
Mudge the armed
ps. I hope that if the "retired officer" provision is passed, someone will have the foresight to add an amendment that they must qualify every year. I'm not looking forward to being "protected" by a 75 year old retired cop with Parkinson's, Alzheimers, or cataracts.
Mudge the distrustful
I can't come to work today. The voices said, STAY HOME AND CLEAN THE GUNS!
Edited by - mudge on 09/07/2002 14:59:47
Best!!
Rugster
Toujours Pret
Edited by - Rugster on 09/07/2002 15:41:05
In any case, I scratched your name off my list of persons to save, but not that cute little Mrs Mudge. I will have her all to myself then, haha.
Charlie the retired
"It's the stuff dreams are made of Angel"NRA Certified Firearms InstructorMember: GOA, RKBA, NJSPBA, NJ area rep for the 2ndAMPD. njretcop@copmail.com
Leahy is a whore cut from the same cloth as the rest of the Klinton swine, with a tongue so forked it is split back to his adenoids. Any support he gives LEOs is pure posturing or at best stems from a desire to disarm everyone but agents of government.