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Oakland Mayor: Snitchin’ Could Be Deadly … Doesn’t She Care?

The list is long. You know the the one. The list of laws we don’t like and don’t want to follow. They anger us. They seem foolish and often unfair. But is it okay to cherry-pick which rules we obey and which we don’t, simply because they’re not our cup of tea?

Seriously, which laws should we thumb our noses at and go about our business doing as we please—laws, police, courts, judges, and society be damned? Which laws are okay to shun as if they don’t exist? And, what are the consequences (excluding arrest and incarceration) should someone blatantly decide to disobey?

Snitchin’ Could Be Deadly!

Please allow me to slip back in time a bit to help put this situation into perspective. I was in charge of major narcotics investigations and one particular crack cocaine dealer seemed elude arrest no matter how hard I tried to nab him. So I organized an elaborate undercover operation complete with high-tech surveillance and monitoring equipment, phone taps, undercover drug buys from his residence, etc. A lot of time and effort and money went into the investigation. Finally, the day came when I had everything in order and I had a search warrant in hand. It was time to assemble a raid team and bring the guy down.

I called in an entry team and conducted a pre-search briefing—who would go where, when, do what, etc. I knew there were several known bad guys inside so I warned everyone about the danger involved and I made certain everyone on the team was wearing full protective gear. Then, just as we were about to head to our vehicles for the procession to the target home I noticed one of our team members was missing. I called him on the phone and he said he’d forgotten he had a quick errand he needed to attend to. Thought he’d be back before we were ready to go but time slipped away. He told me he’d meet us halfway there.

My heart sank. He’d left the meeting before I’d told anyone where we were going. The names of the suspects. Nothing. I always kept those details close to my chest, and for very good reason, and that reason was quite possibly coming to the surface. Somehow he knew where we were going without hearing it from me.

I again told everyone to use caution. There suspects were heavily armed and, well, it was going to be dangerous, and the sinking feeling in my gut made things seem even worse.

We rolled out, parked down the street from the target house, and that’s when I saw our missing team member walking toward us from my right. I asked where he’d come from and he told me he’d followed us but elected to park in a different spot.

As we talked I smelled alcohol on his breath. He confessed that he’d been drinking and didn’t think he was in any sort of condition to assist with a raid. I agreed and ordered him to leave the area but to be available after we were done. I had a few things we needed to discuss. First things first, though. *He’d consumed beer so he wouldn’t be allowed to join us.

Our boozed-up team member departed and we proceeded to the house.

Needless to say, the bad guys were waiting for us. They knew we were coming and they were ready for a fight. Fortunately, they realized they were outgunned and their numbers were far short of ours. We’d come in deep, as they say.

They fired a few rounds at us as they ran away into several directions. We caught a couple of the runners but they were clean—no weapons and no drugs. In fact, there was not a single speck of cocaine inside the residence. The place was cleaner than a hospital operating room before surgery.

Long story short, our partner gave the drug dealers advance notice that were on the way. I still don’t believe he knew where we were heading that night, but I later learned that he was paid by this gang to keep them informed. Therefore, when he saw the size and scope of what was about to take place he hurried out to warn his “employer” that the police just might be preparing to kick in their door.

This is serious. Many officers have been murdered in ambush situations over the course of the past couple of years. A bit of advance warning sets up the officers for a blindsided, deadly attack. And, to have someone turn against the police and to issue an advance warning that they might be on the way is, well, nothing short of extremely dangerous, irresponsible, inexcusable, and … criminal.

How would that official feel if someone were to die because of their belief that a law shouldn’t be followed because they don’t like it? Would it bother them if a suspect gunned down an officer as he approached a building or person during the course of their sworn duty?

What should happen to government employees who warn potential criminals and/or violent gang members and drug dealers and human smugglers that police may be on the way? What should happen to the official if an officer is hurt or killed because of that warning?

I know the feeling I had that night, knowing someone in an official capacity tipped off the bad guys and placed our entire team in harm’s way. It was not good. Luckily, we remained safe and sound (scary for a while when the rounds started coming our way) and we eventually busted the group of drug dealers.

The snitching officer was relieved of his police powers soon afterward (that’s a polite way of saying he was fired).

Anyway, this type of situation (different players and scenario, but the same danger level, or higher) is playing out right now in Oakland, Ca., where the mayor there just issued a public warning that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could be conducting a raid in the area.

I get it. She doesn’t like the fact that federal agents are doing their jobs in the city where she works as mayor. However, as I offered above, announcing the arrival of police who’re conducting surprise raids makes the situation extremely dangerous/life-threatening for those agents/officers. This mayor is playing with real fire. Obviously, she feels nothing about the lives of the federal agents. Or, she hasn’t realized the consequences of her actions. Or … she just doesn’t care.

Again, I get it. Some people don’t like some laws and they’d prefer that police weren’t around (well, only when it’s convenient). Unfortunately, we are a country of laws and the police are in place to enforce those laws. Anyone outside of those parameters is breaking the law, including Mayor Libby Schaaf of Oakland. The mayor also contacted businesses in the area to remind them that a new California state law “prohibits business owners from assisting ICE agents in immigration enforcement and bars federal agents from accessing employee-only areas.”

Again, no matter the reason, this practice makes it extremely dangerous for law enforcement officers. They’re humans. They have families. They’re out there to protect us. They’re doing their jobs. They want to live, too, just like the rest of us.

You don’t like the law, don’t want ICE in your area … fine. Don’t help them. But do not place those agents in harm’s way merely to prove your point. Instead, let the agents fend for themselves and stay out of their way.

Like Ducks in a Shooting Gallery

Perhaps the Oakland mayor doesn’t care if she lives to see tomorrow. But I’m sure that each and every day those federal agents are more than happy to safely return home to their families. Sadly, they’ll have to do the best they can because not only do they have to worry about the daily dangers associated with the job, now they have people like the Oakland mayor who doesn’t seem to mind that she’s setting up these agents like ducks in a shooting gallery.

Again, you don’t like a law, change it, but don’t risk the lives of hard-working men and women simply because a rule rubs you the wrong way. Believe me, police officers don’t care if a law disappears from the books. It’s one less they’d have to worry over. And, they’d certainly prefer to not conduct dangerous raids where they could be injured or killed.

So please, Mayor Schaaf, consider the consequences of snitching when doing so could cost someone their life. And, by the way, your action was illegal …

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Deputy Scot Peterson: Coward of Broward County?

“Because active shooter situations are often over within 10 to 15 minutes, before law enforcement arrives on the scene, individuals must be prepared both mentally and physically to deal with an active shooter situation.” ~ Homeland Security

Much has been said during the past few days about the Broward County sheriff’s deputy, Deputy Scot Peterson (not to be confused with the Scott Peterson who’s currently serving time on death row for murdering his wife and their unborn child), the sworn law enforcement officer who was there but failed to enter the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on February 14.

Peterson was assigned to the school. It was his permanent post. He was there to safeguard children. It was his job. He was in uniform wearing a sheriff’s badge and a gun. He absolutely was the ONLY barrier between a killer and his helpless victims. And Peterson failed.

It has also been reported that additional deputies arrived on the scene and they, too, took positions outside the school—behind their patrol cars. It was not until local city police arrived that any law enforcement officer entered the school. A couple of new deputies arrived and joined the local city officers when they went inside to engage the shooter. Why the others elected to hunker down behind their vehicles and stay there throughout is a mystery to me.

Let me say that again to allow it to sink in—the others, the deputies who first arrived and were hiding, remained outside. I simply cannot wrap my brain around this scenario.

I must say, this is not first-hand knowledge. I’m merely piecing together reports from various “news” articles. Most of them differ so actual fact-gathering is not totally reliable. Still …

Many are calling ex-deputy Peterson a coward (he was suspended without pay and then resigned).

Personally, I can’t outright call the man a coward because I wasn’t there on that horrific day, nor am I privy to his thoughts. Actually, none of us have a clue what went through Peterson’s mind as he hid outside while gunfire echoed throughout the school hallways, mingling with the screams of the terrified, helpless kids.

Something had to be going through his mind, right? Was it the faces of the students he interacted with on a daily basis? Teachers? Was he imagining them peppered with the blood of their fellow students and educators? Or was he thinking of how to make it home alive? Or? Or? Or? What was he thinking???? For goodness sake, Deputy Peterson knew these kids and their teachers. He. Knew. Them. He saw them on a daily basis. They trusted him to keep them safe.

Many things take place during events that frighten us, and some people are able to continue to function, even if only through the rush of adrenaline, while others freeze. Who knows, Peterson may suffer from PTSD sparked by an earlier trauma. Maybe he thought he’d be able to nab the shooter on his way outside. Or, perhaps he was hoping the killer would commit suicide. And then there’s that whole “coward” possibility.

In all fairness to Peterson, I’ve seen officers freeze when faced with deadly situations. I’ve even seen officers hide from danger, leaving their coworkers and citizens to fend for themselves. However, neither of those folks are officers today. They, with a bit of “gentle persuasion” moved on to other more suitable careers.

Working as a police officer is a tough job. I know, many people dislike cops, but the majority of officers would not hesitate to place themselves between you and danger. And they’d darn sure do whatever it takes to protect a child.

I remember breaking the glass on a bedroom window to pull a child to safety as his father fired at us with a shotgun. I’ve pulled a child from a burning car. I’ve witnessed officers doing remarkable things to save and protect others. They face gunfire, knives, and brutal beatings, but they continue to do what they do.

Active Shooter: Rapid Deployment

Most police officers responding to an active shooter are trained in a procedure often called Rapid Deployment, or something similar, meaning they proceed immediately to the area in which shots were last heard. The purpose? To stop the shooting as quickly as possible.

For example, the UW Madison, Wi. Police Department guideline for responding officers is quite clear. While the wording may differ slightly, this is the typical procedure throughout the country.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM RESPONDING POLICE OFFICERS

Police officers responding to an active shooter are trained to proceed immediately to the area in which shots were last heard in order to stop the shooting as quickly as possible. The first responding officers may be in teams; they may be dressed in normal patrol uniforms, or they may be wearing external ballistic vests and Kevlar helmets or other tactical gear. The officers may be armed with rifles, shotguns or handguns. Expect to see different uniforms and/or plainclothes officers, as units might be deployed from different departments.

Do exactly as the officers instruct. The first responding officers will be focused on stopping the active shooter and creating a safe environment for medical assistance to be brought in to aid the injured.

The objectives of responding police officers are:

  • Immediately engage or contain the active shooter(s) in order to stop the life-threatening behavior.
  • First, make sure the environment safe, and then help injured people.
  • Identify victims to facilitate medical care, interviews and counseling.

Officers will take command of the situation by shouting orders and/or physically directing individuals to a safe place or the ground.

Homeland Security officials say this:

“The first officers to arrive to the scene will not stop to help injured persons. Expect rescue teams comprised of additional officers and emergency medical personnel to follow the initial officers. These rescue teams will treat and remove any injured persons. They may also call upon able-bodied individuals to assist in removing the wounded from the premises.”

Peterson and the other deputies who took cover outside a building where they knew kids were most likely being slaughtered just mere feet from them … well, that’s something as a cop, as a father, as a human, I simply could not do. Nor could I live in peace if I did. To not try to help in some way would haunt me forever.

I’m old, tired, and out of shape

As I stated on someone’s Facebook post yesterday, “I’m old, tired, and out of shape, but but my old, tired, out of shape butt would’ve gone inside that school. No doubt.”

“A decisive response will likely minimize casualties in active shooter events.” ~ Lt. Dan Marcou.

Lt. Dan Marcou is an internationally-recognized police trainer.

All photos are from Writers’ Police Academy active shooter training.

The “victim.

EMS arrived to treat the victim of a gunshot wound.

The shooter took a hostage and retreated into a classroom occupied by several students.

The shooter elected to engage responding officers, officers who IMMEDIATELY entered the school the moment they arrived. The bad guy did not survive.

The deputies’ purpose for such a rapid entry … to immediately engage or contain the active shooter(s) in order to stop the life-threatening behavior.

The scenario depicted in the photos above was entirely staged—make-believe—but that didn’t stop the action from seeming incredibly realistic. And yes, there was gunfire. The Writers’ Police Academy offers realism and actual police training. By the way, spots still remain available at the 2018 Writers’ Police Academy. It is THE event of the year! #2018WPA

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Friday’s Heroes: Remembering the Fallen

Corporal Mujahid Ramzziddin, 51

Prince George’s County Maryland Police Department

February 21, 2018 – Corporal Mujahid Ramzziddin was shot and killed while attempting to protect a female who was being attacked by a shotgun-wielding man.

Corporal Ramzziddin is survived by his wife and four children.

 

Officer Justin Billa, 27

Mobile Alabama Police Department

February 20, 2018 – Officer Justin Billa was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man who had just murdered his ex-wife.

Office Billa is survived by his wife and one one-year-old son.

 

Deputy Sheriff Kevin Stanton, 32

Brevard County Florida Sheriff’s Office

February 17, 2018 – Deputy Kevin Stanton was killed when his patrol car was struck by a tractor-trailer.

 

 

 

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School Shootings: Spontaneous Acts or Planned Assaults?

School shootings are rarely sudden and spontaneous acts. While the time between the attack and the onset of the plan may be short, there is usually a period of planning that could afford law enforcement time to act and prevent the incident. However, it is important to note that officials must often rely on tips and information from the public and it is those tips that must be pursued.

Prior to most incidents of violence, including school shootings, other people knew about the attacker’s plan. Typically, though, this information is known to other school kids or even siblings. But rarely are adults notified.

The targets/victims of these attacks are seldom given warning or notice. Instead, other indicators are often present that should alert school officials to potential trouble brewing (bragging about owning guns, etc.). When officials are made aware of potential threats they should investigate immediately. To the troubled student, a failure to act may seem like an open invitation to carry out an attack.

The use of profiling is, well, practically useless when it comes to identifying school shooters. This is so because most kids who “fit” the profile would never engage in such activity. Therefore, instead of profiling as agencies often do in the case of serial killers, etc., officials should focus on the individual’s behavior and their communications via social media and through spoken word.

Prior to an attack, most school shooters engaged in behavior that caused others concern or presented signs that the student was in dire need of some type of help. An intervention is required; however, it is important that officials not disgrace or embarrass the student/suspect.

Severe personal loss (death of a loved one, for example) or personal failure are often factors in the motives of school shooters. Some have even attempted suicide.

Many shooters felt bullied prior to the assault … their motive for pulling the trigger.

Most school shooters had easy access to weapons prior to the incident and many practiced shooting, regularly. Parents absolutely must monitor the storage and use of ALL firearms in the home. This is in addition to monitoring a child’s online activity and activities with friends in and outside of school.

Other students are sometimes involved in some capacity. For example, they’ve heard their classmate talking about their goal(s).

Despite the best intentions and absolute quickest response time of patrol officers, most school shootings are stopped by someone other than law enforcement. In fact, most shootings were so brief they were over before police arrived.

Obviously, reactive policing (investigating after the fact) is not the answer to this problem. A proactive approach is needed and that could include a bit of old fashioned information gathering (student behavior and communications).

Law enforcement has no means of knowing which students/kids have the propensity to carry out such a horrific act. Therefore, it is up to school officials to make the initial assessment(s).

In addition, that information should be shared with law enforcement, and together the police and school officials could evaluate the facts and zero-in on students who’re planning to attack.

To make this work, laws preventing the sharing of information with law enforcement may need modifying (in some states). And, school officials MUST be willing to work with law enforcement. Sadly, some school officials refuse to do so.

I know the knee-kjerk reaction is to confiscate all guns, but it’s not going to happen. Besides, that alone will not stop some from carrying out their murderous intentions.

By the way, the information above is from the paper:

THE FINAL REPORT AND FINDINGS OF THE SAFE SCHOOL INITIATIVE:

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PREVENTION OF SCHOOL ATTACKS IN THE UNITED STATES

UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE AND UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

The paper was written, published, and made available to officials in 2004. Yes, 14 years ago, our government knew this problem existed and had plans and ideas in place to stop school shootings. The ball was dropped by many, many people who could’ve had a hand in  preventing shootings by picking up on the warning signals exhibited by potential killers.

Who knows, had officials (school and law enforcement) taken a moment to read the paper written by the Secret Service, parents in Florida this week might not be attending the funerals of their children.

So, what are your thoughts as to how to make schools safer? Armed officers in the hallways and patrolling the perimeter? Security fencing? An indoor Sally Port where anyone who enters the school must be buzzed into the waiting area where an officer could check to be sure all is okay before allowing them entry through the second door into the school. Armed teachers and cafeteria workers?

And, do you believe the FBI dropped the ball on the Florida school shooter? Had they investigated the leads would/could they have prevented the tragedy?

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Please, no cop-bashing, politics, politician-bashing, etc. Just simple, thoughtful responses.

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5 Things a Police Officer Should Do … ALWAYS

Working as a police officer extremely intense. It’s tough. It’s mentally and physically challenging.

During the course of a typical shift, officers meet many people while responding to various calls and while working a variety of assignments

While protecting and serving, well, here are five things they should ALWAYS do when doing what they do.

 

Spots are still available to the 2018 Writers’ Police Academy. Yes, registration is still open and, we have lots more surprises on the way. This is an event you’ll remember for a lifetime so please hurry while slots are available! Oh, be sure to refer a friend and have them sign up as well. You’ll soon see why that could be a very important step.

 

http://www.writerspoliceacademy.com

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5 Things a Police Officer Should NEVER Do

Police officer academy training is extremely intense. It’s tough. It’s mentally and physically challenging.

During the course of basic training, officers are taught many topics, tactics, and techniques.

Academy instructors advise recruits on the hundreds upon hundreds things they must do right during their careers as law enforcement officers.

Here are five things they should NOT do.

 

Spots are still available to the 2018 Writers’ Police Academy. Yes, registration is still open and, we have lots more surprises on the way. This is an event you’ll remember for a lifetime so please hurry while slots are available! Oh, be sure to refer a friend and have them sign up as well. You’ll soon see why that could be a very important step.

 

http://www.writerspoliceacademy.com

 

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What Did ‘Too Big to Fail’ Really Mean?

It meant a bunch of greedy banks did too much borrowing and had too little capital until they were all about to collapse and the government bailed them out because Congress only cares about the fat-cat friends who make campaign contributions, right?

Not quite that simple. To begin with, when is a bank not a bank?

A commercial bank is where we average people have our savings and checking and maybe get a car loan or a mortgage. The spread between what the banks pays us in interest on our accounts and what it takes in in interest from our loans is the bank’s net interest income. Deposits are insured by the FDIC and the bank is regulated by either the Office of Comptroller of the Currency or the Federal Reserve (the banks can choose). Of the ‘bailout banks,’ JP Morgan, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America are commercial banks.

An investment bank doesn’t offer a checking account but does offer underwriting, investment products like bonds, stocks and derivatives, facilitating mergers and other corporate reorganizations, and also acting as a broker for institutional clients. Some commercial banks, such as Citibank and JPMorgan Chase, also have investment banking divisions. Investment banks are regulated by the Securities Exchange Commission, which is an enforcement agency, not a regulatory one. Of the ‘bailout banks,’ Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, and Goldman Sachs were investment banks.

The Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 prevented banks and depository institutions from underwriting securities, in order to safeguard customers’ deposits. But the lines blurred over the years and Congress essentially repealed this act in 1999.

A bank holding company usually own banks but doesn’t operate them, especially smaller banks. The advantage to this arrangement is increased flexibility in raising capital. These are regulated by the Fed. Of the bailouts, Citigroup is a bank holding company.

The ‘bailout bank’s group also included outliers like AIG, which as an insurance company wasn’t regulated by any financial regulator, and two clearing and settlement banks, Bank of New York Mellon and State Street Corporation. Then there was Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, overseen by the Federal Housing Oversight Office, which also bought mortgages from banks, packaged them into securities and sold them to investors. The agencies made mortgages easier to get for lower-income home buyers, a goal encouraged by White Houses of both parties. However these securities were not guaranteed by the government, though everyone behaved as if they were and they were quite profitable until stock prices began to fall.

What does all this mean to us average joes? Only that there was no one government agency responsible for overseeing the maelstrom that eventually degenerated into the 2008 financial crisis. There was no one group of regulators asleep at the switch or one board of directors scheming to take over the world.

The banks weren’t too big—they were too interconnected. They had gotten too dependent on ‘overnight financing,’ short-term lending with which banks would supplement their insured deposits. When the collateral, such as subprime mortgage securities, began to wobble, everyone tried to pull their cards out before the whole house fell, and then, of course, there was no house at all. Investors shied away from any type of credit product, even credit cards and auto loans, which were perfectly stable areas. Credit is the oil that keeps the engine of an economy moving, and when banks stopped lending to anyone, even each other, the engine seized. At this point, housing prices had fallen only four percent, and yet a panic ensued that lost us 6.2 million jobs in ten months between 2008 and 2009.

Enough, you’re thinking. What has been done now to make sure this won’t happen again?

Regulation has been firmed up. Merrill Lynch was bought by Bank of America and changed from being an investment bank to strictly a wealth management firm. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley changed from being investment banks to being bank holding companies, bringing them under Fed regulation instead of SEC monitoring.

All institutions have tougher capital and liquidity requirements, meaning they have to have enough money on hand to avoid the overextensions that made them unstable. Legal tools have been established to take over and dismantle failing banks so that they neither fail nor require a bailout. Bailout loans made to the banks have been paid back with interest. (The Fed’s annual profit goes to the Treasury, where it reduces the national deficit.) Some of the ‘bailout banks’ didn’t even need the loans, but had to take them—otherwise the banks which need help would look even worse to investors.

Does this mean we’re all good and the future will always look rosy? I am not a pessimist by nature, but I wouldn’t let my guard down. The Dodd-Frank bill vs. the Choice Act battle staggers on. But remember we’ve survived the Savings & Loan crisis, junk bonds, the dot-com bubble, and now the worst financial crisis not only since the Great Depression but ever. I think we’ll continue to, even if when it comes to money, there will always be another trick up the human collective’s sleeve, another tent of cards to add to the stack.

Lisa Black has spent over twenty years in forensic science, first at the coroner’s office in Cleveland Ohio and now as a certified latent print examiner and CSI at a Florida police dept. Her books have been translated into six languages, one reached the NYT Bestseller’s list and one has been optioned for film and a possible TV series.

 

 

 

 

 

www.lisa-black.com

@LisaBlackAuthor

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2018 Writers’ Police Academy: An Exciting Video, a FREE $500 Registration Prize … Say WHAT?

Tomorrow at noon (EST). Set your watches, timers, clocks, and all other reminder-type devices because registration to the 10th annual Writers’ Police Academy is scheduled to go live at that precise moment (12 noon EST).

Be ready to sign up because you will not want to miss the thrills and heart-pounding excitement.

Sign up the first day for a chance to win a FREE registration packet worth over $500! The WPA is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.!

#2018WPA

WritersPoliceAcademy.com

Here’s a preview of what to expect at the WPA. Crank up the volume, set the video to full screen, and hang on!
 

 
Just for fun, who can tell me the name of the person who’s eyes appear in the top photo?

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Friday’s Heroes: Remembering the Fallen

Officer Chase Maddox, 26

Locust Grove Georgia Police Department

February 9, 2018 – Officer Chase Maddox was shot and killed while assisting deputies serve an arrest warrant. Two deputies were also wounded during the gunfire.

Officer Maddox is survived by his wife and two sons. The second son was born four days after Officer Maddox’s death.

Officer Eric Joering, 39

Westerville Ohio Division of Police

February 10, 2018 – Officer Eric Joering was shot and killed while answering a 911 hang-up call. When he and another officer arrived at the home the suspect opened fire killing both officers.

Officer Joering is survived by his wife, four daughters, and his K-9 partner Sam. Sam will retire and remain with the Joering family.

Officer Anthony Morelli, 54

Westerville Ohio Division of Police

February 10, 2018 – Officer Anthony Morelli was shot and killed while answering a 911 hang-up call. When he and another officer arrived at the home the suspect opened fire killing both officers.

Officer Morelli is survived by his wife and two children.

 

Officer Darren Weathers, 25

Detroit Michigan Police Department

February 13, 2018 – Officer Darren Weathers was killed in a vehicle crash during a training exercise.

Officer Weathers is survived by his wife and daughter.

 

 

Commander Paul Bauer, 53

Chicago Police Illinois Department

February 13, 2018 – Commander Paul Bauer was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a subject who’d fled from other officers.

Commander Bauer is survived by his wife and daughter.

 

 

 

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Gun Laws and Control … again

This is a repeat post. One I keep on speed dial due to the frequent need to pass along the information. Here goes …

Gun Laws and Control … again

There is an on-going discussion in the U.S. regarding gun control and the need for more laws to help curb gun violence. So, to help zero-in on what kind of law(s) is needed and where it/they best fit, let’s take a quick peek at only a very few laws already in the books (There are well over 20,000 gun laws).

DID YOU KNOW …

It is unlawful/illegal:

– for anyone other than a licensed dealer to import, manufacture, or sell/trade any firearm and/or ammunition.

– to produce, sell, or possess armor piercing ammunition, unless the sale is to a government within the U.S. Export of ammo of this type is permitted.

Possession of a firearm under the following circumstances is also illegal. For example, it is illegal for minors to possess certain firearms, possession of a machine guns is illegal, etc.

– to sell a firearm or ammunition to minors.

– to sell or possess machine guns or short barrel rifles and/or shotguns (permits are available in some instances).

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– to sell a firearm to any person under indictment for or convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year is prison (a felony). Possession of a firearm under these circumstances is also illegal.

– to sell a firearm to an unlawful user (or addict) of an illegal controlled substance.

– to sell a firearm to anyone who has been adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to a mental institution.

– to sell a firearm to a fugitive from justice.

– to sell a firearm to anyone who is in the U.S. illegally.

– to sell a firearm to anyone discharged dishonorably from the U.S. military.

– to sell a firearm to anyone who has renounced his U.S. citizenship.

– to sell a firearm to anyone who is subject to a court order that restrains such person from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner of such person or child of such intimate partner or person, or engaging in other conduct that would place an intimate partner in reasonable fear of bodily injury to the partner or child.

Screen Shot 2016-06-13 at 7.06.55 AM

– to sell a firearm to anyone who has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

– it is illegal to possess a firearm in a school zone (does not apply to law enforcement or firearms safely locked in approved containment devices, etc.).

– it is illegal to discharge or brandish a firearm in a school zone.

– it is illegal to assemble a firearm replica in a school zone (fake guns or lookalikes also not allowed).

– it is unlawful to transfer or permit the transfer of any handgun to a juvenile.

– anyone who knowingly transfers a firearm, knowing that such firearm will be used to commit a crime of violence is subject to punishment up to 10 years in prison.

– it is illegal for violent felons to posses body armor.

– it is illegal to knowingly possess a stolen firearm.

The above listed are only a scant few of the gun laws and restrictions on the books.

Actually, according to the Brookings Institution of Washington D.C., there may or may not be approximately 20,000 gun laws on the books. They’re simply not sure of an exact number because of the sheer cluster-muck volume and convolution of laws and restrictions regarding firearms in the U.S.

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Additional gun law facts

– National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) is the call-in instant check conducted by salespersons prior to ringing up all gun sales. No exceptions. Inventory is monitored and records are audited by the ATF.

The background check call is to the FBI and it is for the purpose of determining whether or not the customer has a criminal record or is otherwise ineligible to purchase a firearm.

– 100 million checks have been conducted in the past 10 years. 700,000 of those checks resulted in denials.

– Many states do not require background checks on persons buying guns from private individuals—individual gun owners selling to others. For example, a background check is not required when Sam Spade sells his personal .38 to Jack Reacher.

– In 2016, 17,250 people were murdered. Of the 17,250, 374 victims were shot and killed with a rifle of some type. In comparison, 1,604 people were killed with knives or other edged weapons. Hands, feet, and fists were the instruments used to beat to death 656 people. That’s right, victims were beaten to death far more often than were shot and killed with rifles.

I’m not sure how, other than perhaps stopping the individual sale without a background check, adding to the 20,000 gun laws already in place will prevent criminals from obtaining firearms. Obviously people ignore laws regarding murder, rape, robbery, B&E, theft, shoplifting, bike theft, speeding, drunk driving, drug possession and manufacturing, jaywalking, interfering with police, pocket-picking, prostitution, gambling, moonshining, car theft, kidnapping, and, well, you get the idea. Criminals are going to get their hands on guns no matter what, which, or how many laws are in place.

One of the best means, by far, of removing illegally possessed firearms from the hands of bad guys was during police interactions with known criminals. But that along with bulletproof metal boxes on wheels and black clothing with lots of pockets was said to hurt the feelings of some, so the tactic was basically tossed. As a result, bad guys no longer fear being caught carrying illegal guns. And they do. There are lots and lots of illegal firearms on the street today. The average person has absolutely NO idea of the alarming number illegally-possessed guns on the streets.

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Not long ago, an officer I trained in the police academy was shot while arresting a man who’d just killed someone—shot them to death—during an argument about the sister of one of the two men. Someone in the crowd of cell-phone-videoing, protesting, and interfering-with-cops bystanders took a shot and wounded the officer.

The round severed the officer’s femoral artery before exiting his body via his abdomen. Had it not been for the tourniquet applied and wound-packing by a responding trooper who’d worked as a nurse prior to becoming a police officer, the officer would have most likely died on the scene. His blood loss was severe. Fortunately for the wounded officer, the trooper arrived when he did and a helicopter was able to quickly transport him to a trauma hospital.

This happened in an area known for gun violence that was once curtailed by proactive policing tactics, such as stopping and talking to known criminals and then asking if they’d agree to a quick pat-down for weapons. The result of those stops quite often produced illegal weapons, either during the pat-down or the recovery of guns thrown to the ground as the crooks ran away.

I’m not saying a stop and frisk would have positively prevented this particular shooting, but there’s a good chance that it would have, or another like it.

*By the way, a hands-on workshop/training session about “wound-packing in the field” is featured at the 2018 Writers’ Police Academy. Click the link to view a video of the class. Extreme realism!

REMEMBER, MOST RIFLES DESCRIBED AS ASSAULT RIFLES ARE MERELY EVERYDAY RIFLES WEARING FANCY DO-DADS—NO EXTRA FIREPOWER, ETC.

Each of the above rifles is a Mini-14. They are the same rifle with the same firepower.

So, what gun laws do you think should be added to the 20,000? Do you have an idea that would prevent shootings? Reduce magazine size, maybe, to allow only 6-8 people to be killed at once before reloading? What about confiscating all guns, leaving only criminals having them? Would that work? What new law would have prevented the shooting in Las Vegas or the Florida school just yesterday?

What if it were illegal—today, right now—to possess a rifle of any type? Would a bad guy say to himself, “Well, it’s illegal to use a rifle, and I don’t want to get into trouble, so I’d better not do it?” Of course not. A crook is going to get their hands on guns the same way they do now, illegally.

It’s already illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm, yet they do. It’s illegal for people to rob banks, yet they do. It’s illegal for people to block highways, yet they do. It’s illegal for people to break windows and set police cars on fire, yet they do. Would adding more laws prevent those people from committing those crimes?

Anyway, as always, I welcome your comments … as long as they don’t include cop-bashing, politics, religion, race, profanity, etc. I will delete those statements.

I’m taking a chance here. I’ve always avoided this issue like the plague because it is such a sensitive topic. Keep in mind that I have not fired a gun in two decades, so please do not assume to know my thoughts and feelings on the subject.

Here goes nothing … (my finger is poised above the delete button :).

*By the way, the two “rifles” pictured in the center of this article are air rifles.

Crossman M4 Pump Air Rifle.

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Umarex BB Air Rifle.

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They are not firearms, but they look menacing, right? It’s all about cosmetics, though, and the same is true about the rifles many refer to as assault rifles. They may look scary to some people, but they’re nothing more than a regular rifle dressed up with fancy attachments. As you can clearly see, it’s possible to dress up a BB gun to make it appear as something it’s not.

The revolver pictured above is also a BB gun. You can purchase one at Walmart for less than $50.

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This one is a rubber training gun.

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In any situation—good light, bad light, low light, no light—it’s difficult to tell which are real and which are not, right?

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