Reddit: "Police Officers: If ordered, would you confiscate firearms from law abiding citizens?"

I think the large risk of losing your own life would outweigh a paycheck. Most LEOs make decent money, but it's by no means amazing. Many are hunters, competitive shooters, collectors, just like the rest of us. If federal legislation came out that required confiscation of "assault weapons" and the like, I feel there would be a large increase in officer deaths and refusals to comply with the new laws. Whether or not it would lead to people getting fired, I do not know. Here in Wyoming I can't think of a single cop I know who would enforce these BS laws.

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Originally Posted by Citizen_Soldier

I think the large risk of losing your own life would outweigh a paycheck. Most LEOs make decent money, but it's by no means amazing. Many are hunters, competitive shooters, collectors, just like the rest of us. If federal legislation came out that required confiscation of "assault weapons" and the like, I feel there would be a large increase in officer deaths and refusals to comply with the new laws. Whether or not it would lead to people getting fired, I do not know. Here in Wyoming I can't think of a single cop I know who would enforce these BS laws.

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That's exactly what I'm saying. Every cop I know thinks going to people's houses and taking their guns will be met with stiff resistance. Now, I can't say for all, but even the idea of killing a cop is a scary and dangerous line of thinking, and I would never want to be in that position (like HBAR said, I want to be one!)... but if it comes down to unconstitutional seizure of your property in clear, direct violation of your 2A rights, I think there are more than a few out of the 100+ million gun owners in this country that would stand firm. So any attempt will be looked at by the boots on ground as an extreme risk, and an unnecessary one at that.

Door to door confiscation would never happen until they had a buy-back, turn them in or else, amnesty period...

...then it wouldn't be 'citizens' with guns. Those that didn't comply and still had guns would be law-breakers. They go from 'citizens' to wako, nut job, terrorists that are trying to kill our children who have guns.. Cops would do what they are told and enforce the law. No one wants a baby killer on the streets.

Its all a matter of wording and perspective. Cops enforce unconstitutional laws ALL THE TIME.. Not picking on cops, cops enforce the law, it just is what it is...

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LOL, lots of stupid in this thread. You do realize that the vast majority of law Enforcement are pro gun right? That means some are anti gun. Colorado is a very pro gun state even with some of the antis they elected. An overwhelming majority of Law Enforcment is pro gun. If you live in Denver the .gov there is anti. But the rest of the state?

For those of us that live in El Paso County. The Sheriff. The top dog in LE there just did a joint venture with Carson to open a shooting range that the public can use. The same dude who just offered to teach teachers firearms skills for free and waived the CCW fees for teachers is coing to order his 500 troops to go door to door taking guns. The Sheriff before him and he issued permits when the old Chief at Colorado Springs hated it. Then they both pushed for shall issue laws in the state. He isn't the Only one Jeffco, Dougco aren't going to either.

Too much tin-foil and getting panties in a wad. I have yet to meet an anti-gun law enforcement officer in this state. They exist but they are in such small numbers in the line level that its not worth noting.

There are many that fight hard against gun control including LEAA and LEAGC.

I have a low opinion of the cops in my town as it is...Turning anything over to them? Uhmmm, not a ***kin chance in hell.

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Originally Posted by Citizen_Soldier

I think the large risk of losing your own life would outweigh a paycheck.

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If that were true I would think the turnover at police departments would be huge.

Most cops aren't cowards, they understand there are risks but feel that their gear, training and authority will keep them safe while kicking in doors.

The cops that will refuse to enforce these unconstitutional laws will do so purely because of integrity and each officer will have to decide if their integrity has a price. Many will not put their integrity above feeding their children.

The big downside is that the high integrity officers will leave their jobs thus leaving law enforcement with less overall integrity.


At any rate, after today's punt by Oblowme I'm feeling more confident that at least on the federal level we will win. I also don't see the state of Colorado going so far as confiscation. So the debate over whether most cops will willingly kick in the doors of their fellow citizens is for the most part still an academic exercise.

Ronin:

Few people, in any occupation, are willing to stand for principle over economic security, particularly when families are at stake. It is easy to take a stand when you have nothing at stake. It is an order of magnitude more difficult when you have your personal security or liberty at stake. It is exponentially* more difficult when your family or loved ones will suffer your decisions. That is the nature of humanity.

From a historical perspective, when local law enforcement cannot or will not comply with an order, entities such as the National Guard have been called in to take their place. The Insurrection Act provides an exception to Posse Comitatus that permits the National Guard to engage in law enforcement action under command of the state Governor.

To not understand the mechanisms, both of human nature and of law, by which people can be compelled to do something they might otherwise find morally repugnant, is a mark of ignorance or immaturity.





* As in, small changes along the X axis (family involvement) produce large changes in the Y axis (difficulty), quickly forming a vertical asymptote wherein minimal changes on the X axis drive the Y axis value towards infinity. Also as in: You should have paid more attention in math and/or I was the kind of kid you wanted to beat up in high school.

For every 5 that do what is right, there is 1 who will not. There will always be selfish careerist douchebags that will do anything to get ahead, don't have the balls to man up, or are worse yet... from "that" party. I work with plenty of these people. I like to give the LE community in our state the benefit of doubt, but I can't help but be concerned. I think there's going to be a lot of wait and see. Speculation without fact is gas on the fire.