We’ve asked policeone.com for permission to republish their survey of cops on gun control. While we await their reply, here’s the NRA’s press release on the eye-opening stats. With a bit of luck, this will be something of a game-changer. Watch this space.
FAIRFAX, Va. – PoliceOne.com released today the results of an extensive survey of about 15,000 active and retired law enforcement officers of all ranks and from departments ranging in size from less than 25 to more than 1,000. These results strongly show that law enforcement officers do not support President Obama’s gun control agenda. They do, however, strongly support the Right-to-Carry by law-abiding Americans. The survey respondents are united in their desire for politicians to focus on keeping firearms out of the hands of the mentally ill and to reject unconstitutional gun control measures that infringe on Second Amendment rights . . .
“The American people, and particularly the members of law enforcement, want politicians in Washington to stop pursuing a failed political agenda and get to work fixing our broken mental health system, improving school security, and getting criminals off the streets,” said the executive director of NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action, Chris W. Cox.
The following are some key findings:
99 percent said policies other than an “assault weapons” ban are most important to prevent mass shootings.
Almost 96 percent said that a ban on standard capacity magazines would not reduce violent crime.
More than 91 percent stated that the use of a firearm in the commission of a crime should have stiff, mandatory sentences, and no plea-bargains.
More than 91 percent stated they supported the Right-to-Carry by law abiding Americans.
More than 81 percent said that “gun buy-backs” do not reduce gun violence.
80 percent believe legally armed citizens can reduce casualties in incidents of mass violence.
Nearly 80 percent said that a ban on private transfers of firearms between law-abiding citizens would not reduce violent crime.
More than 76 percent indicated that legally armed citizens are important to reducing crime.
More than 76 percent support the arming of trained and qualified teachers or administrators who volunteer to carry a firearm.
More than 70 percent said that a ban on “assault weapons” would not reduce violent crime.
More than 70 percent opposed the idea of a national registry of legal gun sales.
Nearly 68 percent said magazine capacity restrictions would negatively affect them personally.
More than 60 percent said that the passage of Obama’s gun control legislation would not improve officer safety.
The fact is none of those gun control proposals actually stop people from being shot. Only people shooting back can do that. This, from people paid to shoot back.
> Cops Oppose Gun Control
Based on Farago’s summary here, a more accurate headline would be “Cops Don’t Believe Gun Control Will Reduce Crime”.
Only one question asked them whether they supported or opposed a measure
One can believe that gun control will not reduce crime and still support gun control for the sake of civilian disarmament.
Point taken. Headline amended.
The question does not ask if a national database would “reduce crime.” It asks:
Also:
I hope the cop-haters on here figure out that they might actually be the good guys (with a few exceptions).
+1
I don’t hate cops. I hate the fact that they have been trained to violate civil rights and do so without a second thought. Patting down someone for a weapon for “officer safety” shouldn’t include turning pockets inside out looking for drugs or cash. Intimidating people into submitting to searches of their cars, cell phones, and persons are a violation of civil rights. This from someone who has no criminal record, no traffic tickets, has never used drugs of any kind and rarely has any interaction with law enforcement. Police departments have crossed the line and turned our country into a police state and our courts have allowed it.
Maybe he meant me.
Once the concept of the “blue wall of silence” is well and truly dead, maybe. Until then, the handful of psychotics with badges that cops have allowed in their ranks has poisoned the population against them.
Your “blue wall of silence” presupposes two types of cops. Good Cops and Bad cops and that the good cops will protect the bad cops.
For most cop-haters this means the good cops are bad too so “all cops are bad”
The reality is that there are THREE (count them… 1, 2, 3) types of cops. What you think of as Bad cops are really not. they are the THIRD type, “Criminals with a badge”. And NO cops of either of the other two types Good and bad cops will stay silent for a Criminal with a badge, they will hunt them down without mercy.
So what is a bad cop then?
Bad cops are good people just not cut out to be a cop. They try to be good cops but are better suited for some other line of work. Good cops will protect these type from public exposure while at the same time through official or unofficial channels, quietly urging them on to quit or go into some other line of work.
Good Cops: are good cops
Bad Cops: are your well intentioned Barney Fifes
Criminals w/ Badges: are what most of you refer to as bad cops. and no other cop will protect his arse except another criminal with a badge.
And they are damned few. The problem is what few there are, when discovered, are splashed across nationwide media while the tens of thousands of others cops go unreported about their daily lives.
You mean like Farago?
I’m surprised he’s quoting a survey based on cops opinions…next thing we will see is a safety video from FPS Russia on here…:)
he gotcha there Robert…;)
“I’m surprised he’s quoting a survey based on cops opinions”
Why? Is this site supposed to be anti-cop?
Since so many conspiracy nutjob dumba$$es like to talk out their nethers on this site about what cops are planning or doing as the jack booted thugs working to disarm the people. A survey based upon what cops really think is appropriate.
Nearly every cop I know (and that is a LOT as my brother is one and I know most of his entire department) is not only believing the laws won’t work… but are DEAD SET AGAINST disarming the people and are VERY Pro-2A.
Don’t know why I bother. Conspiracy nutjobs don’t listen to reason or facts. To them, their fanciful opinions are facts.
Ehhhh there are a few steps between an anonymous poll and publicly stepping over the blue line. This fight needs less internet warrior, more Serpico.
One would think that a survey that comprises 14.000 respondents would be important, considering most polls are usually composed of much smaller groups. One would also think that a survey of police officers would be the one to wave like a flag, as these are the guys on the front line when it comes to crime. Do not for a second expect that the press, who absolutely love to cite polls (when it fits their preconceived agenda) will ever bother with this one. The reason is glaringly evident-this poll disagrees with the meme that the press and the politicians have been feeding the public. The armed intelligentsia knows the facts, which are useless to those with an agenda.
Heard it on NPR…
No kidding.
Would a cop opt to carry less ammo when facing off against a violent criminal? What about a soldier versus another soldier? Of course not.
So why is the US govt. trying to force the average law-abiding citizen to carry less ammo against the violent criminal element in this country in a self-defense situation?
It’s the height of arrogance to ignorance to even suggest such a notion.
The gun prohibitionists think gun owners are crazy by definition, and that the mere presence of a potentially lethal instrument makes someone more likely to snap and start killing people. To them, everyone who has a gun or wants one is right on the brink of spraying bullets randomly.
In their minds, we aren’t carrying for defense against violent criminals — we *are already* criminals. We just don’t know it yet.
Exactly! It’s simple bigotry.
Bigotry, when practiced on a societal scale, is fascism.
Ing, you have nailed it! Advocating for gun rights IS a form of mental illness to the gungrabbers, and when the AWB is defeated, again, they will turn to `prevention’ by “identifying” potential Lanzas among us, where an army of mental health professionals & physicians will be empowered to end citizens’ 2A freedoms with the unanswerable stroke of an anonymous pen. The Gestapo & KGB did their evil work with far more informants than agents, and Obama’s brave new world will follow suit.
So does this mean that if I exercise my rights without regard to the “law” that same percentage won’t arrest me? That’s right, the Nuremberg Defense is ok when cops use it.
This is a good article. I don’t think main stream media will pick up on it though. It does prove the point, and there is a huge sample size. The questions also didn’t seem diluted. Of course this doesn’t go with the administrations meme, so I don’t think this will make any waves. I wish it would, but I am not holding my breath.
DUH I know all along most cops outside of NYC support lawful armed citizens.
Well, duh.
Taking into account a margin of error almost negates those most of those who say a mag ban would reduce violence.
Well, I know a cop who opposes gun control.
The survey results are what you get when 1st line supervisors and boots on the street have a say. Politicians in uniform, who work in air conditioned offices, have opinions shockingly similar to the politicians who appointed them.
Sheriffs are also much more likely to be on the side of citizens, since they are elected, not appointed.
Bull, bull, bull… Cops will beat you down at your door for a paycheck…
That is the bottom line I’m still a Cop hater until they prove otherwise
Nothing but the truth. They have already shown they are the enemy of the citizen. Wearing the uniform is all it takes to make them guilty now.
Yes you are a cop-hater. But you forgot to add you are also an idiot.
And Bull is right. everything you said other than “I’m a cop-hater” was utter Bull.
And they don’t need to “prove otherwise” . You’re the Asshat making a fallacious claim. The burden of proof is on you.
And citing some random out of character news stories of cops beating someone, not representative of the vast majority of cops is not “proof”.
Now run that survey among chiefs of police, and I’d bet the results are just the opposite. If a politician sponsors a bill to ban guns, limit carry rights, etc., he calls as witnesses city police chiefs, and they all dutifully stand in line to testify to the dangers of armed citizens, bullet proof vests in private hands, and the horror of assault weapons and hollow point bullets. Nor does it seem to matter which political party they belong to.
One of the Chiefs on Cape Cod once told me “you guys (concealed carriers) make my job easier.” Needless to say, that town is de facto “shall issue,” as are others in Massachusetts.
Compare him to many big city cops. The latter will shoot you for holding a hose or a phone. Or for driving a van.
So where did the myth — that big city cops are good and small town cops are bad — ever come about? Oh, wait. It came from big city cops and their political bosses who consider the PD to be their own person army. What was I thinking.
Since when do we believe anything a Cop says.
They lie, don’t trust them. If they are told to go get your guns, thirty of them will beat the crap out of you, your wife and your kids
Don’t drop your guard…
littlegun(dick?)guy…
That’s your OPINION, not fact.
my opinion? You’re a moron.
These findings need to be plastered all over everything – newspapers, billboards, fax machines (particularly legislative ones). They need to shoved in peoples faces till they are sick to their stomachs, because that’s what I am.
Cops have proven to be the enemy time and again,
Your silhouettes should be men in blue.
Any Cops want to chime in and rebut?
I didn’t think so.
Shockingly tough talk on the Internet. Sure, I’ll chime in. I’ve always been against gun control.
So when are you going to resign rather than enforce unconstitutional laws?
Hypocrite.
Who says he’s enforcing it? It seems to me that the bigger hypocrite is the one who’s accusing the other of something he didn’t do.
Oi.
Internet comments on a public forum are subject to subpoena. So I’m not inclined to post something asinine. Here’s some perspective: this post is about most beat cops being against gun control. You’d think that would be a good thing on a pro-freedom site.
I do give warnings on the side of the road, but again, I’m not terribly inclined to do that to folks who denegrate police officers with sweeping generalizations. Chose for yourself the decisions you make and so will I.
Those who know me on this site can attest that I’ve been pretty consistent with my attitude, but TTAG has helped increase my respect for the 2A.
But hey, I’m just some dude pecking away on my iPhone. Feel free to do the same.
Strawman argument and then insults. Dishonorable.
Btw since the indenting is not obvious that assessment on style/integrity was for the comment by csmallo.
Accur8 I appreciate your service and the benefit to TTAG for sharing your insights here. Normally that goes without saying but while on this topic for the record that applies to all other LEO and US MIL readers here.
Blue silhouettes?
Kid, you are exactly the reason why we need firearms to protect ourselves. Your comment speaks to the fact, that either you are a felon — or have a violent tendencies that will eventually lead you down that path.
Obama, liberals, illegals and people like you are the reason why our country is in trouble.
+1
There is a hugely important result for question 5. Here is the question:
“What effect do you think a federal ban on manufacture and sale of some semi-automatic firearms, termed by some as ‘assault weapons,’ would have on reducing violent crime?”
While 71% of respondents said it would have NO effect, 21% said it would have a negative effect — which means banning “assault weapons” would increase violent crime. So if we aggregate those responses, 92% of respondents say that banning semi-automatic firearms (a.k.a. “assault weapons”) will not reduce violent crime. And included in that 92% of respondents are 21% who believe that banning “assault weapons” will actually increase violent crime!
We, the Armed Intelligentsia, have to run with these results!
Not one cop I’ve ever known supported gun control. It probably has something to do with real life exposure to violence compared to what egg-headed politicians experience with security details and an ever-increasing craving for more control. In one of my favorite fantasies, all the gun-grabbing politicians are prohibited by law from having armed guards to protect them. Then we see how long they like what they want to do to the rest of us.
My Chief of Police is and has been adamant against gun control. He fully believes that everyone who is legal to carry should carry, since it makes his and his officers job easier and safer.
In the city, all city staff and elected officials are allowed to carry concealed at work as long as they have their CCW. We are working on doing away with our “gun free zone” as quickly as we can.
Rick, City Administrator
This should be forwarded to all our reps in DC. in triplicate and bold type.
I’ve already sent my e-mails today. Will repeat tomorrow and so on and so on…..∞.
And yet, even with a 96% no effect vote, alot of traitorous pigs support the ban.
Could it be that they are power hungry freaks who just cant stand ‘the little guy (you and me) having the same power?
The loudest voices are the most obnoxious and usually not representative of any majority. That isn’t just gun control, as a lot of people are resigned to “The government does what it’s going to do”, but many things. The squeaky wheel is easiest to hear out of all of them. Cuz there are power hungry cops and they’re easiest to remember but if those were the majority then gun control would be the order of the day instead of the debate of 2013.
Yes, It is the cops who promote and endorse these anti-liberty (gun) laws that are the traitorous monsters. I think most of law enforcement does NOT support this madness.
The police, not being afraid of guns, mainly from military backgrounds, and being firsthand witnesses to instances where a gun clearly would have protected before they arrived, yet wish to dissarm rather than empower the public, must be destroyed.
While I do understand that most police officers are good people who do a very necessary job, a few sour grapes can give people a nasty taste to the whole bunch. I’d also like to pose a thought that’s been in my head for a while. Am I the only one who notices a greater trend toward police corruption in areas where there is a much higher restriction on private citizen’s rights to carry? (Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago as well as the entirety of Mexico)
While I do understand that most citizens are good people who do a very necessary job, a few sour grapes can give cops a nasty taste to the whole bunch. I’d also like to pose a thought that’s been in my head for a while. Am I the only one who notices a greater trend toward criminals in areas where there is a much higher restriction on private citizen’s rights to carry? (Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago as well as the entirety of Mexico)
I see what you did there.
In my lifetime, and i readily admit my experiences may not be what yours are, I have been rescued twice from the side of the rode after my car crapped out on me by cops. On an active freeway in California I had a CHP officer put himself between me and oncoming traffic after a major wreck and that same CHP officer went on foot into fast moving traffic to rescue a woman who was injured and stumbling thru traffic. He did this while all the citizens in their cars were honking and shouting obscenities at the delays as they tried to bull on thru in their cars.
I had a cop catch me dead to rights drinking and with an open container in my car. He had me pour my beverage out and told me if he saw me on the street again that night I would go to jail.
I had a California cop catch me concealed carrying without a permit. He gave me a talking to and told me that if it happened again he would take me to jail and then let me go home, still armed. I promised that officer I wouldn’t do it again and I haven’t.
These things happened over a period of 40+ years and in 2 different states. There’s a reason I say I support the rank and file cops and not their bosses. YMMV.
Most people think of the situation as Cops vs Citizens.
What they fail to realize is that COPS ARE CITIZENS TOO!
When it comes to the Liberal powermongers, they think this is true of Cops as well as the Military. They think of the military as something separate from the Citizen. So all they need to do is get enough power to order these two groups, Cops and Military, to do their unlawful and unconstitutional bidding against the Citizens.
When it comes down to it, they will be in for a rude awakening when the Cops and the Military band together with the citizens.
Cops or Military, we are ALL Citizens of these United States and we all swore an oath to protect her from all enemies foreign AND DOMESTIC.
In point of fact, most cops and Military are some of the STRONGEST supporters of the 2nd Amendment.
Oathkeepers.org
“The 2nd amendment only makes our job that much harder.”
Write this in the margin of your mental notepad. Look to it when reading about what LEO’s think about the 2A, or armed citizens who are carrying concealed. It was spoken to me, by one of three local Deputy Sheriffs, as we were finishing our conversation at the shooting range, about their concern regarding my defensive shooting proficiency. I was shooting too well, for their liking. Word. Can you imagine a LEO saying something like that to you? They didn’t assess me as another civilian gun owner like themselves, they only saw me as a possible future perp….that knows how to shoot. That’s machine thinking by our Deputy Cog. It has now become “Us” and “Them”…unfortunately, in this “Us” and “Them” scenario, we’ve been cast to play “Them.” Anyone who isn’t a LEO(hammer)will be treated as a perp(nail). We’re all future nails just waiting to get hammered.
The Oath Keepers? They remain to be tested. I’m getting less and less optimistic about those oaths being kept, not when being demoted to playing the part of an unemployed civilian with a family to feed, is the punishment for not being an obedient Deputy Cog.
Hey kid,
It is obvious you have an axe to grind — leading me to believe your story is some made up B.S.
Did some cop gave you a ticket this past weekend? Arrested for DUI or underage drinking maybe? Get hassled because you were running around your high-school with your airsoft rifle and Joker outfit? Are you an illegal democrat that has it in for ‘la migra’?
Obviously from the statistics from PoliceOne and the officers that left comments here, rank and file law enforcement is overwhelming pro 2nd Amendment. And being a law-abiding military veteran, I support my local police and deputies. My local sheriff has supported my rights and said during a recent debate with politicians that there is no way he is going to infringe on the rights of gun-owners.
Save your childish stories and theories. You are trying to make our situation adversarial with the police — and I am not buying into your B.S.
Freedom Loving Bill
+1. I was debating whether to get on here and you said it much better. TTAG is getting visibility, and thats going to attract some loose screws, sock puppets and trolls.
+100
I don’t know where the cop haters in here get their feelings from. I have known a pretty decent number of cops throughout my years. As a matter of fact we hire cops during their off-duty hours for security in our businesses. With one single exception, ALL of them are decent people, with small salaries and big hearts. All are also very pro-gun rights. I call them my friends and would want no one else next to me in any SHTF scenario.
There will always be a rotten apple or two in the barrel, no reason to hate apples.
I learned “It only takes one oh $hit to forget 100 attaboys” a long time ago. When I was in college I used to hitch. One day in Chicago I got picked up by a couple of surly characters. Turned out the car was stolen and the cops stopped us. Now these were two tough Chicago cops in the late 1960s. They could have taken me in but they saw that I obviously was not with the thugs. After some tough talk they let me go. Didn’t even take my name. Most cop were and still are that way.
I find that cop haters have one bad experience, usually a traffic stop where they smarted off to the cop, and now all cops are bad. I can understand African-American animosity because a decent kid doesn’t usually get the benefit of the doubt that he isn’t just another punk gangbanger but I suggest you white guys look at your behavior and attitude before you decide all cops are bad.
My experience with the police has been good because I give them respect even at times when it isn’t merited. People have bad days and will give them the benefit of the doubt. They might have encountered some loudmouth cop hater on the traffic stop before me.
And you would surprised at how many big city cops support your right to defend yourself with a gun.
I’ve seen the scientific accuracy of this poll called into question already, but with a sample size of 15,000, it’s incredibly hard to dispute that law enforcement appears to swing VERY strongly in support of the individual right to keep and bear arms.
This is good stuff. I’d like to know more.
It seems that the cop haters here need to apply, test, train, FTO, and then be out on streets of their communities, where you will expect the criminals to be criminals, but you will take most of your abuse from the “upstanding citizens” who demand privileged treatment.
You will then continue to uphold your oath, with malice nor favoritism to anyone
The vast majority of LEO are trying to do the best job they can within the system
This is nice, and surprising, to see. But it will have no impact on those pushing disarmament legislation. Their goal isn’t a reduction in crime. It’s a reduction in the raw numbers of armed civilians. Facts aren’t needed for that argument. Just emotions. And unfortunately emotions are a more effective argument with most people. As we have, and will continue to see.
For all you cop-haters out there…..
Hello, you have reached the Police Dept’s Voice Mail. Pay close attention as we have to update the choices often as new and usual circumstances arrive. Please select one of the following options:
To whine about us not doing anything to solve a problem that you created yourself, press 1.
To inquire as to whether someone has to die before we’ll do something about a problem, press 2.
To report an officer for bad manners, when in reality the officer is trying to keep your neighborhood safe, press 3.
If you would like us to raise your children, press 4.
If you would like us to take control of your life due to your chemical dependency, press 5.
If you would like us to instantly restore order to a situation that took years to deteriorate, press 6.
To provide a list of officers you personally know so we will not take enforcement action against you, press 7.
To sue us, or tell us you pay our salary and you’ll have our badge, or to proclaim our career is over, press 8.
To whine about a ticket and/or complain about the many other uses for police rather than keeping your dumb behind in line, press 9.
Please note your call may be monitored to assure proper customer support and remember…..we’re here to save your behind, NOT kiss it!
Thanks for calling your local police dept. and have a nice day.
First,, I have great respect for police officers, and all they do to protect us,.
My question is, when it comes time to knock on doors, and collect firearms from law Abiding Citizens, how many cops will quit there jobs, and hep protect the U.S. constitution.
My guess is that most will do there jobs, and follow orders. After all the law says it is unlawful o own a handgun, and or assult weapon in the U.S. Once the 2nd A falls the rest will soon follow.