[ccw9mm]

LEO's: Does concealed-carry make a cop's life on the "street" more/less dangerous?

For LEO's, only, really. I am interested in whether, from a street cop's point of view, the advent of relatively widespread concealed-carry by citizens is making it tougher or easier to be out there as an LEO.

Question: As an LEO, does concealed-carry make a cop's life on the "street" more or less dangerous for you?

 

[mulle46]

For me, its the same. I approach everyone with the thought they may have a weapon until proven otherwise. Even if they don't, there is always at least one gun there in any situation I am in.

 

[Landric]

I don't think it really has any impact on my safety one way or another. The bad guys were carrying when it wasn't legal, and that hasn't changed. Additionally, since cops have always been armed, the fact that legally carrying citizens are out and about doesn't enter into whether someone decides to attack me or not. People that attack cops know they are attacking someone who is armed, at least in theory trained, and at least in theory willing to kill them.

On the other hand, the presence of legally armed citizens makes citizens as a whole safer IMO.

 

[SIXTO]

I agree with both of the above. It really doesnt matter a hill of beans to the cop.

One argument that I could make is Johnny Do Gooder trying to "help" only making the situation worse by dividing my attention. I've had that happen a few times now.

 

[Agave]

Hill of beans.

I like that people can protect themselves when LEOs are not around, but as far as being involved, it doesn't matter to me.

 

[ccw9mm]

Looks like there's some agreement. For LEO's who are paying attention, the precautions are already taken and a safer, upstanding citizen isn't going to be fouling the day like some will.

I like that people can protect themselves when LEOs are not around ...

I would think this is the only practical difference. It's the one that matters most. And, since it isn't upstanding citizens who are the threat, they're not the ones to be feared.

 

[ron8903]

Complacency is the #1 killer of LEO's
I treat everyone as if they are armed, nothing personal thats my SOP.

 

[J Bowen]

I think as a LEO you have to be just as cautious
on each stop. I would say long term permit carriers
do make things a bit safer because of the fact that
violent criminals are shot by permit holders taking
the BG off the streets and out of law enforcements way

 

[Erik]

Another "it does not matter" comment, for the reasons articulated. The specific instances where a carrier made the situation more or less dangerous are a wash.

 

[Rexster]

If a private citizen neutralizes a bad guy before I get there, then I am safer in that particular case. These are not common occurrences for me, but it does happen. If the turd is subsequently incarcerated, then that particular turd cannot endanger me in the near future, and if he is buried, he is permanently out of my way.

Otherwise, I don't see CC'ers as making me substantially safer. Wise and alert CC'ers mostly make themselves and other private citizens safer. Stupid or untrained CC'ers can make things worse.

If we assume CC drives down the crime rate, then I, as an LEO, will simply have more time for proactive patrolling, instead of reactive report writing. Proactive patrolling can get me killed just as surely as arriving first, reactively, to an in-progress call. Example: Much of the illegal drugs from Mexico pass through my beat on US-59. Those shipments have escorts. Think of a malevolent Bandit, as in the "Smokey and the Bandit" movie. A sergeant was killed a few years ago near my beat by just such a "Bandit." If CC contributes to a drop in local crime, giving me more time to be proactive, I am MORE likely to stop a Jones Valencia; more likely to encounter a "professional" Colombian gunman than Joe Spit the car burglar.

Not that I am complaining. I would love to catch the bigger fish more often.

 

[Mardet65]

I'm retired so this isn't something I need to deal with. However, looking at the situation from the position I took when I was working; I always considered everyone I encountered as potentially armed anyway. In my estimation, the fact that a private citizen goes to the trouble to acquire a CCW through proper channels certainly dosen't make them appear as a threat to me.

 

[Pioneer]

Police officers have nothing to fear from law abiding, lawfully carrying citizens. CCW permit holders are certified good guys & gals. They have been checked out by the FBI when they buy a gun from a dealer and pass a background check by the issuing authority, usually a sheriff.

 

[HotGuns]

Question: As an LEO, does concealed-carry make a cop's life on the "street" more or less dangerous for you?

Where I am located, there are a lot of people that carry concealed.

As far as I know, the police around here have not had any issues with CHL holders, so the answer would appear to be "neither", it simply doesn't matter.

With that being said, I would like to think that if someone were pounding me into the pavement on the side of the road, and and someone stopped to help me because they were armed and had the means and the attitude to prevent me from being killed,that they would do so.
I also know that there are as many, if not more, people that would just drive on because they believe that they carry a gun only to protect themselves or family and all others be damned because it just ain't worth the legal fees, danger, inconvenience and all of the other justifications that they use for not acting.

If just one armed person saw me in a bad way and stopped to help me when I needed it most, then I would say that having a CHL did help to make my job safer.

Fortunately for me, it hasn't happened. It has happened for others.

 

[diverdown247]

For LEO's, only, really. I am interested in whether, from a street cop's point of view, the advent of relatively widespread concealed-carry by citizens is making it tougher or easier to be out there as an LEO.

Question: As an LEO, does concealed-carry make a cop's life on the "street" more or less dangerous for you?

Oh sure...ask a "loaded" question. Great responses.

I'd be more interested in if CCW permit holders are informing LEO's during stops...as a courtesy for safety of both parties. I know I would.

 

[chiefjason]

Not a LEO, but interesting read.

"In Right-to-Carry states, private citizens have greater freedom to defend themselves in public. Because the ratio of justifiable homicides by police and citizens is more balanced, and because the level of police defensive justifiable homicide is lower, one can only conclude that armed citizens are adept at self-defense, enough to provide a quantifiable level of protection for law enforcement. In non-RTC states, the reduced self-defensive capability of the citizenry correlates with higher rates of violent crime and a more dangerous work environment for police officers."

entire article

Does concealed carry support law enforcement?

 

[billfromtx]

If a private citizen neutralizes a bad guy before I get there, then I am safer in that particular case. These are not common occurrences for me, but it does happen. If the turd is subsequently incarcerated, then that particular turd cannot endanger me in the near future, and if he is buried, he is permanently out of my way.

Otherwise, I don't see CC'ers as making me substantially safer. Wise and alert CC'ers mostly make themselves and other private citizens safer. Stupid or untrained CC'ers can make things worse.

If we assume CC drives down the crime rate, then I, as an LEO, will simply have more time for proactive patrolling, instead of reactive report writing. Proactive patrolling can get me killed just as surely as arriving first, reactively, to an in-progress call. Example: Much of the illegal drugs from Mexico pass through my beat on US-59. Those shipments have escorts. Think of a malevolent Bandit, as in the "Smokey and the Bandit" movie. A sergeant was killed a few years ago near my beat by just such a "Bandit." If CC contributes to a drop in local crime, giving me more time to be proactive, I am MORE likely to stop a Jones Valencia; more likely to encounter a "professional" Colombian gunman than Joe Spit the car burglar.

Not that I am complaining. I would love to catch the bigger fish more often.

Good words...Thank you for your service!

I agree.
I dont think my carrying a gun makes a cops life easier or harder. If done correctly it should be transparent to everyone but me. That said I would do what ever I could to help a LEO if needed.

I got the utmost respect and appreciation for the thankless job they do.:congrats:

 

[joelg]

As a former LEO, I agree with all that was said about considering everyone a potential threat. I agree especially about getting careless...it comes with time on the job. Complacency is scary, and it happens with changing shifts, being tired, and periods of peace and tranquility being shattered with absolute violence. I'm sure that there are many on this website who can attest to the threat of complacency.

 

[ccw9mm]

Thank you, everyone, for the great posts. Experience can bring a lot of insight to the post. :congrats:

Keep 'em coming.

 

[Janq]

Officer.com Police Blogs & Podcasts Does Gun Control Benefit LE?

- Janq

 

[MilitaryPower]

I agree with the consensus.