Are PA Police trending toward being more informed?

[tommy610]

I've read a lot of posts here about how uninformed police are regarding gun laws. But, being new to this, I don't have a feel for which direction that is going. I'd think with the pamphlets, OC encounters, traffic stops with LTCF, the shefearsnothing case, and other kinds of encounters, they'd be getting better and better informed. Do you think that is the case? I certainly hope so.

[mjfletcher]

As was demonstrated in Dickson City at OCB (and at other incidences/encounters/meetings/etc), being informed doesn't mean a thing. Officers admit to knowing OC is legal, then cuff the OCers, sieze their firearm, search their person, car, run the serial number, and then issue warnings and/or citations anyway.

[son of the revolution]

Originally Posted by tommy610

I've read a lot of posts here about how uninformed police are regarding gun laws. But, being new to this, I don't have a feel for which direction that is going. I'd think with the pamphlets, OC encounters, traffic stops with LTCF, the shefearsnothing case, and other kinds of encounters, they'd be getting better and better informed. Do you think that is the case? I certainly hope so.

Sadly , based upon incidents that seem to be posted at least once a week if not more , I fear not only is the answer no their not , but more insidious that many of them simply dont care . The OC issue casts a particularly harsh spotlight on a problem many people have been screaming about for years. The " US v Them " mentality of FAR to many " public servants " . And I've been here long enough , and made enough posts to prove that Im NOT a " cop basher " so lets not go there .

There is a portion of the Law Enforcement Community , and to a somewhat greater extent the " leadership " , i.e. Chief , County Sheriff, Assistant District Attorney , Elected Officials etc , that believe and behave not as the public servants they are , but as unofficial " Lords " that choose to use the power of their positions to force their personal opinions down every ones throats , regardless of their oath of office or the law .

I forget who said it , but truer words have never been spoken

" Power corrupts , and absolute power corrupts absolutley "

People in power FEAR an educated , self reliant citizenry , because they are not subjects. OCing particularly is almost like " thumbing your nose " at the egomaniacs of every stripe and station in life who enjoy their all to imagined " power " over others . We are a threat to their " control " and must be harrassed , vilified and oppressed at every opportunity , even manufactured ones , as a way to teach a lesson to the rest of the unwashed masses to not " step out of line "

Not to go off on a tangent , but writ large , the showdown in Waco Texas with David Koresh and The Branch Davidians is a perfect illustration of that mindset .

The Janet Reno , Clinton Justice Dept and the ATF intentionally allowed that situation to develop and spiral out of control , knowing they had a national TV audience rivited to a " live " drama movie , in order to show the sheep what would happen to them if they got " unruly "

Now Koresh may have been as nutty as a fruitcake , I wont argue that .
But Law Enforcement had numerous chances to make a felony car stop on him during his trips into town . To make matters worse , they had a snitch inside the compound on the day of the raid , who called and warned the officials that the Davidians KNEW they were coming .

[WhiteFeather]

The Citizen’s are often told that ignorance of the law is no excuse, and are punished for violating the law with the prescribed penalty.

Police used to be peace officers – charged with keeping the peace

Since the police have been upgraded or downgraded depend on your perspective to Law Enforcement Officers.

What is the Law Enforcement Officer excuse when they break the law from ignorance or arrogance?

Are / should the LEO be punished for violating the law that they are sworn to uphold?


In my opinion there now exists dual standards with certain classes of people not being held accountable for violating the laws because of the position they hold in authority. When some people are above the law, sooner or later the unintended consequences of the illusion of justice of everyone being held equally accountable under the law is going to have dire results for all of US.

We can already see this with some of the more clever criminals (mafia, organized crime, gangs), they learn very quickly that if the limit who they attack, steal from or illegal activities they engage they get away with the majority of the crimes without any major consequences.

Police officers are just like everyone else , some are good and honorable, some are bad and corrupt.
Sad thing you only hear about the rotten apples, tha make the rest look bad.