A good friend graduated from the police academy on Friday and is an Indiana State Police officer. We talked just a bit about his training and the weight he lost and then I went in for the real question: "If you pull someone over and see a Glock 22 on the seat, what would you do?" His answer: "I would ask for the gun for my safety, unload it and put it in my car." Of course we went through about 30-minutes of conversation, disagreeing with each other. Also, many other friends joined in and took his point of view. No matter what I said, he always went back to "officer safety."
Now, this was his question to me that really put me on my heels: "What would you want me to do if I'm not sure the person will not shoot me, regardless what piece of paper he has?" Now, this is a very close friend and when I pictured in my mind, him pulling me over or any other person I know from INGO, I would want him to treat us like law-abiding citizens who are legally in possession of a firearm. However, I must admit, if that was not the case, I would want my friend to do whatever he deemed necessary to avoid losing his life, while trying to ensure someone is not offended or believe their rights were being infringed upon.
I am sure I am in the minority here, but I could not say, "Yes, I want you to leave everyone alone after they present their LTCH." Bottom line, I would rather someone be pissed off and my friend get home safely to his family. To me, it's more than him choosing the job and, "If he doesn't want to do the right thing, he should have become a baker instead of a police offier."
I know this is not right, but it's how I feel. How would/do you feel about your friend who happens to be a police officer?
Now, this was his question to me that really put me on my heels: "What would you want me to do if I'm not sure the person will not shoot me, regardless what piece of paper he has?" Now, this is a very close friend and when I pictured in my mind, him pulling me over or any other person I know from INGO, I would want him to treat us like law-abiding citizens who are legally in possession of a firearm. However, I must admit, if that was not the case, I would want my friend to do whatever he deemed necessary to avoid losing his life, while trying to ensure someone is not offended or believe their rights were being infringed upon.
I am sure I am in the minority here, but I could not say, "Yes, I want you to leave everyone alone after they present their LTCH." Bottom line, I would rather someone be pissed off and my friend get home safely to his family. To me, it's more than him choosing the job and, "If he doesn't want to do the right thing, he should have become a baker instead of a police offier."
I know this is not right, but it's how I feel. How would/do you feel about your friend who happens to be a police officer?