May
23
Police gun seizures
Filed Under Personal Defense
While I think the people of other countries should be able to choose how they are governed and what rules they live by, I still can’t help but comment when I see what I rationalize as pure insanity. Apparently, the police in Jamaica have been confiscating licensed gun owners’ firearms. To make matters worse, in many cases no receipts are given so the owner has no proof that the police have it.
What is possibly more chilling however, is a statement made by Senator Dwight Nelson:
“In these times, we must give the police the latitude to act in a situation where they think that there is a threat.”
I’m very proud to live in a state where we passed specific legislation to prevent this kind of abuse from taking place, even under extraordinary circumstances. I honestly don’t know how I would react in an emergent situation if someone came to confiscate my firearms. In one view, it’s not as though they are literally trying to take my life. At the same time however, by disarming me they are taking away my ability to effectively defend myself in a bad situation (that is only more likely to occur after a natural disaster or other emergency). It’s one of those moral assessments that each individual needs to evaluate.
The argument could be made that of course the police should be allowed to confiscate items, whether firearms or otherwise, in emergency situations, especially when they “believe there is a threat”. I’ve heard this many times before. All you have to do is look at something like Katrina (another story) to realize that in dire situations, law enforcement tends to start looking at everyone as potential threats. In fact, the legislation passed in Utah to prevent this kind of abuse was coined “the Katrina bill.” Rather appropriate if you ask me.
Their definition of what a “threat” entails is left to the police or prosecutor’s interpretation and assessment. I’m never a fan of laws that leave things open to interpretation. I believe part of “equal protection under the law” is subverted when the same act can be interpreted in different ways, one being okay and the other a crime; all based on if the officer/attorney is having a bad day or not.
It happened in Katrina, it’s happening in Jamaica and all over the world. Be watchful.
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