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Guns and Ammo Magazine Anti Police?

6/11/2009 7:33 AM
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 1

Guns and Ammo Magazine Anti Police?

In the May 09 issue of Guns & Ammo the Editor, Richard Venola, laments how much it sucks to live in CA with it's strict gunlaws. He doesn't lay this travesty at the feet of the politicians, but on the heads of our brothers in blue. He makes one comment about there being only one answer when an officer asks to search a car, implying that the motorist must allow the search. I sent Venola an email objecting to the portrayal of the police as the bad guys. I also pointed out that this was an incorrect statement and, in my opinion, irresponsible journalism.

He responded back my explaining, while he has many friends in law enforcement, he doesn't trust the front line officers of the LAPD and CHP. He completely missed my point. And did not acknowledge that he printed misinformation. Here is the link for those who want to read the entire article for themselves.
[URL="www.gunsandammomar.com/cs/Satellite/IMO_GA/Story_C/Unarmed+And+Useless?p..-"]
REPLY 1  -  1  of  1
6/11/2009 5:57 PM #1
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 380

RE: Guns and Ammo Magazine Anti Police?

here is a corrected link to the article:

http://gunsandammomag.com/cs/Satellite/IMO_GA/Story_C/Unarmed+And+Useless

But i have to admit i did not see anything wrong with it. The closest he comes to saying something bad about cops is the paragraph:

"Better judged by 12 than carried by six" is a mindset that torments us all. It sounds practical and independent, but what happens to your life, legally and financially, when it's put to the test--or when police officers ask that question with only one answer, "Sir, may we inspect your car?"

Sorry, but since so many people do feel that way (only one possible answer), he has a valid point. It is the comparison he was making between the people who say they would rather be charged for unlawfully carrying than not have the gun when needed and those who feel "just say no" is the correct answer to the request for consent.

I have seen a lot of people advise others to just say no to the request, or to get out and lock the doors. I have never had it happen on a traffic stop though. I know a lot of people who say they would carry illegally, but I haven't found too many in real shootings (well, good defensive type shootings).

As for the magazine editor not trusting the front line officers, he gets to make that choice. I have more trust for the average street officer than i do for the avergae administrator, but that is also my choice. I know some people who don't trust any cop and others who will automatically take the cop's word.

And in this case, the mistrust is probably mutual. He doesn't trust the average cop and how many of us trust the average journalist?

I would advise Mr. Venola that the real truth is that in any large group of people, be it cops, priests, or magazine editors, there are going to be good people and bad people. I have always said it is the 10% rule at work - 10% of the group get in all the trouble and cause all the bad images. At least in the case of law enforcement, we work as hard as everyone else to get rid of the bad 10%. Not too many other groups are trying that hard to clean up the group.
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