Monday, May 14, 2012

Community Safety/Federal House Bill 218

The bill (Federal House Bill 218) basically started with the idea that allowing former/retired law enforcement officers to carry a weapon would make for a safer community. So the federal law is now that former/retired officers who are currently qualified with a handgun may carry that handgun, irregardless of local law.

So, what has longshanks done to allow retired deputies from the sheriff's department to qualify and carry a weapon under this act?

Nothing at all. More than several words have reached Ddg regarding the non-qualification of retired deputy sheriffs.

Other local departments (like the Cheyenne Police Department and the Wyoming Highway Patrol) do get their retired people qualified and also notify them on a yearly basis when the qualification will be. How hard can it be to notify retirees of a shoot date and time? This must be too much for the overstaffed administration that glick currently keeps employed.

For years now, the Wyoming Sheriff's Association has issued a yearly sticker that is attached to a retired officer's identification card to show that they are qualified.

Retired deputies from Laramie County have had to go to other law enforcement organizations in order to qualify with a handgun and thus be legally armed and dangerous to the criminal element. From the information received, no they don't have the sticker.

Is it sheer laziness or stupidity on longshanks' part?
Does it matter if it is laziness or stupidity as the end result is the same?
Will it change when longshanks and certain staff retire? You can bet on that!