My apologies... #1 - I don't often peruse the political forum. #2 - I was at work when this was posted
Further points of clarification - I am not a police officer. I am a corrections officer. I do not carry a gun (on duty), nor do I drive a police car... I can't write tickets and I can't even get out of jury duty like real cops can! That said... I like what I do and prefer it to dealing with the public.
To answer the question -
Rick, you know I am quite conservative, politically speaking. I am also rational and logical. I believe people should be able to purchase and own high capacity magazines because the vast majority of folks are not going to use them to commit crimes. And the ones who WILL use them to commit crimes will not be deterred by a "law" that says they can't own them.
As stated previously, police are a deterrant. When the CHP is on the highway... everyone goes 2 mph under the speed limit. When they're not present... everyone goes 10-15 mph over.
In our department, police officers carry their own, personal weapons from a department approved list. They can also carry their own shotguns and their own rifles. Almost all of them have an AR-15... the civilian equivalent to the M-16. 20-30 round magazines, too.
As a rational, logical person I know that gun laws will only affect law abiding citizens. Until they destroy every high capacity magazine, and stop making more (which is impossible) the bad guys will find a way to get them or make them. If the BAD guys have them and you make it illegal for the GOOD guys to have them... game, set, match bad guys.
There was a county in Florida that was giving concealed carry permits to everyone who applied for one that didn't have a disqualifier (such as a felony or a domestic violence conviction). The crime rate in that county dropped dramatically. Criminals are usually quite cowardly and will only take risks when they know they have a clear advantage. Level the playing field and they aren't so bold.
Just my opinion on the matter.
MACS wrote:
