In the interest of full disclosure, I have held a CCW permit for 12 years and I exercise it frequently.  I live in Virginia where open carry is lawful, much more so than in Florida.  Many times I find concealing my weapon to be so awkward that I open carry, especially in the warmer months.  However, I have several loved ones in law enforcement and I want all LEOs to be safe.

The Palm Beach Regional Fusion Center released an advisory that the Armed Citizens League (ACL), a pro Second Amendment group, was sponsoring events throughout Palm Beach County to highlight an obscure aspect of Florida law that permits open carry while transiting to and from one’s car while fishing, camping, or hunting.  Members were encouraged to arm themselves with handguns and video cameras.  They were further requested to exercise the Fourth Amendment right and refuse to provide a photo ID.  The advisory included a link to a YouTube video by Ethan Traub of the Armed Citizens League documenting his encounters with two LEOs during the event.

While viewing the video, I felt extremely embarrassed while I watched a smug provocateur goad a law enforcement professional into violating a Fourth Amendment provision.  Unfortunately, the officer did take the bait by demanding photo ID to call in for wants and warrants.  Adding to the situation, Mr. Traub repeatedly ignored the officer’s instruction to stand fast, all the while claiming his intent to portray the police “in a good light.”  Traub defines the term “disingenuous.”

I believe in political discourse.  I spent 21 years in uniform defending the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances and the rest of the U.S. Constitution.  However, there is a point at which you can press your issue past the point of being right… you can be dead right.  What if the officer was on his way to a “shots fired” call when he sees your smug mug
walking down the street with a Glock on your 3 o’clock?  Want to make your point?  Write your elected official.  Picket, lobby, protest to your heart’s content.  You don’t like the law?  Work to have it changed.

Part of changing the law is changing the attitude of your fellow citizens.  The video below shows a couple pushing a baby stroller in the midst of Mr. Traub’s (aka Martin Scorsese) “documentary.”  The unarmed couple looks very uncomfortable to me.

Where does this leave the LEO reading this?  Know the law and who is trying to jerk your chain.  Don’t buy into their agenda.  Chiefs, give your officer guidance that will hold up in court and stand by them when they do what you tell them to.

Finally, where does this leave provocateurs who want to push the Second Amendment envelope with law enforcement?  Maybe dead.  Over the 48 hours around New Year’s Eve, several officers died in the line of duty.  Florida had more line-of-duty deaths in 2011 than most states.   LEO’s are on high alert for danger and this is probably not the time to push the envelope with them.  Remember that you’re dealing with people who routinely stand in harm’s way to protect your right to protest.

Bruce Bremer, MBA is LET’s technology contributor.  Bruce retired from the Submarine Service after 21 years of in-depth experience with complex electronic technology.  Since then, he has been involved in fleet modernization and military research analysis. He teaches electronics and alternative energy at at a Virginia college. Besides his MBA, Bruce earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer networking.  He has been volunteering in public safety for many years.

Learn more about this article here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBWghJrVeYA&feature=related

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110722/ARTICLE/110729877

Sgt. Thomas Marchese is on a mission to raise awareness of fatalities among police officers nationwide.  Marchese, a member of the Soledad, California Police Department, knows what he’s talking about.  Marchese serves as a tactical team leader, a defensive tactics instructor, and a critical incident manager.  All of these functions involve or address high-risk law enforcement functions.

He is passionate about investigating the 60% increase in police deaths in the line of duty during the last two years.  “We need to talk about this.” Marchese says.  “We need to not only mourn and remember fallen colleagues, but to also find out why we are currently experiencing this exponential increase. Why, I want to know – why!”

Rather than simply typing “RIP” on a memorial page, Marchese has received permission from his department to spend the next year creating a film called, “Fallen,” using his own vacation time.  He plans to talk to family members and colleagues of fallen officers, but to also ask critical questions of town, county, city, and other officials about shrinking public safety budgets.   The film is being financed by members of law enforcement and their supporters.

“When we have budget cuts in the police family, we aren’t talking about running out of staples or Post-It Notes.  Agencies are shutting down and high-risk communities are laying-off police officers in areas which can least afford it. These budget cuts are leading us to cut corners on training, skimp on equipment, and the result is a death, not just inconvenience.”

Sgt. Marchese is putting his expertise in cinematography to work as he personally oversees filming of this project so close to his heart.  “The police deaths in the Seattle area and in Oakland really hit me hard.  I’ve spent a lot of time in Seattle and Oakland is nearby.  I had to do something.”  Marchese refers to the deaths of four Oakland police officers as well as the deaths of four officers in a coffee shop in Lakewood, Washington, all in 2009: “I want to put a face to these statistics and a face on those who are left behind.

What can Law Enforcement Today readers do?  They can spread this link on every social media outlet they can find.  That’s a start.   LET staff knows that you all care passionately about fallen officers and their families, supporting them with your words and prayers.  Now go one step further.

Watch the Fallen video via the link below.  Please consider making a donation.   If every cop in the country donated 21 cents, the film would be funded. If each LET fan who reads this contributes just $5, or even just $1 via Pay Pal, Sgt. Marchese will be able to get this project off the ground.  Donate to give fallen officers a voice as this documentary film will raise awareness and save lives.

http://fallenproject.com/

The Fallen project is giving away incentives for donations, such as DVDs, Blu-Ray, tickets to the premier, your name or dedication to a loved one or partner in the credits.  Please see the link and use the contact email for any questions about these incentives.