What if everyone is a law enforcement officer?

[kudzu22]

I was just thinking about loopholes in all of these weapon bans. All of them seem to exempt law enforcement officers. What if one of these sheriffs from some podunk town decides he'll deputize anyone who asks, thereby making them a LEO and exempting them from any bans? Of course they'd only have police powers in the town of East Dog Breath, Kansas, population 18, but it'd serve to nullify most of these bans.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

1. you best believe I enforce the law at my house -

my two cats could give a shit, though.

[ZombieHorde]

2. That would be interesting. I wonder if some of the deputized folks

would try to pull people over for reasons even more dubious than usual. I wonder if harassments would increase.

Many people seem to act differently when they believe they have authority.

[raidert05]

3. I don't understand either...

I'm thinking its easier to get gun laws passed if law enforcement doesn't feel like the law might usurp there ability to defend themselves off duty.

[Lurks Often]

6. Why should off-duty law enforcement

be held to a less stringent standard then a civilian?

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

4. Novel idea you have there

A sheriff, who is a county official, generally is permitted to deputize anyone. His budget is generally fixed by the county but within reason I suppose he can spend it as he sees fit. If these reserve deputies don't draw a paycheck, I guess this could work. However, counties being divisions of a state, these deputies would be considered LEOs anywhere in that state. I suppose they could carry anywhere within the state. Their enforcement authority would be limited to their home county, IMHO. I know there would be some insurance related consequences but the deputies would be limited by the policies enforced by the state and county for LEOs rather than private citizens.

[kudzu22]

5. That's pretty much the idea

Some enterprising sheriff out there could offer to deputize anyone he likes, maybe selling them a badge for $150, and having them swear by affidavit whatever powers they have or don't have, uphold the law, blah blah whatever. Basically he'd be selling get-out-of-federal-gun-ban cards by making them fit the definition of a LEO.

[jeepnstein]

10. It's not that simple.

At least in Ohio, which is about as middle of the road as you can get as states go, you must have a valid training certificate from the Ohio Peace Officer's Training Academy (OPOTA) to qualify for a commission. It's not like the movies where they just toss you a badge and "deputize" you.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

11. If you plan on owning...

...and especially carrying firearms that are controlled, that training should well be mandatory.

[jeepnstein]

13. Most of it has absolutely nothing to do with firearms.

I'll venture a wild guess and say that 99% of police work has nothing at all to do with using a gun. Having an OPOTA Certificate isn't a guarantee that you are proficient or even all that safe with a firearm. The gun is a last resort when everything else has gone terribly wrong. It would be a complete waste of time and money to expect a private citizen exercising their Constitutional right to own a firearm to do the full police academy and the subsequent continuing education requirements.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

15. Obviously the law should be changed...

...to breakdown by subject area those issues relevant to civilian, PI, security and LE. The state should offer such training for free or for a minimal charge. Individuals pursuing non-LE activities should be free to substitute training certified by and equivalent to that offered by the state.

[jeepnstein]

17. Law Enforcement is Civilian.

There is no real distinction except for bits and pieces that give you the power to act on behalf of the State in certain instances. We act on behalf of the civil authorities, not the military. To some people that is just semantics but it really grinds my gears. A police officer is no different than any other citizen. They just have kind of a peculiar job. They are not some kind of legally protected warrior class.

I firmly believe in mandatory training for concealed carry, and hunter safety programs as well. Private security firms are already regulated and have a mandated training curriculum. There's really no good reason to require a class just to have a rifle stuck in a safe at home. We don't test for voting, or for Constitutionally protected speech, so there's really no basis for testing just to exercise the basic right under the 2nd Amendment.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

18. Agreed!

My suggestion was regarding the possession of NFA type weapons.

[rdharma]

14. "If these reserve deputies don't draw a paycheck, I guess this could work."

Who do you think would be held liable when one of these "Barney Fifes" makes a bad shooting?

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

16. The same person held liable...

...when an off-duty full-time deputy or cop "makes a bad shooting". Presumably this type of LE discretionary appointment would also be provisional/revocable based on safe and lawful conduct.

eta: I think it's workable and could enhance safety and responsibility.

[needledriver]

7. We are already all in the unorganized militia.

Doesn't that qualify us to keep and bear arms?

[GreenStormCloud]

8. Already done.

Back in the 1980's I ran into a guy from Alabama who had a reserve deputy sheriff card. It enabled him to carry concealed but his arrest powers were limited to being under the direct supervision of a real deputy. He also had some responsibilities to be called up to assist in emergencies.

I checked into it and Mississippi, where I lived at the time, had something similar, but I didn't join.

Many cities used to have a civilian police reserve that was something similar.

[quadrature]

9. coming soon...the well-regulated Texas militia..nt

[Remmah2]

12. You're only saying that because you're a member of the donut lobby.

What if they ban donut holes?