Who Guards the Guards: Pa. Police Officer Sold Stolen Department Firearms
This week the Associated Press via the Beaver County Times Online showed once again why the world would not be safer if only the police were armed. The reason of course is that it would only take a bad cop to arm to the bad guys. The story noted:
The Delaware County District Attorney’s office says 23-year-old Officer Jonathan Fiscaro swiped two rifles from the Darby Township police department and sold them for a combined $1,100. Authorities put the value of the guns at $2,000 each.
This is a sad tale that happens all too often. But it is one that anti-gun types ignore as if it never happens.
Who Guards the Guards: Ex-Cop and Son Sell Illegal Guns in Philadelphia
To those who believe only the police and military should have the right to own guns, we would like to point to Pasquale Fattore, a retired Philadelphia police officer, and his son Patrick. The pair was allegedly arrested for illegally selling two handguns reports the Philadelphia Inquirer.
In Pennsylvania handgun sales are required to go through a licensed dealer or at a sheriff’s office, where a background check is conducted. This did not occur.
Who Guards the Guards: NYPD Officer Pleads Guilty of Gun Smuggling
This past weekend New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg made his case for stricter gun laws, but we ask would they do any good if those trusted to have guns break the law? The Associated Press via The Wall Street Journal noted this week that Brooklyn NYPD officer William Masso could face five to six years in prison for gun smuggling!
He reportedly attempted to a cache of firearms that included “three M-16 rifles, one shotgun, 16 handguns,” as well as slot machines and “thousands of cartons of cigarettes, along with counterfeit merchandise.” But even worse, is the fact that Masso was “recruiting other law enforcement officers to join the scheme.”
This makes us wonder if Mayors Against Illegal Guns shouldn’t look closer to home instead of targeting distant gun shows?
Who Guards the Guards: “Guns missing from Pine County Sheriff’s Office”
So far the year started off without stories like this one, but this week The Duluth News Tribune and other local outlets offered another story we hate to hear about – “Guns missing from the Pine County Sheriff’s Office.” The paper paints an even worse picture:
The ongoing firearms investigation is one of 11 internal investigations involving 15 sheriff’s office employees conducted over the past year. The investigations included complaints of domestic violence, sexual harassment, excessive force, abuse of authority, failure to follow policies and order, and failure to perform assigned duties. The investigations produced disciplinary actions ranging from oral reprimands to termination.
All of this is very upsetting, but the issue of the guns is the one we find very disturbing as it sort of takes aim at the argument that only police should have guns. In this case at least a dozen or so guns would now be in the hands of the bad guys near Duluth if “only the police” had guns.
Who Guards the Guards: Guns Stolen from Trooper’s Home
WTHI is reporting that “police are looking for 2 people they suspect of stealing guns from an Indiana State Police Detective’s home.”
While we don’t fault the officer in this case, it does show that criminals will find guns, even if “only the police” have guns as many anti-gun zealots say should be the case. So if only the police had guns, now the criminals would as well.
Who Guards the Guards: One Law For Them…
Today seems to be a big day for “Who Guards the Guards” stories, and this one is something to think about very hard. California has extremely strict gun laws regarding what private citizens can and cannot own, and yet the Associated Press noted, via the San Jose Mercury News:
Peace officers throughout California have bought more than 7,600 assault weapons that are outlawed for civilians in the decade since state lawmakers allowed the practice, according to data obtained by The Associated Press after it was revealed that federal authorities are investigating illegal gun sales by law enforcement.
Investigators have not said what kinds of weapons were involved, but did say they were ones that officers can buy but civilians cannot. That category also can include certain types of handguns and high-capacity ammunition magazines.
We would ask, if private citizens can’t own these guns, why do the police need them?
Who Guards the Guards: Putnamville Detective’s Home Burglarized
Yet another sad tale to tell, as The Greencastle Banner-Graphic is reporting, “The Criminal Investigation Division at the Putnamville Post is seeking help from the public in the investigation of residential burglary at Danville.”
These stories should be a warning to anyone who believes “Only the police should have guns,” as it shows that criminals will still find a way of stealing guns!
Who Guards the Guards: Another Police Gun Used to Shoot 80-year old
This is the second piece we are reporting on how a police gun was used in a shooting in the past week, and according to Fox Charlotte, it seems that not only was a “Police Officer’s Gun Used in Shooting in Burke County,” but that an officer may have been informed. The news outlet reports:
Burke County deputies say an off-duty officer from Valdese was one of two guys who broke into a man’s home Friday.
That man was then shot in the chest with the cop’s gun. The officer admitted he was there but says he didn’t shoot Edward Lail.
To those who say “only the police should have guns,” we’d like to ask if they still feel that way in light of this story?
Who Guards the Guards: Police Gun Used in Shooting
BND.com, which covers news for Southwestern Illinois and St. Louis noted this week that “Police trooper’s stolen gun used in Dupo shooting,” and offered this passage:
A shooting Wednesday night that involved a pistol stolen four years ago from the car of an Illinois State Police trooper is under investigation, Dupo Police Chief Doug Keys said Saturday.
Not much to say about it, except to again note that there are those who believe only the police and military should have guns, while other anti-gun zealots argue that all illegal guns begin in legal channels. This incident shows that there will still be shootings and crime even if law-abiding citizens are stripped of their Second Amendment rights.
Who Guards the Guards: Guns Stolen from Deputy’s Home
We can’t fault the officer in this case, but 9News.com in Colorado is reporting that a Boulder County Sheriff’s Deputy was the victim of a break-in, with two of his personal handguns being among the items stolen.
We bring this up because time and time again the anti-gun crowd suggests that only the police should have guns. Wouldn’t they in turn be targeted for their guns by bad people we ask?
