Police Organization Declares Allegiance to Attorney General Ashcroft,
Supports HR 382 and calls for law enforcement agencies to follow AG’s lead
in adhering to Constitutional Law.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 14, 2001

A New Sheriff in Town

Attorney General John Ashcroft and the George Bush administration have set a
new pro-freedom tone in the nation and it is a tone that American law
enforcement will respect and vigorously endorse.

It is notable that Ashcroft publicly declared that the Second Amendment
protects the fundamental right of individuals to own guns. He would not have
allowed the NRA to put his picture on their magazine cover if he did not
intend to pursue a pro-freedom agenda!
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,30390,00.html

Working law enforcement officers, the street cops, are reluctant to involve
themselves in politics and wary of the promises of politicians. They respond
to actions, not words, and are very much aware of what is right and what is
wrong.

With that in mind, it is clear that there is a new Sheriff in town, and The
Constitution will take precedence over weekly polls. Ashcroft’s actions
provide clear direction for every law enforcement officer in this great
nation.

After Ashcroft declared in a May 17 letter to the NRA that he believes the
Constitution “unequivocally” protects the rights of individuals–not merely
militias–to keep and bear arms, he served notice that he was seeking public
comment on a new policy involving firearm background checks.

When was the last time anyone on The Hill gave you the impression that they
really gave a hoot what you thought?

It was not long before Attorney General Ashcroft’s proposed regulations
reducing the retention period for approved National Instant Check firearms
purchases to 24 hours. It was clear the man understood the meaning of “shall
not infringe!”

Seemingly unusual for a politician, he is willing to admit to government’s
past mistakes and has initiated remedies:

Administration Calls Halt to Gun Buybacks
Program Touted by Clinton White House Called Not Part of HUD’s ‘Core
Mission’
http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50620-2001Jul25.html

FBI auditors charged with verifying that Point of Contact
States like Pennsylvania are properly conducting Federal Brady Act
background checks, have found that the Pennsylvania Instant Check System
(PICS) is violating both Federal and Pennsylvania laws

And after all the hullabaloo over the UN disarmament conference, the US
opposed the recent UN Gun Ban. See a good synopsis at:
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3b658d632557.htm

There is a clear message here, that the current administration recognizes
the right of honest citizens to keep and bear arms. And after years of ACLU
dominance in defining the legal interpretation of The Second Amendment,
scores of legal scholars have lined up behind the pro-freedom definition.
John Lott, a respected scholar/researcher is presenting factual information
regarding the value of firearms in the hands of citizens. Facts are what law
enforcement understands and respects.

Actions speak louder than words, and these are actions that deserve the
respect of law enforcement.

And the true test can be found in this headline:
FOP softens concealed-gun stance
http://enquirer.com/editions/2001/07/23/loc_fop_softens.html

The communication provided by the Internet has not been lost on American Law
Enforcement. How many cops would you think read about their brothers in
other countries who have succeeded in passing draconian gun laws? Like this
one from Canada:

“NO one would ever have believed that one day Ross Webley would be a
criminal in need of a pseudonym. In fact, he has been a well-respected
constable with the Calgary police since 1980. But on Canada Day, the avid
gun collector and sports shooter, who owns a number of 12-gauge shotguns and
a few old German Luger handguns his father brought back from the Second
World War, became one of thousands of Canadians in violation of gun control
laws. He has never applied for a firearm licence under the Liberals’ Bill
C-68. If charged, he could face up to 10 years in prison–the penalty for
unauthorized possession of a firearm–and lose his career.”
http://207.216.246.197/magazine/p24i010730f.html

Or, from Australia “For all my mates in the US, think yourselves lucky that
you CAN carry off-duty, that you CAN carry spare ammo, that you CAN have a
shotgun in in the car, that you HAVE decent training and supervisors who
know what they’re on about. I was impressed with the professionalism and
level of expertise shown by all the police departments when I traveled
throughout the US last year.”
http://www.2ampd.net/Articles/Pyle/ATTN_American_Law_Enforcement.htm

It is the perfect time for American Law Enforcement to join their new
“Sheriff” in support of the right of honest citizens to exercise their
Constitutional right to possess firearms and publicly support a bill such as
HR 382.

This bill was most recently introduced in the 107th Congress by
Representative Cliff Stearns (R – FL) and is intended to “amend title 18,
United States Code, to provide a national standard in accordance with which
nonresidents of a State may carry certain concealed firearms in the State,
and to exempt qualified current and former law enforcement officers from
State laws prohibiting the carrying of concealed handguns.”

This is clearly intended to clarify the status of citizens in the many
states that have recognized the right of their citizens to carry a firearm
for protection, and will go a long way towards assuring the safety of both
police and citizens as they go about their daily business.

“The days of Police Union leaders and Chiefs pandering without challenge or
question to politicians, their anti-freedom statements and misrepresentation
of American Rank and File Law Enforcement’s positive position on CCW and the
armed citizen are long past,” said retired L.A. Sheriff’s Deputy Joe Horn,
“and it is time that we demonstrate to the public that their safety is a
primary concern over the whims of politics. No one knows better than a
street cop what can and does happen to disarmed citizens at the hands of
violent criminals. If cops are represented at all in Federal CCW
legislation, it will be devoid of elitism and in strong support of all law
abiding citizens having the same rights as citizen cops, including the right
to carry when traveling and the right of armed defense. A citizen without
the right to armed self defense has no rights at all.”

The Second Amendment Police Department joins Attorney General Ashcroft in
his vigorous support of individual rights. We intend to demonstrate that
line officers support the rights of all citizens by supporting H.R. 382.
http://www.theorator.com/bills107/hr382.html

It is our belief that the myriad of confusing and conflicting firearms laws
passed during these past few years creates a dangerous situation for
citizens and police alike. Forty+ states have approved concealed carry for
its citizens who meet written and practical standards. There is no logical
reason, in this day and age of easy transportation, that state lines should
act as a disqualifier. This act will apply to sworn officers, reserve
officers, and citizens alike.

2AMPD has contacted the office of Representative Cliff Stearns (R – FL) to
offer our support.

We need your input:

Please review this bill at http://www.theorator.com/bills107/hr382.html

If you are an LEO, send us your comments and indicate your support

If you know an LEO who supports the 2AM and can help, point him or her our
way

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CONTACT:
Leroy Pyle, SJPD (Ret)
[email protected]
Chicago, IL 60610
Phone: 312-482-9910
http://www.2AMPD.net
Available daily for radio, television and print interviews.

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