Reply #25: The public safety thing is always a bit of a joke to me. [View All]

[jeepnstein]

The last thing I want to rely upon to determine if a subject is armed or not is their decision to comply with a registration law. It's far more sensible to assume everyone in the room is packing until you determine otherwise. The registration of guns does nothing to enhance officer safety.

As far as lawful citizens with arms, well, I typically find them erring on the side of caution when they come into contact with a cop. I once had to set up a surveillance on a drug case where the property owner met me at his front door open carrying a .45. He offered to put it away before taking me out to his back forty where the cultivation was taking place. Instead I just made him raise his right hand and promise not to shoot me. I can recall one incident where a fellow was having an adrenaline dump and had a bit of trouble getting on the same page as me but it wasn't anything requiring one to go Barney Fife on him.