Carry off duty?????????

[DaveinUtah]

Well, with my impending full time employment into law enforcement, I need some opinions.

I am sure I will get a mixed bag of opinions, but I am just curious whether more people carry their weapons off duty, or not.

I have heard two sides to this.........

One, you are sworn to protect and serve and, you have police authority 24/7 whether on duty or not, and should always carry your weapon.....

I have also heard that once you are off duty, that is it and no need to carry.

I am sure it also depends on the area you live in and I can personally say(this may be a rookie thing) I plan to carry my gun off duty at all times(well most times, not to church and crap like that)


So, I ask, do more of you carry off duty, or not?

[Delta784]

If I'm not consuming alcohol, I carry a firearm with me, 24/7. I have the kind of luck where the one time I didn't carry it, I'd need it.

[locke1419]

I carry off duty because I live really close to were I work and have ran into some of my clients when I have been off duty and you never know if there carring are not.

[DaveinUtah]

Well, that's 2 votes for carry off duty. 3 counting mine

And, like Delta said, and I have heard this before...

"I carry a firearm with me, 24/7. I have the kind of luck where the one time I didn't carry it, I'd need it."

[gotthblues]

some times yes, and some times no, i didnt have a noisy cricket (small frame weapon) to carry, so i had to carry my glock 22m, its a bitch to keep concealed.
if i was traveling, you bet i had it, in my own town, not often.

now i could give scenarios or what if, till this site crashed, but just food for thought, if a terd sees you and decides to take you, his weapon is already in his hands, yours is probly under your shirt, coat, maybe an inside the pants holster, are you going to be able to clear leather and fire first, no, i personally was more worried about a car jacking or robbery then some terd i arrested. with this in mind, as soon as i can afford one, i am getting a little kel tech .380 w/ belt clip for my back pocket, this would greatly alleviate the above, because it will fit in the front or back pocket, just a thought,

but as far as acting off duty, again there are multiple scenerios, but unless it is a very violent crime, the best thing to do is be a good witness. you dont have your vest on, you dont have extra magazines, you dont have a portable radio, since you only have a small frame weapon you only have a couple of shots, versus 45 or more when on duty, so on and so on.

but again, i worked in a smaller town, i am sure things and attitudes (of terds) are different in larger cities. but if i had a noisy cricket, then i probly would have carried off duty more often,,*that doesnt make sense at all, huh.*

[DaveinUtah]

"noisy cricket" ROFL

[Bodie]

Some agencies actually require 24/7 badge & gun carry. That helps in liabilty cases.

Sometimes you will carry sometimes you won't depends on what you are doing. We had dope that would mow his yard with a 9 strapped on. He lasted 3 yrs max. Common sense will prevail as to when and where you carry.

[Magnum314]

When the poo poo hits the fan...

... if you are allowed to carry off duty, I don't understand why you wouldn't.

Quoting Lt Dave Grossman:

If you are a warrior who is legally authorized to carry a weapon and you step outside without that weapon, then you become a sheep, pretending that the bad man will not come today. No one can be "on" 24/7 for a lifetime. Everyone needs down time. But if you are authorized to carry a weapon, and you walk outside without it, just take a deep breath, and say this to yourself... "Baa."

[gotthblues]

"noisy cricket" ROFL

you like that huh, i wish i could take credit for it, but my second phase FTO coined that one. he was a colorful fellow!

[Charlie31]

you like that huh, i wish i could take credit for it, but my second phase FTO coined that one. he was a colorful fellow!

wasnt "noisy cricket" the name of that little silver gun that Will Smith was handed by Tommy Lee Jones in Men in Black?

[gotthblues]

wasnt "noisy cricket" the name of that little silver gun that Will Smith was handed by Tommy Lee Jones in Men in Black?

i dunno, was it, maybe he pirated it.

[jakflak]

It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

[DaveinUtah]

wasnt "noisy cricket" the name of that little silver gun that Will Smith was handed by Tommy Lee Jones in Men in Black?

Yeah, that is why I thought it was so funny. And, you needed to emphasize "little" LOL



Zed: Kay, give the kid a weapon.
[Kay opens a chest filled with intergalactic guns. He picks up a large rifle]
Kay: Series 4 De-atomizer.
Jay: That's what I'm talkin' about.
Kay: [Picks up a very tiny gun and gives it to Jay] Noisy Cricket.
Jay: Hey, Kay, come on man you get a Series 4 De-atomizer and I get a little midget cricket?
Kay: [Notices Jay is pointing the gun in his direction] Whoah! Watch it.
Jay: Feel like I'm gonna break this damn thing.

[Hutch]

I usually carry offduty... Unless I am mowing the lawn... or somthing stupid like that...

Last weekend I was in New York... Carried everywhere there had no problems...

[BikeCop501]

Carry it everywhere, even to church when i go, if i drink its cleard and stuck in the gun safe built into my truck (i got board one weekend when it rained)