22Dec05

Another sad case of personal incompetence, from a friend in WY:

"Our local chief of police carelessly left his own carry pistol (G23 ) in a downtown restaurant bathroom several weeks ago! The story has been kept quiet, but the chief has finally acknowledged his gaff. The loaded pistol, in its holster, was inadvertently left on a counter in the bathroom. The chief di dn 't even realize his mistake until the pistol was quietly returned t o him by one of his own officers later the same day. Restaurant employees had discovered the gun and immediately called police. Responding officers tra ced the gun back to their own chief. The incident was not investigated, and the ch ief got an inaudible slap on the wrist from our city manager. Around the department, the subject was quickly dropped!"

Comment: I believe absolutely that an LEO has the individual responsibilit y to acquire and maintain personal competence. When somebody takes public money to do a job, he or she must be able to perform adequately. This has nothing to do with "departmental" training. It is an ethical responsibilit y, a matter of personal integrity and character. The legal power OF arrest requ ires the competence TO arrest. Bottom line: learn to handle your weapon and yourself, or find other work. For CCW permit holders, the same responsibil ity applies. Learn it and live it, or go back to eating grass!

/John

22Dec05

Silent revolution:

I was on the phone this morning with a good friend who manufacturers holsters under military contract. Most are concealment rigs, shoulder and hip holsters. His stuff is wonderful and is worn by many star-wearers and thei r security staffs. Interestingly, he reported that less than half of incomin g orders are for the Beretta (9mm, M9) pistol, the "official" sidearm of the US Military! There are a few requests for the M11 (SIG228), but the majority now are for the "old" 1911 pistol in 45ACP! Colts, Kimbers, Sp ringfields, S&Ws, they have them all! In addition, there is suddenly (and curiously) an ampl e supply of 45ACP ammunition, as well as 9mm, in Country. I wonder where it is coming from, since the official story is that it hasn't been ordered in years!

It seems there is a quiet revolution going on the active parts of the Army and Marines. The Beretta is being quiescently displaced with the 1911. It

is, so far, all unofficial, but it is going forward relentlessly nonetheles s. I, for one, think this clandestine evolution represents a great step forwar d, but, like all positive developments, it must be kept quiet. "Good news" is always "bad news" in our upside-down age!

/John