The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has issued 64 RPOs in the first 137 days after the law took effect. (Photo: Pinellas County Sheriff Facebook)
A sheriff’s office in Florida recently assigned five officers to a new team devoted exclusively to confiscating guns under the state’s new risk protection order law, according to WFTS ABC Action News.
Otherwise known as a red flag law, Florida’s statue allows law enforcement officers to temporarily confiscate firearms if a judge deems the owner to be a danger to him/herself or others. Florida’s blue uniforms haven’t shied away from using their new tool. In the 137 days between the law’s adoption and July 24, law enforcement filed 467 risk protection orders, or nearly 3.5 per day, according to WFTS.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri drafted a five-man team to handle the 64 risk protection petitions his office has filed, the second-most in the state behind Broward County’s 88.
Gualtieri assured local media that he understands the constitutional rights at stake in his decisions.
“It’s a constitutional right to bear arms and when you are asking the court to deprive somebody of that right we need to make sure we are making good decisions, right decisions and the circumstances warrant it,” Gualtieri explained when asked why he decided to devote an entire unit to carry out the new law.
One of his sergeants, Jason Schmittendorf, also told media that all of the cases have been black and white.
“We haven’t looked at one and said this isn’t it,” he said.
SEE ALSO: Korwin: Red Flag Laws Are Dangerously Flawed
But not everyone is so sure.
Attorney Kendra Parris has represented at least two individuals who came under risk protection orders despite the fact that they had never owned a firearm.
“These are individuals who are often exercising their first amendment rights online, who are protecting constitutionally protected speech online,” she said. “Maybe it was odious, maybe people didn’t like it, but they were hit with the risk protection order because of it.”
One of her clients, University of Central Florida student Chris Velasquez, made headlines in March when Orlando police filed a risk protection order after the young man praised mass murderers online. The other, a minor, was hit with an RPO because he or she had a dream of killing.
“I think we’re doing this because it makes us feel safer,” Parris said. “[The problem is that] it violates the Constitution.”
Parris believes the law needs to be rewritten in two ways. She believes RPOs should only be issued against people who already own guns or who have tried to purchase guns, and the law needs to more strictly define the threat as “imminent.”
“As it’s written now the harm can be in 6 months or maybe in a year this person will go crazy, we don’t know but out of an abundance of caution we need to get this risk protection in place,” she said.
Six states have implemented risk protection orders this year as a way to confiscate firearms from potential mass murderers and suicidal individuals. The majority of Florida’s RPOs have been issued as an attempt to prevent suicide. The problem, as we noted in May, is that RPOs use gun confiscation as a way to avoid treating mental health problems.
This will become the “New” Swatting Call of the Liberal Dipsh!ts and will get people killed.
A LITTLE GUN HISTORY
In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million educated people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control: 56 million.
It has now been 12 months since gun owners in Australia were forced by new law to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed by their own Government, a program costing Australia taxpayers more than $500 million dollars. The first year results are now in:
List of 7 items:
Australia-wide, homicides are up 3.2 percent.
Australia-wide, assaults are up 8.6 percent.
Australia-wide, armed robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent)!
In the state of Victoria alone, homicides with firearms are now up 300 percent. Note that while the law-abiding citizens turned them in, the criminals did not, and criminals still possess their guns!
While figures over the previous 25 years showed a steady decrease in armed robbery with firearms, this has changed drastically upward in the past 12 months, since criminals now are guaranteed that their prey is unarmed.
There has also been a dramatic increase in break-ins and assaults of the ELDERLY. Australian politicians are at a loss to explain how public safety has decreased, after such monumental effort, and expense was expended in successfully ridding Australian society of guns. The Australian experience and the other historical facts above prove it.
You won’t see this data on the US evening news, or hear politicians disseminating this information…. The NY Sullivan Act intended to tip the advantage toward Irish criminals, away from Italian criminals, and far away from the lawful.
Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property and, yes, gun-control laws adversely affect only the law-abiding citizens.
Take note my fellow Americans, before it’s too late!
The next time someone talks in favor of gun control, please remind them of this history lesson.
With guns, we are ‘citizens’. Without them, we are ‘subjects’.
During WWII the Japanese decided not to invade America because they knew most Americans were ARMED!
If you value your freedom, please spread this anti-gun control message to all of your friends.
You better read the 1938 gun laws of Germany before you spread misinformation. 1938 gun laws reestablished the gun rights for the German people which have been abolished by the Weimar Republic. In 1945 the count of people who perished in KZ was around 1.6 million, yours is 13 million, what is the number going to be tomorrow ???
Police took 30 minutes to respond to my 911 call while someone was pointing an automatic weapon at me. They pulled up like untrained Keystone cops, pulled their rifles with scopes from the trunk of the police car, put them back, then did a call out over loud speakers. I didn’t have a gun but the attacker did. He hid his weapon and got his mother to lie fro him and say he had none too. Advice: pull out your camera phone and record. Didn’t even search his car. Searched my car the person with no gun. St Johns County Sherriffs are out of control and need retraining about who they are to serve. The people who are in the wrong should have gone to jail.
I had a similar incident with the first responders. We called for emergency vehicles for my daughter who was dying, and it took them approximately 25 minutes to respond here. By that time she had passed away.
My wife and I are both disabled veterans, and quite frankly we cannot fight and tumble and wrestle with someone that breaks in to our home. Since this incident we have decided to purchase three Doberman pincher’s. We have also decided to get concealed weapons permit’s, because we feel like the police force cannot handle Emergency situations in time. If someone does a home invasion on a disabled person, and the Disabled person is not armed. I think at Best the homeowner will be going to the hospital. And at worst going to the morgue!
When I was in the military I was called upon to do my job. I honestly believe that if it wasn’t for all the time that I spent on the rifle range as a kid, and in the woods hunting I would not be here to post this email. I do not consider myself a very smart man, because all I did was spend 20 years in the US military. But I am smart enough to know this. I will never ever surrender all my guns. My wife and I are going to move to another state, because of the way the way the last election went in Virginia. Hopefully W VA, or KY. Where I believe we might still have a fighting chance.
EVK
I agree that there should be legal consequences for anybody unjustly putting a person under a red flag confiscation. This will make people think twice before they try to remove a persons rights of the 2nd Amendment. Like 10 years , 10,000.00 dollar fine. That includes all involved.
Be careful what you are saying.
That may be considered. inspiring violence.
The are listening
Your gun may be next.
If they come for mine they’ll get it one piece at a time.
Today, 19 April, is the 244th anniversary of “….the shot heard ’round the world.” The American militia who engaged British regulars on Lexington Green. British lobsterbacks sent to confiscate militia ball, powder and arms. It would be the beginning of the 1st American Revolution.
Today, “red flag laws” are history repeating itself. Government forces being sent to illegally confiscate private property without due process. Badged thugs, today’s British regulars….lobsterbacks.
“Kill all they send.”
When asked to comment on gun confiscations, Hauptscharführer Scmittendorf replied, “Ich habe nur Befehle gehorcht…”
It all comes down to the LEO,if you are a progressive anti-American then of course you attack citizens for exercising their constitutional rights other wise the LEO would refuse this illegal order. At this point where does the 2nd amendment stand on self defense for the citizen?
Thank you all for the truth and convictions of patriots which are coming few and far between. I escaped Polk county three years ago from a criminal organization through out. CIA, FBI AND OF COURSE THAT HUMABITARIAN Sheriff Judd and his minions secret citizen terrorist watch group. No supprizes here I was stripped of home, business my dog and mass stalking from them all. Floridas courts of injustice are corrupt and swayed by special interests, dark money and fraud culminating in total criminality punishing good honest people.
I’m the vice president of the Enforcers MC . (Leesburg chapter) We Are a support club of the police, military, ect.
In my opinion This law is unjust because there are too many people out there with vengeance
issues that will take advantage of this law for self gain! They should make another law that any one reporting anyone unjustly will do time! I will give an officer my gun if ask to and I suggest everyone
do the same!! But I’m NOT in support of this new law!!
Yes, I love that idea. There must be a law stating that if someone turns a person in out of revenge, its automatically 5 years in prison. There has to be a massive penalty for abuse of the law, or, in my opinion, the majority will be revenge turn ins
That is how the communists operate, by turning neighbor against neighbor, so you could trust no one.
That’s what we need another law for the first law and one for that law. Really?
Im sorry but LEO took a oath to serve , NOT PROTECT ,SERVE and a oath to the USA ,
So I guess if you have a badge its ok to break a law to enforce a law for the greater good?? Whos good mine, yours . theirs??
If leo wants to do this then he gets what he gets.
Just because something is politically correct does not make it right or correct . If you are a man of dignity then you would not enforce this law . You have to draw a line and stand up for what you know is right or just be a stooge
RPO is a slippery slope. The decision to confiscate is ALWAYS going to be arbitrary. 1 comment expressing first amendment right causes 2nd right be stripped?
The RPO’s are questionable enough but when you screw with a person who has no guns but vents on a blog, now we’re seeing the 1st Amendment under attack which is also one of the things the phucking left wants to see.
Didn’t hitler do this
This is how Hitler got his start.
No. Gun control in Germany started after WW1 by the jewish controlled Weimar Republic.
So much for protect and serve.
I know that a person is driving to a bar, I believe he is going to get drunk and kill someone or himself. You need to confiscate his car.
Oh my mistake, he’s only going to the store. Would you please unimpound his car?
I live in California and they had to pass a law for just that. False reporting is now a crime, too late.
Now you have to prove your innocence and then maybe you might get your gun back.
If I’m understanding correctly, an agent of the state is allowed to go to another state official (a judge) and get permission to take someones guns? Is this not the wolves watching the sheep? I could understand it if a family member or medical professional could apply to a court to have someone’s guns taken, but allowing an officer of the state to apply to have someone’s guns taken with the permission of another state official is just gun confiscation by the state. They’ve put a smiley face on it, but the state shouldn’t be able to grant itself the authority to take someone’s property and nullify their rights without due judicial process (which starts with charging someone with a crime and ends with a jury verdict – just because a judge is involved does not make it the constitutionally-required “due process”).
You are totally correct, if that is the case. It is not the only case of confiscation by the state though.
Don\’t forget about so called \”civil asset forfeiture\”, which also allows the state to confiscate any and all property, not just guns, without due process, or without charges ever being filed.
So the questions are, how did these obviously unconstitutional lawless laws get passed?
How will those lawless law makers be held accountable?
There going to be a day when it all goes south for this group jackboots violating their oath, I will have zero sympathy for you clowns ” just following orders ” tyranny comes at a price.
Phucking A. And I thought our constitutional Sheriff’s were our last line of defense.
The sheriff of Pinellas County, Bob Gualtieri, is one of the most anti-gun zealots in Florida. He does not seem to believe that anyone who is not an active law enforcement officer has any right to carry a firearm for protection. Pinellas County is a liberal bastion in mostly conservative Central Florida. It is just a matter of time before this confiscation squad gets totally out of control to please their gun-hating sheriff.
While I no longer live there, I was born in Florida and left when living in Pinellas County. Pinellas County is west of Tampa and smack dab on the Gulf of Mexico. When I was there it was relatively normal but I could see the serious influx of carpetbaggers coming in and ruining the state of my birth. They left liberal shitholes that they constantly complained about and set about to recreate the same liberal shithole in their new home. My Florida is lost. I don’t know this BS Sheriff but I can almost guarantee he is not a native Floridian.
Sadly, the same thing is happening up on the opposite end of the East Coast, too. I don’t understand why they just can’t stay home.
The liberal infestation has occurred in most of the major FL cities. Pinellas, Dade, Broward are all blue counties surrounded by red counties in the rest of the state. Look at what they did to CA and NY. It is sad that they infest and contaminate FL, but at least they are mostly contained in those major cities. I\’m not sure about CA, but it seems that their liberal infection is mostly contained to their major cities too. I suspect that rural CA may be much like rural FL.
How about if you’re concerned that someone is going to commit a future-crime, you gather some evidence, indict or charge them and schedule a court date. How about you DON’T (further) infringe a person’s constitutionally guaranteed right (to bear arms) for MAYBE nothing more than being a loud-mouthed idiot or for simply exercising another constitutionally guaranteed right (to free speech). I don’t know, good idea?
If they’re really all that dangerous, if there really is all of this evidence or signs of danger and they’ve said all of this mean, scary stuff, it should be pretty easy to charge and arrest them, right? Slam dunk! My guess, it’s not because this law just sets the bar so extraordinarily low and is so clearly a basic violation of due process (you know, another guaranteed right) that basically anybody can be afraid of anyone and now they got the jack-booted thugs empowered by stupid, hand-wringing politicians to get their way.
Of course, this won’t happen and won’t be reported. The law a year from now will be advertised as saving hundreds and maybe thousands because, who knows what one of those dangerous people might have done if they had their guns. Thousands of firearms were confiscated making Florida streets and Florida citizens incalculably safer; the murder and suicide rates have been halved. See what a great law it is!
Instead of this violation of basic human rights and instead of feeding into the social stigma – and this law so patently does – surrounding mental health problems, we could streamline the process for individuals or their families to obtain mental health care if they need it. Remove the stigma of simply asking for help when you need it. Maybe even improve the quality of and research into mental care. Maybe not make these individuals who might only need camaraderie or a friendly helping hand and be afraid to ask for it not feel like they’re derelicts worthy only of our scorn, fear, mistrust or shame.
I don’t know, money and time better spent?
One day that five man red flag confiscation squad is liable to eventually run into a 25 man “I DONT THINK SO ” squad .
Although I would think this is great. The 5 man squad has immunity where as the 25 man squad does not.
They have to many exemptions from laws that allow them to do this sort of nonsense.
Immunity won’t mean diddle if they are breathing dirt.
Unfortunately, it will mean more than diddle when they send 5,000 to ‘protect’ the community.
Be careful what you are saying.
That may be considered. inspiring violence.
The are listening
Your gun may be next.
This law is just a key to open the door to new laws to take your firearms. Next- teachers will be instructed to ask schoolchildren if their parents have guns in the house so the govt. can come in to make sure they are “properly stored” or have” safety patrols” going door to door in your neighborhoods asking do they know anyone in the area who may have firearms they feel the govt should be aware of. . Neighbors telling on neighbors-children telling on parents Thats how guns were taken in Germany all under the guise of making a “safer society” of course. Actually it was just a way to disarm the citizens so the could be overtaken . The 2nd amendment has nothing to with hunting. Its to stop tyranny & govt. atrocities & preserving liberty & freedom of the people . Unarmed citizens eventually WILL become servants.
If you’re referring to the National Socialist period in Germany, guns were not taken, the laws were actually loosened. The allies under Churchill, Roosevelt and good old “freedom loving” uncle Joe Stalin confiscated all civilian owned firearms.
You are partially correct Mark. Whiles the law loosened gun laws for some, other, like Jews, had their guns taken away which lead to a very bad situation. I suggest you educate yourself a little on the subject before making such an erroneous statement.
Mark. No. the first thing they did in every country the Nazi occupied, was bar gun ownership and round up the guns. They did so in the Channel Islands, in France, in the low countries, in Poland, in Ukraine, Byelorussia.
In terms of German gun policy *within* German you are also wrong in terms of what we know from the peer reviewed studies.
When the Nazi it took power in Germany they manipulated the legal process to make it easier for Nazi party members to get guns and harder for everyone else.
If you were not a member of the Nazi party it became MORE difficult to keep or get a firearm. Household gun ownership was radically reduced BY the Nazis during their early years in power and they only reduced it for “safe” citizens” *after* they had created a totalitarian state and stranglehold on power
You are referring to BE Harcourt long DEBUNKED claim that the Nazis generally loosened gun control, when Harcourt who is NOT a German historian, (or an expert on gun control). Harcourt claimed to be “exploding the myth” that the Nazis enacted gun control, when in fact he cited no German historian expert. His claims were a repeat of Robert Sherrill’s “research” in the 1970’s which themselves cited NO German historians.
This claim has been repeated by increased gun control advocate Adam Winkler, who cited prior debunked work and who also fails to mention the net *effect* of the way the laws were enforced — which is a total state disarmament of the 3/4 of the population that were not Nazi party members In fact within two years of coming to power the Nazis *effectively* barred 3/4 of non criminal German citizens from privately owning firearms.
This is wrong on so many counts.and being unconstitutional, it should have never been passed into law. Somebody should collect some data over the next year to note suicides and homicides in that county. If the suicide and homicide rate doesn’t go down SIGNIFICANTLY, the law should be repealed.
Hey Sgt Reality..or should I say entitled jack booted thug..I say entitled cause from all I’ve seen in my 61 years is cops SPEED everywhere they go.. Park where ever they want..mistreat those they work for.. ublove the law the are suposed to enforce. .137 confinsatins ALREADY ? ? Ya’ll love this new power over law abiding citizens
Why aren’t Floridians resisting this legally. WHAT are they all LIBERAL ANTI-GUN ACTIVISTS? YOU VOTED THEM IN, YOU CAN VOTE THEM OUT!!
See my reply above about Florida. There are not many real Floridians left. I am a Floridian but an escaped one.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Thank God I don’t live in FL. This is Wrong in every way. I hope the citizens don’t revolt. And they Have to bring in the real military not just the 5 wannabes.
Well sheriff asshole whats next thoue nifty little SS/skull badges on they’re shirt collors?
No, brown shirts….just like in 1938 Germany.
if i said what i really think they would probably violate my god given rights
As a retired police officer I have this to say, the time has come to resist. If my fellow officers come to disarm me, we will die together.
You got that RIGHT.
Retired Peace Officer myself and I totally agree with you.
It isn’t hard to see where the First Amendment is being violated along with the Second Amendment ! I personally think this sheriff has crossed the line and needs to be called out on his actions. Of course, the officers are ” just following orders “. Hmmm where have I heard that before? Nurnberg 1946 ? I also see the first stages of a police state starting here ???
A cop once said to me: “I don’t believe anyone except the military and police should possess guns.”
I said to him: “When you quit the police force, or get fired, will you turn-in YOUR guns?”
His reply: (stone silence)
Stan, I asked some cops the same thing. They said hell no! If I were the President I would make an executive order that states’ ALL RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHICH ARE AT THE FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL LEVEL, UPON RETIREMENT MUST SURRENDER ANY FIREARM(S), MAGAZINE(S), SUPPRESSOR(S) OR ANY FIREARM RELATED PART(S) OR ITEM(S) THAT A CIVILIAN IS PROHIBITED FROM OWNING. It would be a mandatory part of that officers out processing from the police force. I would make it retroactive from the year 1900. Any officer that makes any false statement in order to keep any of the aforementioned items will be guilty of a class 4 felony with a minimum of 10 years in prison. All remaining firearms and magazines that would otherwise be legal for that officer to own would be confiscated and destroyed and immediate loss of any pension and any other retirement benefits. That seems fair to me. That way there is no conflict of interest.
The Police Officers family will force them to quit in a week. I was a NY cop for 25 years and I wouldn’t do that job for all the money in the world. the Gov, senators and reps just kissed their jobs good by come election time. 32% of florida owns firearms, so double that counting wives and kids and friends who will vote in a like minded way. Political suicide for sure.
Will they be wearing brown shirts? This type of law is ripe for abuse no matter how implemented. The thought of armed officers appearing at your door to confiscate your weapons because someone was ‘uncomfortable’ with you owning them should terrify the gun owners of America.
This situation is already out of control. How? The government is confiscating firearms allowed by citizens under the protection of The Second Amendment. Ask the Germans – – and especially the Jews – – how gun confiscation worked out for them. Ask Russians, Chinese…the English, Australians……any citizens of countries where the government uses the lie of \”it\’s for your safety and the safety of society\” as their excuse to \”humanize\” dictatorial despot totalitarian activity. Government does nothing well. Government will create the rope in which all of us will hang. Government is delighted that this program of confiscation finally gets their jack boot in the door and they anxiously await the next \”law\” that allows even more confiscation under even more ridiculous pretense.
How will this be enforced.. SWAT.. Military weapons and armor. You are preconceiving a threat and potential armed resistance by a citizen without due process in their very own home. What could possibly go wrong…
Wow. I thought most gun owners were better than this.
I am a proud, professional, gun owner and Sergeant with a FL Sheriff’s Office. Are you all this niave and uneducated? How about you read the actual law then comment on it.
The RPO’s were not OUR IDEA. It was part of the Marjorie Stone Douglas Act. If you actually read the Act, it is very limited in scope and is meant to be a tool to disarm people who have been taken into custody under a Baker Act or Marchmam Act, but ONLY IF THEY THREATENED TO USE A FIREARM in the first place.
It requires extensive paperwork and is signed by a judge.
They are only valid for a very short time frame, 14-30 days and CAN’T BE EXTENDED past one year. Period.
It is not fun when we respond to calls at a residence, because someone has mental illness or PTSD, or drank too much, and decided to tell their family they would kill themselves. It is even we worse when they are armed. We are doing our best to get them help and this is one TEMPORARY step in keeping both their families, the community, and law enforcement safe until these individuals get the treatment they need.
Have any of you had to respond to a former Special Forces Operator’s home (of the Navy’s variety) because they are now an alcoholic, with PTSD, who is threatening to kill themselves and/or anyone who comes in? All information is validated via cell phone pics and social media posts. The subject has multiple gun safes with an impressive selection of weapons. Many other which my body armor will not come close to stopping. We have a lawful duty to get this person help. But in their current state, access to firearms is a bad idea.
The overwhelming majority of law enforcement in the south has no desire to take firearms away from anyone. We are conservative and support the rights of others to defend themselves. But, if I can save a person from potentially being killed by a family member in crisis or taking their own life by getting one of these orders, so be it.
Again…. They are temporary and can’t be extended over 1 year by your statute.
Well said Sir: Hope you are correct and law will not be abused. Thank you.
I certainly understand Your good intentions and the proper Intent of the law. But, you’re missing the concerns of gun owners and other rightfully apprehensive citizens.
Those concerns address the ominous & very real potential for errors and outright abuse in exercising this law. It also forms a launchpad from which truly draconian “gun safety” laws might be launched.
You say the decision to confiscate is based on social media comments, which could be nothing more than fantasy or an attempt to impress.
“It requires extensive paperwork and is signed by a judge.”
Oh my, that’s truly comforting! How many times has a judge made a bad ruling? Can you say…9th Circuit?
I agree with Ms. Parris that, at the very Least, the law needs to be re-written to better protect the public from unwarranted
search & seizures and Constitutional rights abuses.
As it stands, this law and enforcement of it is a ticking time bomb that will eventually result in a tragedy.
I hope you can appreciate this point of view from the “other side of the fence.”
Hey Sargent how about you read the whole consitution and the train your officers to follow the existing laws and how to be men. If that was the case the kid from Florida would have never owned a gun would have already been a criminal and the officers at the screen if everything else fail would have had the balls to go in and stop the shooting. All I saw was a bunch of panzy liberals in parkland where no one in their bubble could do anything wrong and then you had a big mistake.
Now you go and strip people of multiple constitutional right you have no right to do in order to feel safe.
That is not the way things are done in America and the abuse is clearly evident already…….
It is not fun when we respond to calls at a residence, because someone has mental illness or PTSD, or drank too much, and decided to tell their family they would kill themselve
1) Your argument literally could be used for reduced fourth or fifth amendment rights as well. Cops would be safer if they could wiretap everyone, if we had lower warrant requirements like Australia or most of europe, if we didn’t require reasonable suspicion to search a car, or if mass stop and frisk were legal.
2) Literally NONE of your reasons are reasons to bar ownership to a firearm. I bet you have had people in your home who have had a drink. Are you saying you never drink while having a firearm in a safe at home? Shall you be barred? A huge portion of police have PTSD of some kind (more than the general public), do they need to be removed from the force? Police commit suicide (and spousal murder) at higher rates than the general population
As far a mental illness, easily 50% of people have have clinically diagnosabe levels of depression of anxiety at some point. Some people in mental health research think everyone with normal brain goes through serious depression many times in their lives .Do you want to make sure people with depression, anxiety, or low level mental illness do NOT seek mental health counseling or care because they (now rightfully) worry may end up on a list used to reduce their rights?
We already have constitutionally tested metric and thresholds: adjudicated mentally ill and dangerous. Thank the ACLU for that being the highest and most difficult to establish threshold in the world. Most murders by the mentally ill are not with guns. dozens of studies show about 90% of gun murder is criminal on criminal. But much larger portions of knife murder is by mentally ill Hundred of people are knifed to death by the mentally ill We had in my town three roommates killed by a mentally ill persons with a knife. It is currently illegal under US privacy law to know if your roomate has PTSD. Shall we make a law making mental illness records public so roommates can find out? Work colleagues? It will make them safer.
No to either. If we are going to do anything about all types of murder by the mentally ill we need to get our thresholds for confining someone who is seriously and dangerously mentally ill back in line with the developed world diagnosis levels, not reduce the Second, fourth and Fifth Amendment rights of the 99.95% of people who are not
Even with protective orders, Law journals are filled with peer reviewed studies showing that 80% utterlyp made up and are simply tools deployed in divorce, and financial and custody disposition legal fights.
We accept the fact that 80% are completely made up because we ALL want protective orders to be easy to get because abused women tend to often be very low resource. OK so we accept much lower probative burdens/thresholds, hearsay, and evidence never admitted in a normal case and we accept that 80% are bogus, Why? Because the harm to the person who is subject to the order is consists of keeping away from the other person. If we are going to expand this harm to loss of both second and forth amendment rights then the burdens need to be raised — not lowered.
And lastly, you say you are worried about your personal safety? OK. But people depend on firearms for THEIR personal safety as well. I don’t fault you personally for this, but police arrive in time to prevent under 3% of US violent crime. Millions of crimes are prevented by gunowners every year (2.5 million crimes prevented by non law enforcement gun owners with their per year) . You are increasing criminal victimization risk to those from whom your are confiscating firearms.
I agree completely. Cops seem to think the law should be bent to serve their needs, but the law exists to protect our rights, not the needs of officers and agents of the state. If you think the Constitution makes the job of police officer too dangerous, go find other work.
“I was just following orders”….. it won’t work this time, either
As they say \”It\’s a good day to die\”
Do you really think that if someone says they are going to kill themselves it\’s a great idea to send a bunch of trigger happy idiots out there to take a guys guns. From what I see all the time, the Cops end up finishing the job the Guy just threatened to do.
You’re a jackbooted thug with a badge and you should be ashamed. Your only job is to uphold the constitution, and you are failing miserably.
Officer you didn’t mention anything about a person let’s say a neighbor who does not like you knows you have a weapon goes and lies stating your a threat and what happens. WHAT you said is interesting but the matter at hand is there are innocent gun owners whose 2nd amendment rights will be violated
I, for one, truly appreciate your clarification on this matter, It is especially important during election season. There is a lot of misinformation (and disinformation) on this. NRA Life Member.
You sir should re read your oth to service.
Funny how not ONE request has been denied….. Just like piece bonds….. Easy as the clap to get.
You mention them being temporary, are you willing to pay somebodies lawyer fees to get them back if you \”do as you are told\” and take them from the wrong people? If not then you need to really reconsider who you describe as the problem.
So Sarg, let me get this straight. You receive a warrant to confiscate someone firearms because someone thinks they may do harm YET do nothing to him????????????? I have a better idea, ARREST HIM. Oh you can’t because there isn’t enough evidence but their is to take their Constitutional rights away??? You are being used and don’t even know it.
This is what is wrong in this country. Punish all yet let the REAL PERP go free. What a sad day.
I don’t believe you are a cop. I don’t believe you know anything about PTSD. I do believe you are lying.
2/4 3rd MarDiv VN 1967-1969
Had he broken any laws by his speech or actions? If it is speech not followed by action then this is a problem that falls under the I KNOW BETTER THAN YOU AND I KNOW WHATS BEST FOR YOU. I understand what you are saying and YES I have so lets not play the sad card to get sorrow of the situation for a point.
At what point did he break a law?
Due process?
“The majority of Florida’s RPOs have been issued as an attempt to prevent suicide. The problem, as we noted in May, is that RPOs use gun confiscation as a way to avoid treating mental health problems.”
As tragic as suicide is, I don’t think…it’s illegal to kill yourself?
It’s so incredible and a tragic waste of time we have to defend our inalienable rights from crap laws like this!
Nothing but storm troopers.
Terrible law. Gun grabbers at work. Incrementally reverse the 2nd.
Direct Attack against the Constitution of The United States of America. Socialist mentality, what will be next? This has the potential to expand further if not put into check. They will take your home, the money you have saved, your automobiles and whatever they decide is for the good of the community. What have we not learned in our past History?
How long before the police start abusing this”law” which is a clear violation of the first, second and fourth amendments. The law is not very well thought out and will be rife for abuse by both the police and students.
Back when I was in high school, that was the go to way of getting back at someone. You’d go to the office and say someone either said they’d bring a gun to school or sexually harassed you.
Of course nothing ever happened to the person that made it all up.
This is only happening because people of this country have been brainwashed by our “liberal”(communist) education system into believing that government is your friend.
Ask the people in Turkey. Ask the people in Syria. Ask the people in Russia. Ask the people in China.
The government is NOT your friend. It is a necessary EVIL that will always fall under control of power hungry elites.
Credit to the Jolly Roger, reposted from ‘fromthetrenchesworldreport’ (aka ‘real’ news)
450 Sniveling Cowards?
I don’t think so.
I’m referring of course, to the “news” of 450 people having their guns confiscated in Florida, without anyone firing a shot. I don’t believe a word of it, but at the same time, I could have predicted that this, or a similar story would have appeared sooner or later, because it serves their purposes so well.
I remember two instances of these “red flag” gun confiscation laws being applied, and if I’m not mistaken, they both ended with police being shot. Now we’re expected to believe that 450 were taken without so much as a complaint, because this is exactly the type of myth they’d be looking to propagate.
I always knew, and stated previously, that the success or failure of these red flag gun confiscations would hinder on the first few attempts. If cops were shot, they would end quickly. If the first victims gave up their guns peaceably, the confiscations would continue. What the media hoaxsters are doing is creating the illusion (or “reality”) that Americans are turning in their guns without a fight. They’d like to convince you that no one else is standing up for their rights, and that you would be the only American fighting back should you choose to do so.
As far as I could see, the whole myth seems to have originated from one FOX news story, based on one interview with one Florida sheriff, who shows off some allegedly confiscated guns to a reporter as proof that this actually happened.
Gun confiscations are a barometer of tyranny that we’re all watching for, so how did this happen 450 times over the last few months without anyone saying a word? Why did we hear nothing from the first 200? Not a video anywhere showing this happening when it’s such a sensitive topic among Patriots?
I haven’t seen court documents, videos, complaints filed, or even another news outlet reporting on it independently of the original FOX “news” story, despite the fact that it’s a topic of huge interest, which has allegedly happened 450 times. Not likely.
This entire story could just as easily be a hoax as be real. At this point it would only involve a few actors, we’ve all seen them routinely orchestrate much bigger events than this to make bogus headlines, and most importantly, this is a headline they desperately need to make the real gun confiscations go a lot more smoothly. I can’t prove it’s a lie, but it seems to me that if it were true, there would be a lot of corroborating evidence that should exist, and doesn’t. I’m not going to believe a word of this until it’s verified independently, because it’s exactly the kind of lie they’d love to have the American people believe.
If I’m wrong, please correct me, but I can’t find any confirmation that these confiscations actually happened. Please do look for independent confirmation of this yourself before you believe me, or the “news”. Americans understand the consequences of gun confiscations, and I don’t believe they’d hand them over so willingly. The enemy understands that they can’t win unless we do. Expect deception. — Jolly Roger
Very well said. Media propagates lies, promotes lies, creates lies, with an agenda always toward disarming and destroying this country. 450 instances, all peaceful? Not likely. At all.
Why should we believe this story? We shouldn’t. We should assume lies. As you explain so well, this story — likely fiction — promotes the ‘everybody else is doing it, and you should, too’ notion.
Anything that promotes taking away our rights which ‘shall not be infringed,’ should be suspect at the very least.
‘But it saves one life!’ … and we shall hear that thousands of times.
But the disarming of a population ends up in millions of deaths. Witness Russia, China, and others communist countries over the last century.
I don’t know why so many gun owners worship law enforcement, this alone shows that the police are not our friends. After taking an oath to defend what’s left of the US Constitution, I bet not one of these sociopaths even questioned the Constitutionality of this new law, then proceeded to trample all over our rights. I’m glad I don’t live in Florida, this comment would probably trigger a Red Flag Order.
It’s truly amazing, isn’t it? They’re just mowing down unarmed civilians, and everyone is still praising these terrorist ‘policymen’.
The guy in Aurora who just defended his home in an attack, shot the attacker, called the cops?
And the cops killed the homeowner
Cops today are taught in training two very dangerous concepts, that together have spelled disaster for many innocent people whom they have killed “by accident”:
1. They’re taught an “us versus them” mentality, instead of being taught that they’re just civilians in uniforms, getting paid to do a job that is every citizens’ responsibility. (See Sir Robert Peel’s – the father of modern police forces – “Nine Principles of Policing.”)
2. They’re taught their primary objective is going home safely after their shifts, instead of being taught their primary duty is to protect the lives of (all) the citizens they serve in their communities.