What Cops Really Think About the 2nd Amendment-See Our Poll

So, what do law enforcement officers really think about the 2nd Amendment? There's been a lot of rhetoric in some circles calling police officers "red coats" or "blue isis" (that's a real thing, check out the hashtag #BlueIsis). There is a huge amount of fear mongering that the police will come to your door to confiscate your guns. Essentially, certain groups are assuming what police officers will do or assuming what police officers think.

This thought process is made worse by some police officials like Houston's Chief Acevedo. Chief Acevedo does not represent the average line officer, but he was on national TV clamoring for gun control on the memory of one of his officers that had been assassinated. His rhetoric gave the appearance that police officers support gun control.

I'm lucky enough to travel the country and train cops and sit down with officers and deputies from throughout this great nation that enforce laws. I know what they think, but I wanted to do a poll to set the record straight. We asked current and retired sworn police officers what they think about the 2nd Amendment and gave them some space to leave a comment or two.

The officers were recruited from a social media group that contained 50,000 members. 843 officers responded to the poll. These members are from all parts of the country and have various job functions. Six questions were asked of the officers. The poll was only available to officers for 2 days.

1. Do you support the 2nd Amendment (the right to keep and bear arms)?

Overwhelmingly the answer was "yes". One hundred percent of the officers said that they support the second amendment. That bears repeating: Every single officer, out of 843, supports the 2nd amendment. There was not one single officer that did not support it.

Not only do they support it, but we let them leave comments. Some of the comments included the following:

"The meaning of the 2A is clear, and the Constitution was designed to protect natural rights"

Our founding fathers saw the oppression of government power and now more than ever we need more support to keep leftist government officials wanting to take everyone’s guns.

I believe every law abiding citizen should be able to carry a firearm to be able to come to MY defense if I need it!

You swear to defend it, you should support it

I could list more, but you get the idea of what they are thinking. Where did this question come from? You! This is the number one question we are asked by citizens. Do the police support the 2nd Amendment. Now you have your answer. 100% yes!

It's unanimous. We do support the 2nd Amendment!

2. Do you think there needs to be more gun control legislation?

86% of officers responded that there does not need to be any more gun control legislation. We don't want more because the legislation being put out is contrary to the constitution and does not really help the public.

A great example is California's requirement to pass a background check to buy ammunition. Officers know that this isn't keeping the community safe. The crime statistics show it. Additionally, 1 out of 4 people are failing the background check,including police officers. Why are they failing? Because the system is broken and it is keeping law abiding citizens from purchasing ammo. This is just a back door way of subverting you rights.

What About the other 14%

Now 8% of officers said that there does need to be more legislation with an additional 5% saying they are neutral on the subject. Before everyone freaks out that these cops are going to seize your guns, let's think about it a little more. If there are 100 police officers ordered to seize guns under a new gun control measure, 86 of them are going to disagree with it. Only 8 of them will agree with it. How far do you think those 8 people can really go if 86 are against it? Peer pressure is a real thing, especially in a law enforcement agency.

Here's a sampling of what officers were saying in the poll:

Control in the sense of stricter penalties for felons going armed and gang enhancements for those that are affiliated going armed during dangerous felonies

Required to report lost stolen

Individuals with mental illness and violent non felony history should be identified and restricted

The right kind...need to go after mental health and criminals

It depends on the legislation. I believe banning high-capacity magazines and waiting periods are ineffective, but support better background checks for all transactions. There is no easy, black or white answer to this.

Make gun show sales consistent with regular gun sales. Come up with a means of identifying mentally ill to help restrict them from obtaining firearms.

As you can see, most of the officers are concerned about people with mental health issues or a violent criminal history. Their concern is understandable since they are tasked with protecting our communities. No one said we need to go out and start confiscating guns. Our poll shows that, as do others.

Do you think any of these gun control laws are unconstitutional?

There are some people that think all gun laws are unconstitutional. In fact, 15% of our respondents held that view. However, there are limits in place on the 1st amendment when it comes to threatening speech. There's also limits to other amendments which all stem from case law decided upon by the Supreme Court. So, it would be silly to think that there would be no limits to the 2nd amendment.

Most officers felt that felons in possession of a firearm were inappropriate. Only 10% felt that felons should have guns. However, a full 42% felt that the National Firearms Act was unconstitutional and 78% felt that the prohibition of "assault weapons" were unconstitutional. Almost 60% disagreed with red flag laws.

So, what did the officers have to say? Here's a sampling of their comments:

I was shot in the line of duty, I do not blame the firearm, but the convicted felon who shot me. Oh wait, according to the law, he should not have had it. Smdh

States can’t be trusted to work in the best interests of their citizens. California, NY, NJ, IL are glaring examples of what happens when you elect those that don’t act in your best interests.

The increased gun legislation that I have seen in the past 2 years (mainly in WA) has been only to disarm those law abiding citizens and not the criminals actively causing harm with firearms.

Criminals = Crime, lets keep them locked up, at least the dangerous one's, they're dangerous with or without guns. Then we don't 'need' gun control laws, that criminals ignore anyway.

An armed society is a polite society

4. What type of agency do you work for (retired officers, list your last agency)

A majority of officers that responded were municipal (or city) police officers with Sheriff's coming in second and then State Troopers and Federal Agents. This mirrors the makeup of most police officer categories in the United States.

5. Do you work in a rural or urban agency?

Most officers were working in an urban environment. This question is important so that people don't walk away thinking that the list must have been all small town, rural officers. It's important to know that cops in New York City feel the same as the guy working in Gem County, Idaho.

6. What type of state do you work in?

Most of the officers worked in states that rarely regulate firearms. However, the other half of the officers worked in states that heavily regulate firearms or work in a state that was once a "free state" but is now regulating firearms (think Colorado).

No, There is no Blue Isis Coming for You

I put this poll together so that I can show people what I have known all along; that a majority of police officers favor the 2nd amendment and do not agree with the direction we are going with gun legislation. However, there is a growing number of 2nd Amendment supporters that think police officers are the enemy by calling them "Blue Isis" or "Red Coats."

When it comes to gun rights, you can rest assured that cops think like you do and that they are upholding their oath to the constitution. They will not be following orders from politicians who are violating the constitution.