Write Lightning is a blog from writer Deb Thompson.
Everyone is welcome here.
(Some links or topics may not be completely kid-appropriate.)
Everyone is welcome here.
(Some links or topics may not be completely kid-appropriate.)
Fri, Jan 19 2007
Headed to the gas station? Body Armor? Check. Gun? Check.
Tommy Wilson, the Milwaukee officer mentioned in this story, has (perhaps unintentionally) made a good case for everyday citizens being armed and wearing a protective vest. What I'm unsure about is whether the civilian overcoat covering his uniform made the suspects more likely to target him as a possible victim. If his uniform and weapon had been clearly visible they could very likely have passed him by in favor of someone else who looked to them less capable of fighting back.
Arguments go back and forth all the time about the good and bad points of ordinary citizens carrying weapons, particularly concealed weapons. Though the officer's weapon was concealed only by virture of the fact that he had put on a coat after work that night, and though he might not have been targeted at all if his firearm had been visible, in this case the gun clearly contributed to saving his life and possibly the lives of others, since it helped take the suspects out of circulation so that they targeted no one else on that particular night.
The nagging idea remains with me that Officer Wilson was probably approached because he looked like a civilian. Thankfully, he was armed, wore and armored vest and was trained to react sensibly in that type of situation. I can't help but wonder if you or I in our civilian clothing should be concerned enough to think seriously about preparing and training for the real possibility of similar encounters as we go about our daily lives.
posted at: 08:08 | category: /Politics | link to this entry
Tommy Wilson, the Milwaukee officer mentioned in this story, has (perhaps unintentionally) made a good case for everyday citizens being armed and wearing a protective vest. What I'm unsure about is whether the civilian overcoat covering his uniform made the suspects more likely to target him as a possible victim. If his uniform and weapon had been clearly visible they could very likely have passed him by in favor of someone else who looked to them less capable of fighting back.
Arguments go back and forth all the time about the good and bad points of ordinary citizens carrying weapons, particularly concealed weapons. Though the officer's weapon was concealed only by virture of the fact that he had put on a coat after work that night, and though he might not have been targeted at all if his firearm had been visible, in this case the gun clearly contributed to saving his life and possibly the lives of others, since it helped take the suspects out of circulation so that they targeted no one else on that particular night.
The nagging idea remains with me that Officer Wilson was probably approached because he looked like a civilian. Thankfully, he was armed, wore and armored vest and was trained to react sensibly in that type of situation. I can't help but wonder if you or I in our civilian clothing should be concerned enough to think seriously about preparing and training for the real possibility of similar encounters as we go about our daily lives.
posted at: 08:08 | category: /Politics | link to this entry
