Do you believe off-duty officers should carry a firearm when off-duty

[studentcj]

I was talking to a friend of mine who graduated from the academy earlier this year and some of his coworkers were ragging on him, because he never carries while off-duty. This has prompted him to look into buying a glock 27 since they carry a glock 22.

What are your opinions of officers who never carry while off-duty.

[retdetsgt]

I sometimes carried, sometimes not, but it was more situational than anything else. There are a lot of people who would never leave their homes unarmed and that's fine. But it's should be a personal choice when you're not working.

Personally, I like you're friend's attitude by not following the crowd. He sounds like the kind of person I'd have liked to work with.;)

[North Patrol]

I carry 24/7 on or off duty. However, up where I live it's for 4 legged bad guys as much as 2 legged. I live in an area where everyone carries, whether with a CCW or blain view. So I never really think about it, kind of second nature I guess. Even my wife carries a Springfield 1911 Champion.

The big thing is as retdetsgt put it. It's all situational and personal preference.

[Group9]

A friend of mine just recently died from injuries he received in a mugging gone wrong, while off duty. He didn't have his gun with him, but if he had, all indications are it would have probably just ended up as a funny story.

He was forty years old and leaves a wife and a bunch of kids that should have been able to grow up with a father.

[Darin]

A friend of mine just recently died from injuries he received in a mugging gone wrong, while off duty. He didn't have his gun with him, but if he had, all indications are it would have probably just ended up as a funny story.

He was forty years old and leaves a wife and a bunch of kids that should have been able to grow up with a father.

^^
Reason why I carry off duty.

[mobrien316]

I always carry off-duty.

With the guys in my department who don't want to carry off-duty, I often ask them if they wear a seat belt all the time, or just when they think they are going to be in an accident.

[retdetsgt]

I always carry off-duty.

With the guys in my department who don't want to carry off-duty, I often ask them if they wear a seat belt all the time, or just when they think they are going to be in an accident.

The odds of you getting hit by lighting is about 6 or 7 times more likely than you will be killed by an act of violence off duty too.

That's why I don't go stand outside during lightning storms. When I go into Portland, I carry a gun then because the odds, even though miniscule of me getting into a confrontation, are greater than when I go to the post office in my little town. Besides, the vast majority of people that are murdered, are killed by someone in their personal life, not someone off the street.


Of course I wear a seat belt when I drive because of the odds of me being in a wreck are 100X higher than getting into a confrontation too.

Again, it's personal choice. I never criticize anyone for carrying, everyone has their reasons and I respect that. But I resent being told I should carry 24-7. People should keep their paranoia to themselves. I also know a few cops that carry because they see the gun as a penile extension too.:rolleyes:

[Johninaustin]

Every time this subject comes up I remember Paul. Out for a day at the park with his wife and kids and was the first target some jackass took under fire. The ONLY reason his family and he are alive is because the jackass was too coked up to hit anything. 15 rounds from a rifle at less that 50 feet and all they could do is duck and hide.

Paul kept saying over and over, "if I only had my Glock"

Heck, I carry when fishing. You never know.:eek:

[Plazoo]

To use an old cliche': Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

[Taz_bb2]

One better:

Better to have it and not need it than to need it badly. :cool:

I'm armed 24/7. You never, ever know.

[ExUSPP]

I almost never carry off duty but it is my choice. I would never work for a department that either required me to carry off duty or prohibited me from carrying off duty.

[nypd7748]

I almost never carry off duty but it is my choice. I would never work for a department that either required me to carry off duty or prohibited me from carrying off duty.

NYPD requires you to carry off-duty in the city with a few exceptions (playing sports, alcohol, beach, etc)

[Legoate]

I also know a few cops that carry because they see the gun as a penile extension too.:rolleyes:

Geez...never thought of that...I need to buy a bigger gun because the snubby I'm carrying is just plain embarrassing if anyone were to see it. :P

[Group9]

I look at it like a life preserver on a boat. I have been boating for forty years, and I have yet to need a life jacket, but I still carry a bunch of them on every boat I have.

[ExUSPP]

NYPD requires you to carry off-duty in the city with a few exceptions (playing sports, alcohol, beach, etc)

OK, I guess I wouldn't work for NYPD then.