Hey Coastie 585!

[Norm357]

That was an interesting post in AAC. You might find this interesting.

Did you know that in GA, any member of the Military, Guard, Reserve, etc can carry concealed on their creds. No concealed weapons permit needed? I believe that we are the only state that allows this.

[Curt581]

Did you know that in GA, any member of the Military, Guard, Reserve, etc can carry concealed on their creds. No concealed weapons permit needed? I believe that we are the only state that allows this.

That's my point. Why go through proving all the technical details that qualify someone as an LEO, when you don't need to?
.... unless you're planning to do more than just carry a firearm...?

Being legally deemed an LEO means you're also held to all of the rules LEO's are.

[Coastie 585]

NORM! Hows it going?!

I actually was aware of that law and I do believe GA is the only state that allows that.

Curt,

Ill try and explain it,

For YEARS the Coast Guard has been saying "Hey, good job, you are a federal law enforcement officer. You don't get a badge, you don't get anything saying you are federal LEO and we don't want you carrying off duty but GOOD JOB!"

The message that was released is a big change in attitude, for once the USCG is putting in writing that we are covered under LEOSA. Over the past 6 years it has been a kind of "Do so at your own risk" we have had a couple of members arrested for carrying a concealed weapon, only to be thrown out at court. The reason I am interested in this is because it is a new option. I like researching things, I like looking into things.

Another big selling point is the fact that carrying as an LEO has far less restrictions than carrying as a civilian.

I have a trip planned for DC next year. As you may know DC is a gun free zone. Under LEOSA I would be good to go, under my Concealed Weapons Permit I would need to leave the firearm at home. I personally would much rather be armed while walking around DC. Am I going to go there and try to engage in law enforcement? Hell no, Ill be a great witness but that is about all.

I really do not know why you think I have any ulterior motives. I have been carrying openly as a FLEO for years now, this is nothing new. If you think I am going to be running around playing super cop on my time off you are very wrong. I implore you to read the Coast Guard's release, hopefully you can get a better understanding of where I am coming from.

http://www.uscg.mil/announcements/al...10_alcoast.txt

Yes, I know, all the CAPS really aren't the easiest on the eyes but I hope you take a look at it. I am not pulling this stuff out of thin air.

[JoetheGI]

From your initial post in AAC:

Coast Guard takes 6, yes, 6 years to release their official statement on the issue...

LOL!

Sounds about right...

I can definitely see the benefit of lawful carry under LEOSA, as opposed to a single state issued CHL for travel purposes. Especially if one is required to travel to yankee land, or the left coast, with all their draconian laws.

Did you know that in GA, any member of the Military, Guard, Reserve, etc can carry concealed on their creds. No concealed weapons permit needed? I believe that we are the only state that allows this.

That would have been nice had it been in place for the 9 years I was stationed there, but at least Georgia was a "shall issue" state. Bad people doing bad things generally can't be reasoned with, and don't wait for LEO's to arrive on scene. They DO, on the other hand, generally share a universal respect for Mr. J. Moses Browning.

[9A0K7]

Well I guess technically Alaska would be another state as well. Even though no one needs a permit to carry concealed in AK.

[MikeG]

That was an interesting post in AAC. You might find this interesting.

Did you know that in GA, any member of the Military, Guard, Reserve, etc can carry concealed on their creds. No concealed weapons permit needed? I believe that we are the only state that allows this.

Naah. Arizona allows it too. Only requirement is 21 years of age and it's not limited to military, guard, reserve. Other restrictions apply. YMMV. CCW no longer requires a permit in AZ.

[9A0K7]

I really do not know why you think I have any ulterior motives. I have been carrying openly as a FLEO for years now, this is nothing new. If you think I am going to be running around playing super cop on my time off you are very wrong.

Throughout my days of forum lurking I have seen this brought up about coasties many times. And sadly I don't think that I have seen one thread without some people thinking that coasties are just hot headed wanna be cops that want to get a gun and go arrest whomever they please, oh and that they have no training in handling weapons or law enforcement.

Now before anyone gets defensive I am not saying that this is what is going on here, but I have seen it on other sites. Having served as a CG Boarding Officer, LEPO, and Small Arms Instructor I can tell you that the members who are trusted with carrying out the law enforcement duties within the CG have the training and have been recommended by their Commanding Officer to do so. One misconception is that anyone, say for example a cook, who is an E-4 in the CG is given a gun. Obviously that is not the case. To serve as a Boarding Officer you have to attend a course at FLETC, right there along with other federal agencies.

I am glad that the CG came out with direction on this; it shows that the service recognizes that the benefits outweigh the negatives. Maybe it will be another 6 years and coasties will get an endorsement on their ID card. Ha

[9A0K7]

Yea I didn't know that. It's interesting how much the this law varies from state to state!

[9A0K7]

Sorry Coastie 585 that was your quote I referenced. Noob mistake!

[MikeG]

BTW - my 0.02,

(a) The Coast Guard may make inquiries, examinations, inspections, searches, seizures, and arrests upon the high seas and waters over which the United States has jurisdiction, for the prevention, detection, and suppression of violations of laws of the United States.

I see this as being no different than police officer from one state traveling to another state. There is no power of arrest conferred by LEOSA. There is no determination that jurisdiction has been extended. It just extends the carry privileges from your jurisdictions (seas and waters) to other parts of the U.S. Same as local officer traveling out of state.

I don't see how arguing against LEOSA for CG wouldn't be the same as arguing against LEOSA for state authorized officers.

One question I do have is who has powers of arrest in a coast guard unit? Is it the CO or do each member have that authority? Who attests that a crime has been commited? As I understand it (and i am often wrong), a LEOs authority of arrest is individual in nature. While it may be career limiting, the ultimate decision to arrest is an individual one.

What I'd really like to see is the "LEOs flying Armed" training and program extended so that firearms don't have to be checked.

[MikeG]

That's my point. Why go through proving all the technical details that qualify someone as an LEO, when you don't need to?
.... unless you're planning to do more than just carry a firearm...?

Being legally deemed an LEO means you're also held to all of the rules LEO's are.

I don't think LEOSA deems anyone a LEO. Certainly there are no LEO rules (other than compying with LEOSA and local laws) when traveling outside the jurisdiction. I think an officer might find themselves in some trouble if they use LEOSA as cover for LEO authority outside their jurisdiction.

As I see it, LEOSA is enacted for officer self-defense, not as a law enforcement extension. It's more like a federal CCW exemption. For example, Arizona has no CCW requirement but still issues a card to anyone qualified for reciprocity reasons. Unfortunately not every state has reciprocity. Until LEOSA, state officers would not legally be allowed to carry across the state line to Nevada. With LEOSA, it appears they have the same ability to carry as any Nevadan with a CCW but they are certainly not considered LEO's when they are doing it. They are citizens legally armed with a firearm. I have no problem expanding it to include more and more groups of people.

[9A0K7]

Basically you have to be a qulified boarding officer to act in the capacity to make arrests. The commanding officer is obviously in charge of a unit but he makes the determination and qualifies the boarding officers. So for an example if someone who under 14USC89 (Mainly E-4 and above) wants to become a boarding officer they need to do a few things.

There is a specialized group within the CG called CGI. These guys fall into their own little category, I don't know much about their qualification process. For the other 99% of the CG;

1) Attend and pass the course at FLETC
2) Attain a weapons certification by a small arms intructor
3) Have an interview with the CO when seeking first authorization to carry
4) Be proficient in the CG's use of force policy and complete the Judgmental Use Of Force evaluation
5) Complete a Board type interview, oral and practical.

After those things are done the CO makes the final determination in writing that this person should be given a certification. There isn't reallly a set number of BO's for each unit, it just depends on the unit and how much law enforcement that they do.