Background: For over 25 years I have been a “hobby cop” for the local Sheriff’s Office. Most of that time has been in the aviation support division. I have enjoyed it. When the flying ran out in the Navy Reserve it provided a tactical outlet for the void the Navy left. The flying is fun and the guys great. But now I am on the fence about my continued participation. This morning I drove an hour and 15 minutes to the range for my annual firearms qualification. It was the second attempt. They canceled the last date so I had to go out of my way to make this date work. Only after sitting through over an hour of range safety and Sop lecture I have heard dozens of times, I am told I can’t shoot. Seems my Sig P228 is now not authorized! I had seen the memo that announced that only 9mm and .45 would be authorized after 1JUL15 and read the paragraph that restricted guns with less than 4” barrels to full time deputies in plain clothes or off duty after 1MAY this year. I never dreamed my P228 was less than 4” or they would adopt a rule that exclude such a fine weapon, and others. Its exterior dimensions are the same as others with 4” barrels. Sure enough, my barrel is 3.8 inches. I have an H&K USP Compact that has a 4” barrel, but it is a .40 so will be illegal 1JUL15. So I asked about a 9mm barrel conversion for my USP. Fine they said, but only until next summer. After 1JUL15 ONLY striker fired weapons and 1911 style .45s will be permitted. I just gave my Glock 19 to my son when he got married and moved away.
I am sure most of you are thinking, great, an excuse to buy a gun. Well, me too, for a while. On the long drive home I just got to thinking what a bunch a BS it has become, and expensive. I feel like some of you guys on active duty feel. Is it worth it? Although not affecting me, they have recently decreed that everyone will have to complete the firearms academy and carry a weapon when on duty. Most of the volunteer pilots in my unit are not firearms qualified. Policy is they NEVER leave the aircraft. Not a rotor head, I fly as a tactical Flight Officer running the LE mission. We do get out. Pilots, never. Some deputy pilots don’t even carry their weapon in the aircraft. So why fvck with us? What is the point? The firearms change is unbelievably costly to nearly half of the volunteers and deputies. Lots of guys carry .40 S&W. Lots of compact Sigs and others that come up short. Because of a bogus lawsuit the court has ordered all of us to undergo 2 days of training on how to be unbiased. Imagine SAPR being two days long! Of course the court sets the dates so they are all on week days, something most volunteer types can’t hack without taking a vacation day. Volunteers are quitting because of it. On top all that, due to some politics, the flying opportunities for me have dwindled. There is more. I won’t bore you with the rest. Lots of you are having or recently had the some internal debate about the Navy. Comments, insights, suggestions? Stay or go?
Oh, so if I get a new gun, I want a compact similar to the P228 (to minimize duty holster and vest expenditures). I like the S&W M&Ps and have shot the XDs as well. Have to make sure it has a 4” barrel. Not interested in the 1911. I have one and I am not too crazy about its use in everyday LE. Any suggestions?
I am sure most of you are thinking, great, an excuse to buy a gun. Well, me too, for a while. On the long drive home I just got to thinking what a bunch a BS it has become, and expensive. I feel like some of you guys on active duty feel. Is it worth it? Although not affecting me, they have recently decreed that everyone will have to complete the firearms academy and carry a weapon when on duty. Most of the volunteer pilots in my unit are not firearms qualified. Policy is they NEVER leave the aircraft. Not a rotor head, I fly as a tactical Flight Officer running the LE mission. We do get out. Pilots, never. Some deputy pilots don’t even carry their weapon in the aircraft. So why fvck with us? What is the point? The firearms change is unbelievably costly to nearly half of the volunteers and deputies. Lots of guys carry .40 S&W. Lots of compact Sigs and others that come up short. Because of a bogus lawsuit the court has ordered all of us to undergo 2 days of training on how to be unbiased. Imagine SAPR being two days long! Of course the court sets the dates so they are all on week days, something most volunteer types can’t hack without taking a vacation day. Volunteers are quitting because of it. On top all that, due to some politics, the flying opportunities for me have dwindled. There is more. I won’t bore you with the rest. Lots of you are having or recently had the some internal debate about the Navy. Comments, insights, suggestions? Stay or go?
Oh, so if I get a new gun, I want a compact similar to the P228 (to minimize duty holster and vest expenditures). I like the S&W M&Ps and have shot the XDs as well. Have to make sure it has a 4” barrel. Not interested in the 1911. I have one and I am not too crazy about its use in everyday LE. Any suggestions?