Law Enforcement Lobby Opposed to Gun Control
The Law Enforcement Lobby, a California-based pro-gun police organization, wants to hear from other members of the law enforcement community who share the view that armed citizens are an asset to public safety. The organization's agenda includes:
Non-Discretionary Concealed Carry Permits for Civilians: LEL supports the general issuance of CCW's to civilians for the purposes of self-defense against violent crime. LEL recognizes that law abiding citizens have a right to self-protection especially during that brief interval between when a threat emerges and when law enforcement arrives on the scene. Whether that threat emerges at a traffic light, in an office building, at a restaurant, or a school groun LEL recognizes that the window of opportunity to prevent great tragedy and loss of life is too narrow for conventional law enforcement to be of any use. LEL knows that during this "brief interval", civilians have no one but themselves to rely upon. We believe that it is essential that law enforcement respect the rights of law abiding citizens to possess the means to protect themselves.
Better Firearms Training as the Path to Accident Prevention: The Law Enforcement Lobby recognizes that ignorance about the safe handling of firearms is a major health hazard in society. Just like any tool, a gun is only safe in the hands of someone with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes for proper operation of that tool. That's why LEL supports skills oriented firearms training for all citizens, especially for children and their parents. We believe that this type of training will save lives, particularly young lives. LEL supports the incorporation of skills oriented firearms training into the school curriculum with special emphasis on the involvement of parents in both the teaching and learning process.
Opposition to Semi-Automatic Assault Weapon Bans: The Law Enforcement Lobby takes the position that semi-automatic assault weapon bans are worthless as tools of crime prevention. LEL opposes such laws on the following grounds:
Community Alienation Test: Bans serve to alienate law abiding citizens from the police. This hurts our relationship with up to thirty percent (30%) of the communities we serve. This means that, rather than reducing crime, these laws create rifts between law enforcement and the community resulting in greater sanctuary for criminals. An angry citizenry means that public cooperation will not be forthcoming when we need it most. LEL recognizes that the community, especially its law abiding owners, is an ally in the fight against crime; not the enemy.
Criminal Preference Test: The arguments against semi-automatic weapons are based on images not facts. In fact, there are compelling technical arguments why these guns are less than ideal for use in criminal activities. They are excessively bulky, produce too loud a report, and require too much precision for use in covert engagements. These guns have however come to possess romantic appeal thanks mainly to the way the media has promoted their image.
Legitimate Use Test: LEL recognizes that there are many purposes for semi-automatic weapons including sporting, self-defense and patriotic uses. LEL further recognizes the legitimacy of all three of these uses. Finally, LEL recognizes that law enforcement officers are among the people who own and use these weapons for all three purposes.
First Amendment Interference Test: LEL supports the view that those who promote firearms bans based on arbitrary criteria are not interested in crime prevention at all but rather in punishing law abiding people for having differing political beliefs from themselves. LEL takes the position that this is both an affront to all citizens First Amendment Rights to political self- expression and creates unnecessary hazards for law enforcement professionals.
The Law Enforcement Lobby wants to hear your views. We especially want to hear from others in the law enforcement community. Send your messages to us via Internet at LEL-OPINION@tws.com. This electronic mail address can be reached from all commercial services such as Prodigy, GEnie, Compuserve, America OnLine and MCIMail as well as from Fidonet gateways and all Internet sites. Please make copies of this survey notice and pass it on to others.
For more information on The Law Enforcement Lobby contact Leroy Pyle at (408)947-7687.
LEL-OPINION survey administration is provided to the Law Enforcement Lobby by Telecommuter WorkSystems Outreach Services. To use this service for your organization's opinion surveys or to access to opinion results please contact SERVICE-DESK@tws.com or call (310)676-3300.
Editor's note: This post was from the early 1990s, so the contact information is likely no longer correct.