[SPOCAHP ANAR]

I agree with Troy and Billy. In larger urban settings civilians with guns are the ENEMY. If you show up with a gun they will likely sieze it and or detain you also.

Seriously would anyone walk up the the SF or LA police and say "Here's my gun I'm here to help!"

[Coeloptera]

Gotta go with Idaho Dave here. Metro PD here in Vegas wouldn't want me out there complicating things. I'd stick to my neighborhood, and it's fortunate I live right near the westernmost edge of town, people are unlikely to head my way in a SHTF situation.

If they come by and I see they need help, I'd gladly do it. They come by and try to confiscate firearms...they best come in numbers. I have armed friends, after all.

- Coeloptera

[FutureMarine9]

i think it would be different if you have a close friend/relative in the police force and they know you and trust you

[billy]

i DO have buddies in my local police dept.
and they would tell me to
STAY HOME!

some folks need to realize that they are never going to get to shoot people without joining the military.

[Broadside]

Help the police?

Never, never, never! The thing you have to remember is that in the event the police are outnumbered, running around trying deperately to contain whatever havoc is occurring at the moment, they're probably going to be just a tad on edge. The second my dumb a.. tries to show up as his "back up" is most likely the second before my darling wife becomes a widow. From what I've seen and the police that I've talked to, most of them think the public are just a nuisance to be contained. Granted I live in a fairly high crime/poverty filled area, but I don't see the "To Protect and Serve" mentality around here now, let alone if the balloon were to go up.

No way brother. I'm staying on this side of the grass.

[damage855]

I guess I have been sheltered to much in my little rual county here the vast majority of police sheriff's deputy's ect. are willing to help and not so willing to turn away when things go bad. now granted we have never had a true "disaster" in these parts. but i have run across many people and i fell a good judge of charactor and can tell when someone is there to help out or cause problems. then again mabey its like i said earlier i might not get out enough........

[LarryO1970]

Quote:       Originally Posted by dscrick

I have alot of respect for law Enforcement personnel and would render assistance to them any time it is required. In any civil unrest situation it would be easy for a solo officer to get outnumbered by the bad guys pretty quick, as law abiding citizens I think we have a duty to aid an officer in trouble, he/she would risk thier neck to help you! Would I strap on my Tac gear and head down to the Sherrif's office and volunteer? NO. If they need help they'll ask, they know I have my CCW. That said, if the law comes looking to take my weapons (New Orleans style) there will be a....Discussion.

I agree Chief. Hey... when the SHTF, we all should be willing to help the law enforcement types since they WILL be outnumbered. As a military cop (14 years) I'll take any help I can get. Showing up armed is never good... at least no brandishing a weapon. We did see that after Katrina and the State Govt. took away the 2nd Amendment... illegally. I hope they hang for it...

Moving right along, make sure that the LE types know who you are and what you want to do before getting your gun. That works great in a perfect world, but we don't live on that one.

Unarmed assistance is probably the best... considering you will not have to deal with a deadly force issue after the fact by attorneys who have no clue to start with. When it truly comes down to it, did you fear for your life? Were you armed, and looking for a fight? These are questions they will ask.

IF your state allows CCW permits, great... defend yourself but be sure to announce yourself to the LE guys. We do not need fratricide.

IF the SHTF and it enters your home or property, according to some jurisdictions, you have to ... and are required to flee. .. even in my home state of Wisconsin. Frankly, I'd rather be tried than carried, so I will drop someone in a heartbeat if they threaten my wife, myself or my home. If they fall out the window, I will drag them back in. End of story.

Sometimes you really need to do what you gotta do... but understand that the anti-gunners and misguided lawyers are going to attempt prosecution. Have your ducks in a row.... don't give them the "in" to bury you in a small cell for life.

[JSosbe]

I'd like to thank everybody for contributing, I really appreciate the input. I would like to clear up what I meant when I originally posted. First, I live in a rural community of less than 20,000 people. I grew up with some of the cops, and the older ones are my father's friends. I am also a relative of the sheriff. If I did try to help, my first action would be to leave all wepons in the vehicle, walk in and ask if they need help. If the answer is no, I leave them contact information and go home. If yes I do what they ask, whether its help in the field (unlikely) or if they want somebody to put on a pot of coffee. I'd offer them use of weapons and ammunition if they ran short, whether its me behind the sights, or hopefully a well trained, responsible officer. I don't reckon folks in cities would want to get into the kind of mess that helping can cause, and with some of the bad plays our government has made in the past like in new Orleans, I can't blame you. I just thought it was something that some folks may not have thought about yet, and might give it a minute's thought if the situation ever came up.

Oh yeah, and Billy, I hope I speak for most everybody here when I say that one of my prayers everyday is that I never am in a situation where I have to shoot someone, I carry a gun because some men don't have any qualms about hurting me or my family. It's an awe inspiring responsibility to carry a weapon, never assume anybody wants to shoot someone.

[billy]

thank you for the clarification.
i live in a rural area also.
and they dont want/need my help.
(these folks are friends of mine)

[SPOCAHP ANAR]

The lone cop outnumbered scenario I think is a practical one regardless of SHTF. This scenario would be one in which I am sure most law abiding gun owners would lend a hand to assist if needed.

[Idaho Dave]

there is less then 4500 (just checked) people in my whole county and I know most of the cops on a first name basis but I stand by staying home and out of thier way, as well as risk possible prosecution

[big boomer]

Call in your offer of help. They may not want or need you. First off most people are not trained on how to react to a situation. Second off you have no way to id your self as the good guy instead of the bad guy(no uniform) I have been activated for 3 riots and a tornado and civilians with guns were not what we wanted we wanted everyone to stay away from the area.

[Momoney567]

My best friend's uncle got killed by a shit for brains cop with a taser.
Non lethal my ass.

[mym1a]

At least here in NY you do have a right to defend your self in your home.

not that I blame them, but if things got that bad, what makes you think they wouldn't be busy taking care of their own??? family friends?

[Showpare]

A cop was at our gun range membership meeting last Fall. He said, he would prefer that citizens call 911 if they see a cop in trouble. I took it as anyone one in civilian clothing=potential threat.

[mym1a]

Quote:       Originally Posted by Showpare

A cop was at our gun range membership meeting last Fall. He said, he would prefer that citizens call 911 if they see a cop in trouble. I took it as anyone one in civilian clothing=potential threat.

or possibly being preceived as a threat to the other responding officers????I guess it would be bad PR if a civilian was shot for helping a PO???I'm sure generaly a civilian would be considered in the way!besides calling for assistance/back up before doing anything else is the wisest thing to do if you can?

[nathangdad]

First, have a plan and a place in ADVANCE to store, protect, and most important of all - HIDE
your total inventory of firearms and supplies.

Second, if you wish and can then offer to help.

Third - never mention to anyone other than
someone who might be your closest and
most trusted surviving relative if
something should happen to you the
what and where of your inventory.

Even local police have too much allegiance to
directives, emergency plans, etc. and not enough allegiance to the people they serve who might wish to help them. Sad. but true.

[meatloaf]

LOL not talking about all leos in my area (lakewood CO) but

Quote:       Originally Posted by meatloaf

LOL not talking about all leos in my area (lakewood CO) but

I have seen some at the shooting range and they are terrible shots. I would help anyone that I could in SHTF, but I wouldnt walk up to the PD station I might catch a stray bullet on my way. Realy im not kidding I dont know what is passing for their firearms test but they should up the qualyfying score. I don't consider my self a marksman by anymeans but compared to these leos I saw I could try out for the olympics. It truly made me sad and scared.

[mym1a]

2 winters ago my friend and I ,who is a retired PO was at our club shooting I was taking a smoke when I observed a state trooper parked in front of our vehicle which was parked on the side of the road,he was there for several minutes I assume he was running the plates, well I went back to shooting, shot one round safely hiting the target,I then observed the trooper departing the area within a few sconds he returned this time parking behind our vehicle exiting his patrol car and walking down the entrance road to our range, when he was at what he thought was a clear sight of us his hand was on his service pistol and ordering us away from the shooting bench, I complied with his directive while my friend kept shooting, the trooper appeared to be a little nervous and for what ever reason didn't push the issue with my friend. the trooper wanted to know if we owned this land? and what were we doing?? well obvious to me we were shooting but???? after showing him some id and explaining to him that this was a gun club he appeared much calmer,I guess the point I want to make that ,if either us wanted to hurt that young trooper we could have had him before he exited his car!!!!!! I can appreciate his wanting to go home at the end of his shift. oh I suppose I could have run my mouth and told him he was on private property!!! bla bla but a little diplomacy never hurts!we invited him to shoot but he declined.he went his way and we continued to shoot, I know some guys that would of given him a hard time, so I can understand why some cops have attitudes when they deal with john Q Public

[mos19k]

Quote:       Originally Posted by meatloaf

LOL not talking about all leos in my area (lakewood CO) but I have seen some at the shooting range and they are terrible shots. I would help anyone that I could in SHTF, but I wouldnt walk up to the PD station I might catch a stray bullet on my way. Realy im not kidding I dont know what is passing for their firearms test but they should up the qualyfying score. I don't consider my self a marksman by anymeans but compared to these leos I saw I could try out for the olympics. It truly made me sad and scared.

I know that several police departments have gone to a simple pass/no pass firearms test. The main reason for this is due to shooting scores being used against them in civil law suits. But I know what you mean, I see them at the range all the time and very few of them are good shots.