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California Police Chief: ‘A Gun Is Not a Defensive Weapon — That Is a Myth’

Feb. 14, 2013 5:52pm Jason Howerton

Earlier this month, Emeryville, Calif. Police Chief Ken James argued that a gun is not a “defensive weapon” but rather an “offensive weapon used to intimidate and used to show power.”

“One issue that always boggles my mind is that the idea that a gun is a defensive weapon,” he said. “That is a myth. A gun is not a defensive weapon.”

He was speaking during a press conference promoting strict gun laws in California. James is also the chairman of the Police Chief Association’s Firearms Committee.

“A gun is an offensive weapon used to intimidate and show power,” James added. “Police officers don’t carry a gun as a defensive weapon to defend themselves or their other officers. They carry a gun to be able to do their job in a safe and effective manner and face any oppositions we may come upon.”

California Police Chief: A Gun Is Not a Defensive Weapon That Is a Myth

(YouTube)

He went on: “If it was a defensive measure, why did we lose 55 officers nationwide last year to gun violence? And unfortunately, in just the two months of this year so far, we have lost two officers to gun violence in the state of California alone…We are asking and have been asking for reasonable regulations, not that are going to impact the legal gun owner.”

Those reasonable regulations include a ban on semi-automatic rifles, high capacity magazines and universal background checks. Lawmakers in California — and now Missouri — have also proposed legislation that includes potential confiscation of semi-automatic rifles.

Do you agree that a gun is not a “defensive” weapon?

(H/T: Washington Examiner)

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

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Comments (823)

stinkycheese
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 6:43pm
According to homeland security a pair of scissors is an optimal defensive weapon not a gun.

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Charles Curtis
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 6:41pm
Most nominations being accepted for the IGNORANT Police Chief in America!
You Win Emeryville Calif. Police Chief Ken James!

If you live in California, send a single RESPECTFUL message to the officials that have oversight of this individual, as to how you feel about such off the rails officers.

Asher, Jacqueline Vice Mayor jasher@emeryville.org (510) 596-4376 press 3
Atkin, Ruth Council Member ratkin@ci.emeryville.ca.us (510) 596-4376 Press 5
Brinkman, Kurt Mayor kbrinkman@ci.emeryville.ca.us (510) 596-4376 Press 7
Davis, Nora Council Member ndavis@ci.emeryville.ca.us (510) 596-4376 Press 4
West, Jennifer Council Member jwest@emeryville.org (510) 596-4376 Press 6

O’Keeffe, Patrick City Manager pokeeffe@emeryville.org (510) 596-4371

Then POLITELY ask the chief to resign.
James, Ken Police Chief kjames@emeryvillepolice.us (510) 596-3705

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- Mineman_tate
  Posted on February 14, 2013 at 6:59pm
  FYI: in The People’s Republic of California, Police Chiefs are appointed, not elected for a 2-4 year term like a Sheriff…What does that mean? That ULTRA lib mayors/city councils/city managers, can appoint anybody they like to police chief…like an ultralib/antigun/anti-american guy who does the will of his appointees.
  
  Report this comment
Mineman_tate
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 6:41pm
FYI: in The People’s Republic of California, Police Chiefs are appointed, not elected for a 2-4 year term like a Sheriff…What does that mean? That ULTRA lib mayors/city councils/city managers, can appoint anybody they like to police chief…like an ultralib/antigun/anti-american guy who does the will of his appointees.

For those of you not familiar with Emeryville, It’s in the Oakland/Richmond/San Francisco Triangle, full of libs, hippies, anti-gun, anti-cop freaks who are in a constant battle with each other to hire police officers. One reason Oakland/Emeryville/Richmond, can’t get new cops is that cops in Oakland/Richmond/Emeryville, are constantly, daily, outgunned, and in gun battles with gangs, cartels, and the rejects of San Fran. I lived and worked in downtown Oakland…strange, but for some reason I didn’t go out at night. And the Oakland cop who lived in my building, RAN for his life from his car to the lobby entrance every single day. Quiet honestly, the area is the Chicago of California.

It’s another example of, “All the is necessary for evil to triumph, is for good people to stand idle and do nothing.” Except that the good people here, have been disarmed, and filled with fear for their lives. It’s ridiculous.

I moved to Reno, NV, the only state in the union where you can legally buy and possess law enforcement, and military mark weapons. In this city, the cops know that we’re likely to come to their aid if they need help rather than attack t

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Patriot Z
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 6:38pm
“They carry a gun to be able to do their job in a safe and effective manner and face any oppositions we may come upon.”

Which by definition makes it a DEFENSIVE weapon. he should know that a weapon CAN be both offensive AND defensive at the same time. Im not going out with my gun and shooting people at random..thats offensive. however when a person attacks me and i draw my weapon to DEFEND myself, that makes it DEFENSIVE. next police carry their weapons on the outside. however, however most citizens use a concealed carry..aka cannot be seen aka cannot be used as a visual deterrant(offensive) weapon. can someone please send chief james an icepack, cause it must have hurt him something awful when pulled this statement from his ass!

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maggiepie
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 6:38pm
What kind of training does this guy have. As a former law enforcement officer, we were taught hand to
hand combat for DEFENSIVE purposes and firearms training to defend ourselves. We were taught shoot to stop to DEFEND ourselves. I don’t know what this guy is smoking.

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skyguy51
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 6:36pm
Another party faithful political hack who likes his cushy desk job and fat salary. This clown has the mindset of the Sheriff of Nottingham!

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The Big Mick
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 6:36pm
Show of hands. Who still thinks “common ground” and “coming together” is possible with POS like KennyJim? He and those who think like him, are Tyrants, Tyrant Wannabes, or Tyrant Enablers who care not a fig for YOUR God Endowed Unalienable Individual Rights, nor for The Constitution or The Republic created SOLELY to SECURE those rights. They are, in the way they think, the core values they hold, NAZIS. National Socialist Collectivist STATISTS.

THIS is the INSTITUTIONAL MINDSET of the LaPed that made it impossible to respect THEM in their Incompetence, Cowardice, Poor Fire Discipline, Disregard of Life and Property, GANG Like Lust for Vengence for “one of their own, as if THOSE they Swore to PROTECT and SERVE are NOT “their own” , DISRESPECT of the Ordinary Citizen for whose killer they would NEVER offer 1 million….all of that LOWERING their Integrity and Legitimacy even when one HATED the Self-Entitled Black Racist they were looking to Kill, never capture.
The Ballad of Chris Doornob was a Tale without Heroes. All unpitied victims in a contemptable struggle.
And JimmyKen here is a POSTER CHILD for the “‘tude”.

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hades3
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 6:36pm
This guy is an idiot’ Californians are at a greater risk of becoming a crime victim, since the court
forced thousands of prisoners to be released due to “prison overcrowding” What would you guess caused “prison overcrowding “? Duuh…….crime. How many of the releases are “legal “gun owners ?
Duuh……..my guess, not one. If registration was required, who many “illegal” gun owners would comply ? My guess, not one. At that point, how would law enforcement know how many criminals would have guns ? There would be no way too know, until we became victims. I’m amazed daily at stupid comments made by those in government at every level.

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ElDeVerde
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 6:35pm
@sidneydave- there isn’t anything good in Californication.

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CathyvanDyke
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 6:34pm
Suzanna Gratia Hupp explains meaning of 2nd Amendment!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1u0Byq5Qis

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/02/14/famous-luby-massacre-survivor-to-senate-im-not-a-victim-of-guns-but-of-lawmakers-who-legislated-me-out-of-the-right-to-protect-myself-and-my-family/

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loafer4952
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 6:34pm
Time for the big one in Calf. So we can get rid of these idiots.

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South Philly Boy
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 6:34pm
a STOOGE

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ElDeVerde
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 6:33pm
These so called “police chiefs” are only politically appointed shills for the people in charge. They are not cops but they are marionetts who perform how and when they are told to do so by their handler. Much like most military officers. In the land of Californification cadamites they are prolific just as they are in the yankee states. Jean Dixon predicted that CA would have the “big one” and fall into the ocean. I keep waiting with bated breath for the good news.

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Wyld_goose
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 6:33pm
Why are these cops trying to start a war?

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semihardrock
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 6:31pm
GOOD TO KNOW!………..Now please remove your weapon from your person…… effective immediately!

There will be no more need for LA Cops to carry weapons anymore…..”Guns are NOT defensive weapons”

They only end up shooting each other anyway!

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pissantno.10
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 6:31pm
and i bet he thinks pot and a little cocain are groove

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- Patriot Z
  Posted on February 14, 2013 at 9:35pm
  well that is groovy…but he is still wrong on guns…hehehe. ya cant blame
  
  COCAINE SAYS: “HEY dont blame me, he was already this stupid waaayyyy before i got there!”
  
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The_Fifth_Column
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 6:30pm
This man is a complete idiot, and doesn’t deserve to wear a Badge. His oath of office was nearly the same as mine. He is bound by oath to defend the Constitution of the United States, not make it up as he goes. If he believes that an Officer carries a weapon to intimidate the Citizens, and “Show Power”, he clearly has issues that should forbid him, or any Officer that thinks this way from carrying a weapon.

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SidneyDave
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 6:30pm
Just be thankful he is not our Secretary of Defense. Maybe you good people of California should demand that your police officers give up all the offensive weapons. Would that make you feel safer?

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christhefanatic
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 6:29pm
California has a hippie governor , and a hippie state legislature… Leave it to California to have a hippie police chief.

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Gladileftcalifornia
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 6:28pm
Whenever people ask my reasons for leaving California I direct them to articles such as this.

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nilo
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 6:27pm
You don;t say chief? Well my gun is versatile — it is offensive and defensive. Yours may not be, but my works both ways. I don’t ever want to have to prove its versatility.

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hades3
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 6:26pm
So what he is saying is that police should not be able too use their weapons too defend themselves.
I wonder what he thinks a civilian should use for defense ? Oh, I forgot. They should use scissors.
Dumb me !

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Warpath18
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 6:25pm
Guess what there Chief Skippy, I am the law in my house and I will intimidate whomever I choose in it. If you are not welcome in my home (which you are not; I don’t allow morons in), I will not only shoot you to protect my family and my belongings, but I will go back to bed afterwards and sleep easily until the morning. You do not protect my home; I do. You just file the report afterwards, and go back to the business of driving around in circles, talking on your cell phone, hitting on badge bunnies and the dispatchers, and eating doughnuts. Now, piss off, mindless twit.

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Carbine
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 6:25pm
This fool is just a democrat shill. When he turns in all his weapons and those of ALL of his officers we’ll talk…..not a moment before. What an a$$! CA should be given back to Mexico. We could bury that country in debt and stupidity at the same time!

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high school drop out
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 6:23pm
ATTENTION ALL IDIOTS! You have a new king!

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- wordsofwisdom
  Posted on February 14, 2013 at 11:53pm
  Soooooo this means that if a cop gets shot at it is to late to defend him self with his gun because it failed to intimidate whom ever shot at him. Soooooo he must give up & let the shooter kill him right!!!!!!!!! Because his gun is not a defensive weapon. I’m so confused???? but hear’s a song for you“The Devils Song” http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_10789987
  May clear it up in your mind.
  
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- American1969
  Posted on February 16, 2013 at 1:33am
  LOL! Excellent!
  
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