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‘Political Correctness Kills!’: TheBlaze Readers Respond to Police Chief Who Said a Gun ‘Is Not a Defensive Weapon’

Feb. 16, 2013 9:51am Madeleine Morgenstern

Readers Respond to Emeryville, California Police Chief Ken James Who Said a Gun Is Not a Defensive Weapon

Emeryville, Calif. police Chief Ken James said a gun “is not a defensive weapon.” (Image source: YouTube)

A California police chief recently opined that a gun “is not a defensive weapon” but rather “an offensive weapon used to intimidate and show power.”

“One issue that always boggles my mind is that the idea that a gun is a defensive weapon,” Emeryville Police Chief Ken James said at a news conference. “That is a myth. A gun is not a defensive weapon. A gun is an offensive weapon used to intimidate and show power.”

TheBlaze asked readers whether they agree with the chief’s statement. Here’s what some of you had to say:

CaptMickeyd
A weapon is a defensive weapon when used in defense. Any weapon is an offensive weapon when used in offense. Whether it be a sword, a grenade, a rocket launcher, or a machine gun mounted on a plane. It is the motive behind the use of the weapon that makes it offense or defense.

The police chief should understand this.

Farmhand82
This guy is a moron of the highest caliber. Is he implying then that every time an officer shoots a suspect he is wrong to do so because guns are offensive weapons rather than defensive? Do the police have free reign to assassinate anyone they want then in this guys mind? The logic he tries to present is bafflingly pathetic to the point of being painful. 55 slain police officers is what he presents as evidence that no guns are ever used defensively because…..? I still can’t wrap my head around what he’s trying to argue.

RX4NV
Is it “defensive” or “offensive” is a matter of perspective. A policeman outwardly carries his weapon (ie gun) to show power and intimidate people away from doing something stupid. So yes, to a cop it is an offensive weapon. However, you are in your home at night and someone is prowling outside your door and barges in, the use of a gun becomes a defensive weapon to save your life. It is not intended to show power or intimidation at this point, but to “defend” your life. This police chief has a biased perspective as a cop. I’m sure if he had ever been in a one on one shoot out with a villain, he would realize he is trying to “defend” his life. The trivial fight over “offensive” versus “defensive” is only political, when it comes to protecting my life or others, semantics don’t help.

BONESIII
Why do the liberals have such a base urge to redefine everything? They describe the same things often, conveying the same meaning, but act as if they are morally outraged that a particular term carrying the identical meaning has been used. It’s all so stupid.

The gun is defensive when used to defend yourself. The police chief described exactly this situation. It is utterly pointless for him then to object to the term.

It would be fair to say a gun is not JUST a defensive weapon, to be clear. But to say “it is not a defensive weapon” is indisputably wrong.

To use an analogy, it would be like acting offended or perplexed that a car is called a “vehicle” or “transportation”, and giving the reason “the car often just its in the parking lot not transporting anything. It is used to get people from point A to point B, NOT for transportation. It is not a vehicle, it’s a box with wheels that we use to move around more easily.” This is exactly what liberals do.
Witness also the similar answers Pelosi and others have recently given in trying to deny that we have spending problems. They then go on to admit in different words (sometimes) that the meaning is correct, but object to the term.

Of course, the real reason they do this is to obscure the issue so they can seem “reasonable” when they sneak in foolish, clearly wrong ideas, also usually re-labelled deceptively, like that they want to raise taxes, or ban guns.

SENDTHEMETERORS
I think he should probably retire. He’s seen and heard about too many cops being killed with armor piercing cop killer bullets, something the NRA strongly supports. He’s probably also against explosive bullets, those bullets that explode when they hit their target, such as those President Reagan and James Brady were hit with. A type of ammo the NRA strongly supports because of the 2nd Amendment.

He definitely should step down. His perspective, like that of most policemen, is to protect innocent citizens. His perspective is all the cops and innocent citizens that have been killed with cop killer and explosive bullets, as well as all those people he’s sworn to protect who have been blown away with high capacity weapons. He’s seen too many brains and too much blood splattered on sidewalks and house walls, and too many gun owners who have killed friends, loved ones and themselves with firearms. He’s jaded and no longer capable of serving.

What he hasn’t seen, evidently, is all those people who have saved lives with semi-automatic high capacity weapons, the patriots who whipped out those bad boys to stop some bad guy during the commission of a crime!

The last person you want to listen too on the gun control issue is a cop! They don’t get it!

OLDPATRIOT55
I’ve been a cop for 40 years and have never heard such dribble in my life! People are alive today because I was there to DEFEND them. Criminals are dead today because a homeowner was armed to DEFEND his home. It’s really as simple as that! Political Correctness Kills!

–

Related:

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

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Comments (251)

JamesG161
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 12:30pm
@GLABAGA
I have been practicing with my pistol and can now shoot only defensively. I can shoot the offensive bullet in flight with my defensive bullets. Pretty good huh? Ooopps I missed with my defensive bullet and knocked out the OFFENDER. Dang! More defensive practice needed.
Actually the problem is education in English. The Chief never passed that course.

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SidneyDave
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 12:17pm
We don’t have a defensive problem, we have an offensive problem. Or a stupid Chief of Police.

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Tom21773
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 10:17am
Chief Ken James is simply a NAZI, using NAZI tactics to control the populace. His mouth is offensive. I hope he’s reading all these comments so he can see the unvarnished, indisputable, undeniable truth about himself.

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BobtheMoron
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 9:52am
Please disarm your police officers, if guns are only offensive weapons. We don’t need the police shooting people at random.

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alex1590
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 9:34am
How come every time the cops shoot and kill someone the DA always calls it justifiable homicide and the cops were acting in self-defense?
At a car show in Carlisle, Pa a few years back, a bunch of cops opened fire and killed a man making threatening gestures with a hammer. What, they couldn’t taser the guy? It sounded to me like the cops went on the offensive even though the DA called it defensive and justifiable.

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TheFederalist
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:36am
….. a gun “is not a defensive weapon” but rather “an offensive weapon used to intimidate and show power.”

Really! Well, in that case, then the California police need to turn in their weapons and start using water guns to defend themselves against the criminals. The water guns will intimidate the bad guys.

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StonyBurk
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:24am
I left a love note with the local police expressing how I worry about the Officers his comments will have put at risk.Any cop that wears all that hard- wear to intimidate idiots is begging to have some idiot afraid to take a risk –fire first. The fact that the numbers of Officers lost is not higher suggests the Cal Chief is a LIAR. I am not impressed by ANY who come trying to intimidate me –or bully me. But if they know why they come and are willing to express reasonably what they want me to do — I generally will comply But my attitude will reflect their own. If they want my respect they will respect me. If they ant me to fear them– well fear is just a breath away from one trained to run to the sound of the guns….and push on through any freaking ambush.

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sbenard
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 7:46am
No one who sees a gun as “an offensive weapon used to intimidate and show power” should EVER hold elective office. This guy is a tyrant masquerading as a “peace officer”. It is frightening to think that there are officials who see their role in law enforcement as one of “intimidation” and “showing power”. If he is teaching his officers to think this way, a police state can not be far behind!

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RichEG
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 7:18am
If you are asked
“Why do you need carry a gun”
simply respond
“Because a cop is too heavy”.

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Jaracing2
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 7:03am
Hey is that DIRT DIGLER???

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FightingBear
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 7:03am
What difference does it make if someone classifies a weapon as offensive or defensive.

The right to bear arms shall not be infringed.

The constitution doesn’t say that if a weapon is an offensive weapon then the right to bear arms can be infringed….if makes no difference.

It is unbelievable that the conversation is even taking place because the “shall not be infringed” means there will be no discussion, no debate, no legislation, no executive orders…nothing can take away our constitutional right to bear arms.

Call it what you want…offensive…defensive…it makes no difference because they simply vannot take them away from us. Period!

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Handicamper
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 5:03am
There’s an old adage, “…a good defense is a strong offensive…” I believe law enforcement works under and promoats this image.

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calmandcents
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 4:15am
I am really glad that I don’t live in Emeryville cuz Police Chief Ken James has got to be the stupidest Chief in California. However, I do live in California and ALL police in this state are for the most part only about THEIR unions. I don’t think that that will be real to most until it’s all on the line.

LIKE ALL PRIOR COME-AND-GONE UNIONS, THEY WILL PROBABLY GO DOWN WITH THEIR SHIP!

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The Crismil
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 12:31am
The city better take a serious look at firing this idiot! He just opened his department up to serious legal action. If he’s stating that his officers are using weapons in offense rather than to protect under Supreme Court rulings, he’s making a blanket statement that his officers are trained to use firearms in a manner outside of the law. I’m not an attorney, but even I could make a case if one of his officers has been or ever is involved in a shooting. Someone’s gonna make some SERIOUS $$$$ if they keep him.

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toto
Posted on February 16, 2013 at 11:26pm
Morons advanced to positions of power are dangerous. We seem to have created a whole society of them because racial preferences lowered the standards for all. The dumbed down ignorant society we have created doesn’t recognize excellence and common sense as standards any more. Thus we have men like this as Police Chiefs. God help us all.

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- Tachy320
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:23am
  You are exactly right. Those that do the the job, like it and stay as a street cop. The one’s who you see driving the opposite direction when you are going to the call seem to be the one’s who want to be in charge. It’s not how things should be done, but we see it everywhere from McDonalds to our govt. I loved being a policeman. I didn’t want to ruin by promoting.
  
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obadiah5660
Posted on February 16, 2013 at 9:50pm
I am telling you now buy a gun, if you are squeamish about guns, imagine yourself , in close quarter combat with your hands, feet and teeth; That is your only option Besides dying. Scissors or a knife will improve survival, if you have knowledge, the ability to use the most extreme violence you can imagine and brute strength pull it off. Even the best trained men in the world fear this type of fighting it is very personal and bloody. Ask any vet, prison guard, ex-con, inmate, gang member or police officer. Hand to hand fight to the death and it will be if you start it will be a picture that will not leave you no matter how justified. If you can run, run, if not shoot and if you have to too save your life or someone else’s fight. It boils down to beating someone to death, gutting them or putting a hole in them. That is your only choice. An alarm or 911 will get you help in minutes when seconds count. You decide. To DHS, News media, politicians’ and the big thinkers it is academic but is very personal

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idontknow3
Posted on February 16, 2013 at 9:36pm
Hitler’s Gestapo is alive and well in California. I’m talking the Gestapo and the SS mentality. The Gestapo and SS foot soldier were made to believe that they truly were doing something good for their country. But, as it is said “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”. In America there are no good intentions relevant to the desires of government. The “governed” need to understand that is their responsibility to continually monitor and when necessary purge the government of bad fruit. Police departments need to understand that they work for the governed not the government. But, when corruptible people work for the police and the government and the government is where the police get much of their funding then it’s not too difficult to understand that the government can exercise leverage on the police departments – especially when that government is progressive, liberal minded and believe that they know what is best for American society regardless of what the Constitution and the Bill Rights says. Being a well armed society is the only way to guarantee the government will understand that they exist at the behest of the governed. The only control the governed have over corruption and keeping the government from overpowering the governed is the voting booth and being well armed. When the voting booth itself becomes corrupt then, well, it is what it is.

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- idontknow3
  Posted on February 16, 2013 at 9:37pm
  Notice that in the above comment there is no discussion of the “Fourth Estate”. The American fourth estate, in general, have decidedly chosen to promote the Obama government agenda. Not too unlike what the German press, and other news outlets at the time, did to promote or at the least defend Hitler and his “Third Reich”. The Constitutional purpose of the fourth estate is to keep the governed well informed of the goings on of the government. They are to aggressively question every discussion, conversation or action to assure absolute adherence to Constitutional restrictions. The Constitution is a set of RESTRICTIONS on government. The corrupted officials in government, elected and non elected, will have you to believe the Constitution is just a set of guidelines to be altered and changed based on the whims of society. This was not true 234 years ago and it is absolutely not true today and will not be true 234 years from today. It is the responsibility of the fourth estate to report to the governed who the corrupt officials are, what they are doing, etc. I mean this is basic who, what, where, when and why. Sadly, instead, all we get from media is entertainment news of the politicians. No one, I mean, no one, in the 21st century fourth estate will provide any information about government of any benefit to the governed.
  
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Ryter
Posted on February 16, 2013 at 9:06pm
If I were a lawyer I would promptly review any and all interaction the chief had with cases involving persons defending themselves with firearms. I’m willing to bet it would only take a person with a junior high education to find discrimination according to the chiefs interpretation of the law rather than the proper intention of laws when citizens defend themselves with firearms.

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ZIJA777-G7
Posted on February 16, 2013 at 9:02pm
POLICE CHIEF KEN JAMES MAKES PUBLIC STATEMENT THAT MAY INCREASE CIVIL LIABILITY ON POLICE AGENCIES IN OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING CASES.

Ken James, Chief of Police, Emeryville, CA states that a gun is not a defensive weapon, yet police agencies are able to defend against lawsuits involving police shootings when individual officers operate within written “USE OF FORCE” polices. Every “USE OF FORCE” policy includes provisions allowing an officer to use a firearm to DEFEND himself or a third person from imminent death or great bodily harm.

Ken James says use of a gun is not defensive, therefore invalidating the “USE OF FORCE” policy of police agencies in the nation and exposing both the agencies and individual officers to “excessive force” lawsuits. Progressive Attorneys can now make the argument anytime an there is a police shooting that the officer did not follow policy or that the policy is invalid because (according to Ken James) it is impossible to DEFEND with a firearm.

In one loose statement Ken James has increased liability on police agencies around the nation and made it harder for individual officers to do their job. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGeD4PDk9gA

Please contact POLICE CHIEF KEN JAMES and ask him to retract this statement.
Ken James
Chief of Police
E-Mail Police Department
police_department@ci.emeryville.ca.us
Ph: (510) 596-3700
2449 Powell Street
Emeryville, CA 94608

Also contact the City Officials and complain about how th

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- DeOppressoLiber
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 12:54am
  Sorry he told the truth, police do use their position and being armed as a show of force and power to deter people from breaking the law. The courts have also said the police are there to enforce the laws not provide protection, Warren vs DC.
  
  This is the truth and our Founding Fathers had this debate at the constitutional conventions that is why we have a 2nd Amendment so we armed citizens can have a check and balance on local, state, and federal power.
  
  You do your part as a LE to support the constitution and I will do my part as an armed citizen to support it, welcome to the detente that our Founding Fathers set up.
  
  If we meet I will buy coffee if you are on duty or drinks if you are off.
  
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DoOrDie
Posted on February 16, 2013 at 8:53pm
Maybe a thug will do a home invasion on this cop and let’s see him try and talk his way out of it instead of using his offensive weapon.

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garbagecanlogic
Posted on February 16, 2013 at 8:47pm
AND, then he sez, my underarms don’t stink, it’s just that my deororant isn’t working.

Praise Be To Obama. Psalm 109:8

The U.N. Out Of The U.S.
The U.S. Out Of The U.N.

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BehindBlueEyes
Posted on February 16, 2013 at 7:49pm
I love the way they line up the supporting morons behind the cop for the photo op. Reminds me of the typical photo op for the commie in chief.

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iroquois
Posted on February 16, 2013 at 7:29pm
Why is that Police Chief on duty to day. That is to stupid. Another Government Communist working against the American People. When are the people going to wake up?

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Bro Geo Too
Posted on February 16, 2013 at 7:20pm
`
I was pleasantly surprised by tonight’s (02-16-13) NBC national news story detailing the huge jump in handgun purchases by women. Emeryville Police Chief Ken James needs to pull his head out of his derriere and realize men AND women are purchasing firearms for protection.

Chief James should be removed from his post due to gross incompetence or lying to the people he swore to protect.

If you are reading these posts, chief James, you are a pathetic waste of a badge.

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Tmaster
Posted on February 16, 2013 at 7:06pm
This is typical we saw it at the hearings. Democrats appoint these people and tell them what to say and then it looks like its coming from law enforcement when its not. Its all fake.

Take a real anonymous pool from real police officers and you will find it doesn’t match what these appointed guys say.

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