Question to Law Enforcement: Carrying your own firearm

[Stuxnet]

Title pretty much says it all. Are you allowed to choose your own firearm, provided that it meets certain specifications, or are you required to carry the firearm your agency issued?

 

[Number1]

I was in the army for a few years. We were NOT allowed to bring in our own fire arms. I would imagine it's the same rule for law enforcement.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Depends on the policy of the department. Some are very specific on what kind of firearm you can carry, others allow more individual choice.

Edit-Big city police departments are likely to be more restrictive on selection of your carry weapon allowing only a couple different choices right down to make model and caliber.

 

[misle]

Head over to GlockTalk. They have a sub-forum for LEO's. They will be able to answer your questions.

 

[loic2003]

That chick with the annoying voice had a .45 magnum in Police academy 17, if that helps at all...

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I would guess for a smaller, more relaxed dept. that anything around the standard .38, .357, 9mm, .45 range would be fine. But they'd look down upon carring around a .500 S&W or toting a 30-06.

 

[Stuxnet]

Thanks for the info, everyone.

 

[JDMnAR1]

I think this pretty much runs the spectrum. I have talked to a number of LEOs regarding the policy at their particular departments over the years, and there was no consistency. In some instances they were issued a sidearm with no choice given, some being given their choice of a few select departmental-issued sidearms, and some selecting their own sidearm subject to departmental approval.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Departments usually require you to carry a particular weapon. If everyone on the same dept is in a fire fight and one person runs out of ammo, your buddy can throw you a mag and you can keep shooting.

 

[FallenHero]

Lots of people talking out their ass here.


A ton of departments I know allow for a variety of weapons to be carried for your on-duty sidearm. One near me that I did my internship with even goes so far as to say anything between 9mm and .45...any gun. You just have to purchase (which I believe is better.)

Mine says glock 9mm, .40, .45, or revolvers in .38 or .357. That's for on duty carry.

Off duty, I am allowed to carry any gun I want, as long as I can qualify with the thing...so in theory, if I wanted to carry a .50 desert eagle off duty, I could.

 

[Lazy8s]

My friend just joined Peach Tree city PD in Atlanta and he has to carry the standard issue gun unless he passes off his profeciency with another gun. Then they are allowed to carry both...as I understood him say it, but basically he can pass off with any gun. They are allowed to carry whatever in their off time.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: Number1
I was in the army for a few years. We were NOT allowed to bring in our own fire arms. I would imagine it's the same rule for law enforcement.

I thought there was a big grey area with that. I remember reading an article some time ago (time or newsweek, or one of those types of magazines) about US troops in Afghanistan not liking the stopping power of the standard issue sidearms, so they were semi-smuggling in their own .45s and .50s, and it was all kinda being "ignored".

Not so?

 

[Lazy8s]

Originally posted by: Gooberlx2

Originally posted by: Number1
I was in the army for a few years. We were NOT allowed to bring in our own fire arms. I would imagine it's the same rule for law enforcement.

I thought there was a big grey area with that. I remember reading an article some time ago (time or newsweek, or one of those types of magazines) about US troops in Afghanistan not liking the stopping power of the standard issue sidearms, so they were semi-smuggling in their own .45s and .50s, and it was all kinda being "ignored".

Not so?

I would imagine the military is quite a different story. Not only would it be difficult to provide your own ammunition on the field it would be a helluva lot cheaper for the USMC to buy 200,000 of the same gun instead of have every soldier fill out their own order form. Plus when you're in the heat of the battle you don't want to run out of ammo then pray you can find someone that is also firing a .357 ya know?

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Military: You're in BFN shooting time and time again. Supplying you is going to be difficult.
Police: You probably have two weeks to reload after a gun fight. Pleanty of time to find a local gun shop.

Military: They are required to have FMJ by international treaties.
Police: You don't want to go THOUGH your target, just into them.

Military: Going through walls isn't too much of a concern.
Police: Going through walls IS a major concern (in a bad way).

Military needs and police needs don't really mirror eachother very much when it comes to weapons. I haven't seen the US army issuing many bean-bag shotguns out to the troops

 

[Stuxnet]

It sounds reasonable that you would be allowed to carry your own firearm, provided it met basic specifications (caliber, etc) and you were able to qualify with it.

 

[Mr N8]

My BIL's dept is required to carry a S&W 9mm. They all hate it, so most of them carry their own firearm as a "backup."

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Military: You're in BFN shooting time and time again. Supplying you is going to be difficult.
Police: You probably have two weeks to reload after a gun fight. Pleanty of time to find a local gun shop.

Military: They are required to have FMJ by international treaties.
Police: You don't want to go THOUGH your target, just into them.

Military: Going through walls isn't too much of a concern.
Police: Going through walls IS a major concern (in a bad way).

Military needs and police needs don't really mirror eachother very much when it comes to weapons. I haven't seen the US army issuing many bean-bag shotguns out to the troops

thats kinda funny that the military has to use FMJ due to treaties but civilians are allowed and encouraged to use hollow-points

 

[Meuge]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Military: You're in BFN shooting time and time again. Supplying you is going to be difficult.
Police: You probably have two weeks to reload after a gun fight. Pleanty of time to find a local gun shop.

Military: They are required to have FMJ by international treaties.
Police: You don't want to go THOUGH your target, just into them.

Military: Going through walls isn't too much of a concern.
Police: Going through walls IS a major concern (in a bad way).

Military needs and police needs don't really mirror eachother very much when it comes to weapons. I haven't seen the US army issuing many bean-bag shotguns out to the troops

thats kinda funny that the military has to use FMJ due to treaties but civilians are allowed and encouraged to use hollow-points

If you're in a combat unit, God forbid you ever need to use your sidearm. Actually, the US might be the only country that issues sidearms to all soldiers across the board.

The sidearm is there for backup only... and when it comes to the battlefield, 16 rounds/clip is much better than 12.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Meuge

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Military: You're in BFN shooting time and time again. Supplying you is going to be difficult.
Police: You probably have two weeks to reload after a gun fight. Pleanty of time to find a local gun shop.

Military: They are required to have FMJ by international treaties.
Police: You don't want to go THOUGH your target, just into them.

Military: Going through walls isn't too much of a concern.
Police: Going through walls IS a major concern (in a bad way).

Military needs and police needs don't really mirror eachother very much when it comes to weapons. I haven't seen the US army issuing many bean-bag shotguns out to the troops

thats kinda funny that the military has to use FMJ due to treaties but civilians are allowed and encouraged to use hollow-points

If you're in a combat unit, God forbid you ever need to use your sidearm. Actually, the US might be the only country that issues sidearms to all soldiers across the board.

The sidearm is there for backup only... and when it comes to the battlefield, 16 rounds/clip is much better than 12.

what does that have to do with the use of hollow points and fmj?