'SHOT-GUN FORMATION'... Police union wants NFL to allow concealed carry at stadiums
More guns are needed at NFL games to keep fans safe, according to the nation’s largest police union — which recently asked the league commissioner to let certain firearms owners pack heat on Sundays.
The National Fraternal Order of Police has asked the NFL to lift its ban on fans carrying guns at games, at least for retired and off-duty law enforcement officers who hold permits to carry concealed weapons. In a letter to Commissioner Roger Goodell, FOP President Chuck Canterbury said armed cops are the best bet for stopping a terrorist attack inside a stadium.
“Today, I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to urge you to rescind this policy, which weakens the safety and security of NFL players, personnel and fans,” read the Nov. 20 letter, which was reported by BuckeyeFirearms.org. “The terrorist attacks and threats of attacks from organizations like the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) are selecting targets based on the amount of death and injury they can inflict — mass murder and casualty events.
“Well-attended venues and areas are being deliberately targeted by the radical killers who do not intend or expect to survive the assault,” the letter continued. “Law enforcement, even when working actively with highly trained and skilled security professionals, cannot be certain that all threats will be detected and neutralized.”
“Well-attended venues and areas are being deliberately targeted by the radical killers who do not intend or expect to survive the assault.” – National FOP president Chuck Canterbury
The decision to allow or ban guns at games was up to teams or venues before a league-wide directive prior to the 2014 season. NFL officials said the no-gun policy was reached after an extensive process that included consultation with a multitude of law enforcement agencies and security experts. If the league were to reverse its prohibition, the decision would apparently revert to the teams and stadium operators.
“We concluded that public safety inside NFL stadiums on game days would be best-served by the carrying of firearms by on-duty officers specifically assigned to work the game as part of the comprehensive public safety plan for the event,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told FoxNews.com “This approach has been certified by the Department of Homeland Security under the SAFETY Act (Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies).”
Source: Police union wants NFL to allow concealed carry at stadiums | Fox News
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