CCW Badge

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While I'd hope it never happens, I could see federally issued CCW badges being a reality. Each one will cost $89.99 and you have to pay a $15 "Tin registration" in addition to the CCW application costs and course.

And don't forget, if you don't wear yours, it's a $75 fine.

Somehow I can see it happening. Let's just keep our fingers crossed.

As for the dude I saw. I haven't a clue what he was thinking. I wasn't going to ask either. Had he not worn a badge, I wouldn't have known he was carrying.
 
mustanger98,
I still can't see any possible reason any legislature would mandate the issue of a badge or other symbol to indentify a CCW holder, but I guess anything is possible.

I have a real badge issued to me by the agency I work for. It is never on display off duty. The only time you will ever see it clipped to my belt next to my weapon is if I am working a plainclothes detail and it is necessary for me to wear it that way.

There are some downsides to being mistaken for a cop too. The big one is that you might be the first person shot in the convenience store robbery if the bad guy sees your flash tin. The kid behind the counter at the fast food restaurant might be inspired to add a little special secret sauce to your burger if he makes you. Someone might feel the need to key the paint on your car in the parking lot if you're mistaken for a cop. See they all aren't sheeple out there (just an editorial note, I hate that term and if we are going to win the cultural war and keep our guns we shouldn't insult those who will ultimately decide if our kids and grandkids will enjoy the same freedoms we have.) some of them are wolves who would just love a chance to anonymously pay back a cop. Of course they don't mention that in the ad for the official CCW badge.

Jeff
 
As for the dude I saw. I haven't a clue what he was thinking. I wasn't going to ask either. Had he not worn a badge, I wouldn't have known he was carrying.
Click to expand...

BINGO! lol...hence the point of all the concealing garments we spend so much money on :banghead:

I still believe that people undervalue the importance of a nice leather holster. I still maintain that if someone sees a gun on me but also sees that it is holstered in quality looking leather holster they will assume I am using it for professional purposes. If they see it IWB (which probably looks like mexican carry to an untrained eye) it is bound to look more like I am a street thug, but thats just my opinion of course. Either way, I havent ever had any of these issues come up, and I have been carrying for a while.
 
My HCP (handgun carry permit) is all I am officially required to have.
That is all I need.

The use for an unofficial CCW badge is very marginal (this has
been discussed here before) especially when in Tennessee it
is HCP handgun carry permit and in Texas it is CHL concealed
handgun license. Of course I could get a Connecticut
non-resident CCW license but I still would not want to explain
a civilian CCW badge to an officer.

I bet these get sold to people who dont actually carry.
 
One thing I often thought about which is sort of related to a badge is a necklace (picture a dog tag type thing) or keychain of some sort with all my CCW numbers and states printed on it. I have PA, FL, UT, ME, CT, NV, NH and while NH is sort of obsolete at this point the rest are not and for the life of me it is hard to remember which are accepted in which state (I travel through all 50 states regularly for work). I always thought it would be nice to have all the numbers and issuing states without having to fumble in my wallet for an officer if stopped, but then I realized they really wouldnt give a crap about the number without the actual permit in hand. Ohwell...it was a nice thought lol.
 
jlsTORM said:
One more thing to add...if you REALLY wanted a badge become a private investigator, bail enforcement officer, or private security/bodyguard lol. In most states none of this requires much if any training and they allow you to be armed and require some form of identification such as an ID card or badge issued by your company, so while they are probably more legal than a CCW badge because you arent impersonating anyone
Click to expand...
In point of fact, a PI license is NOT easy to get in most states. Most states regulate the profession and require that you work as a PI under the direction of a licensed PI for a period of several years (5, in my state) before you can get a PI license. And the PI license by itself does NOT bring any right to carry a firearm -- you need a CCW with special endorsements for that.

Dunno about your state, but around here it's just a whole lot easier to get a CCW and call it a day.
 
Re: Post# 127

Jeff, I see what you're saying about the possibilities that go with being mistaken for a cop. Like you were saying about only wearing your badge openly while working... seems to me those other possibilities you covered, none of us, cops or private citizens, need a visible badge compounding things. We agree on that. I'm sure we also agree that cops and private citizens alike have to worry enough about those wolves... actually, I prefer to call 'em varmints... as it is, or we wouldn't be on a board like this.

I'm aquainted with an assistant DA locally to me... this guy carries his sidearm and generally has a badge clipped to his belt. I haven't gotten a look at the badge, but I recall earlier in the thread there was talk about a prosecutor's badge. I wonder if this guy I know ever catches those complications you mentioned. We're not big city here, but we're getting too many little punk gangsta wannabes around here, so nothing surprises me.

I once had a cousin-in-law who worked for OSHA, so he was a Federal cop... when I was around him, he had one of those badge wallets that also had his ID in it. He showed it to me once because I work leather, but that's the only time I ever saw it out.

Carl N. Brown:
I bet these get sold to people who dont actually carry.
Click to expand...

I'd say in the current situation that's probably a pretty safe bet in a lot of cases.
 
I'm reading this thread for the first time just now, and for the first time I'm reading posts that mention nationwide CCW and the possibility that "wacky" laws might make it mandatory for such a badge.


I had no idea, but I now suspect that there are a LOT of people secretly all a-dither over that particular concept. :uhoh:

I have a pretty simple philosophy: If you would be horribly embarassed showing such a badge to a family member, friend, or LEO, then it's a Bad Idea. If you'd whip it out loud and proud, well then go ahead, best of luck to you.

Me, I don't think I'd ever live down the shame.
 
I thought about being a Safety Patrol in elementary school, but decided not to, because the badge and white Sam Browne belt looked silly to me.

Besides, I thought the Safety Patrol kids were police-minded. (bullies)

Sorry, Jeff.
 
We Do Have Complications

I’ll take issue here with how matters currently stand. There is presently a problem or complication with carrying a piece of paper, versus a badge of some form. The problem is that in the event one is in a “fight-or-die” situation and is forced to draw and fire, he or she is at a very definite risk of being errantly shot and killed by other CCW holders, and/or by either on-duty or off-duty police officers. Nobody can seriously take issue with this fact, yet, nearly 100% of the people posting in this thread are jumping in and screaming that there is no need for a badge.

Here is one fact from my Tactical Shooting and Advanced Tactical Shooting courses that people had better understand…if you are ever forced to draw and fire, you WILL NOT hear the cop to your right order you to, “Drop the gun!” You WILL experience tunnel-vision and your brain will fart! Then, you will be shot and die. We have a complication! Many police do not even remember firing after the event. Many police cannot recall how many rounds they fired. That is how severe the problem is. Rather than mock these people who appear to be seeking resolution to the problem, perhaps we should proactively seek a solution. Do I have a badge? No, never have. Do I think there is merit for one? Yes.

How do we identify police as police? Meaning they have the legal permission to bear that pistol? Right…the badge. Either we should not offer CCWs, or we should issue them as a badge, not as a piece of paper that looks like the local library card. Now, if the issue is that people will present themselves as being police officers, that fact is simple to solve…rather than issue a simple CCW, deputize the CCW applicants as “reserve officers”. Such an act should be nation-wide for safety safe of our country.

Laugh if you will, but at least instead of just offering up some absurd quip, I have identified a real-life problem, and a possible resolution that merits discussion. Now, explain how such a process would not work? :confused:

Doc2005.
 
How do we identify police as police? Meaning they have the legal permission to bear that pistol? Right…the badge. Either we should not offer CCWs, or we should issue them as a badge, not as a piece of paper that looks like the local library card. Now, if the issue is that people will present themselves as being police officers, that fact is simple to solve…rather than issue a simple CCW, deputize the CCW applicants as “reserve officers”. Such an act should be nation-wide for safety safe of our country.
Click to expand...

Being a police officer is a lot more than carrying a gun and being willing to act, as I'm sure you know. Even reserve officers need training and practice. The vast majority of CCW carriers do not have the time, desire, or ability to commit to being reserve officers. What about a 79 year old lady who wants to carry a snubbie in her purse? Or a vet in a wheelchair? They really can't be reserve officers. Should we deny them CCWs because they can't go all the way and be reserve officers?


I have a question for all the people who say "it's bad because you might get mistake as impersonating an officer".

Antis tell us no one should have guns, because some people might use them for wrong. We tell the antis that it's wrong to punish everyone for the crimes of a few, and that we should let people be armed, and just punish the actual criminals.

How is this any different? If CCWs were issued as badges, you might think "well there would be so many people getting mistaken as impersonating an officer". Well so what? If it's a mistake, it's a mistake. Punish the people who really are impersonating officers, and let the rest be. CCWs actually issued as an official badge instead of a card might be a good idea.
 
But then we're back to "concealed" meaning just that and why advertise it, which is why I was saying such a badge would not be worn in plain view and would seldom be shown. The use of that badge would require about as much discretion as the use of the sidearm.

If it's not in plain view, a bystander cop couldn't see it before he ordered someone to cease and desist before shooting them. Seems I've heard of off-duty cops being shot in such a scenario as Doc2005 described.

As to so many posters laughing, when you look past the surface, this ain't so comedic. It looks dumb because of the way they advertise toy badges. A real badge carried legally may or may not save some headaches. Done illegally and it can get you jailed or killed.

I have a Georgia Firearms License... that's what we call a CCW permit here. Never actually needed anything else, but wouldn't rule anything done legally out.
 
Here's More...

Yes, cops are getting shot too.

The instructor testified in a recent case where the officers on the scene shot and killed their off-duty partner as he approached. They were so hopped up on adrenalin that they didn't recognize his face or voice. He (the off-duty officer) is now 6 feet under.

He also testified on behalf of an officer who swore he fired two rounds. Fact is, he emptied the 15-round magazine!

He testified in the case of an officer who rather than pull his new autoloader (recent switch from revolver) pulled the autoloader and pummeled the bad guy with it like a hammer. Then, he testified that he shot the bad guy!?

We have a problem here. If this happened to TRAINED cops, what of us? Maybe a badge would help with recognizing people? Maybe? How to resolve it? Ostrich? Or discuss possibilities?

Doc2005
 
I'm seeing lots of good points here, both pro and con.
Some observations:
1) Tunnel vision happens. A badge may or may not keep someone from getting shot during a Contagious Adrenaline Overload ("SHTF+") situation.
2) Even with no shots fired, legitimate badge wearers sometimes get "jacked up" until they're identified by photo ID. (The First 48: Off-duty corrections officer told at gunpoint to prone out, by homicide detectives who came across a car crash the CO was involved in. I think they saw his holstered sidearm. Protestations of "I'm a CO!" did no good until the detectives knew 100% who he was.)
3) Bad guys don't usually wear holsters. (See the FBI study mentioned in a couple of other threads.) A lot of people haven't seen (or even heard of) that study, so carrying your licensed sidearm in a holster may or may not help in a case where you unintentionally let someone catch a glimpse of it. (See item 1 above.)

lbmii: I wear a badge and a helmet with a rotating light and siren on top.
Zero_DgZ: I gotta get me one of those.
Click to expand...
Cop_Light.gif
Still working on the helmet-mounted model, trying to add alley and takedown lights to it. :p
 
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We don't need no badges

"Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges. I don't have to show you any stinking badges!"
"El Bandido", as played by Alfonso Bedoya in "Treasure of the Sierra Madre" (1948)
 
I still like the idea of a more noticeable CCW license. Hell, make it bright silver or gold, really thin and square so its highly visible to an officer, but in no way resembles a badge. Not something to be worn, but something that in a high stess situation could be pulled from the pocket and from accross the room be recognized by an officer or another CCWer. They might not know exactly what it was, but it would be bright and shiny and may give a moment of pause.
 
Who says that the shooter won't be a CCL holder? It could even be a THRer who found their spouse in bed with someone else or who just snapped. I suppose the same could be said about LEOs, but If I were a cop who rolled up on a scene where there was an active shooter, it woouldn't matter if hes George Dubbya. He better put his gun down until I see some ID or hes getting shot. Maybe it'll be a guy whos brother is a cop and he stole his brothers badge. If asked he might know all the details of department procedure and anything else that his brother told him. Badges mean nothing.
 
Change the Paper License to Hunter Orange!

I would be happy if at least they changed the paper license to nationally issued, Hunter (Blaze) Orange color. That would be more identifiable than what we have.
 
Forget the badge, how about this :D :

ccwshirtgn9.jpg
 
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