jcwit
member
------------OK------------
ArmedBear said:Why not, then?
It is not irresponsible to own or carry any badge including a carry permit badge.
Sam1911 said:No? It depends on what you do with it, perhaps, if you really want to stretch your point.
If no one ever sees it, then I suppose it isn't irresponsible. However, it is also absolutely valueless. The purpose of a badge is to send a message. Seeing as no state issues a badge with their carry permits or licenses, and purchase of such a thing is not bound or regulated by any issuing authority and so can say nothing substantive about the wearer the badge, strictly speaking, means nothing to anyone.
An educated person, observing that badge clearly, reading what it says, can form no accurate (positive) conclusions about the wearer. So what that person will conclude (i.e.: nothing) from viewing that badge, can be of no value to the wearer. However, a casual glance, from the average person on the street (not a cop, nor someone familiar with these trinkets) will tend to send only the message "man with a badge." To most folks men with badges are police officers, or something very similar. As the literal message of the badge (again, "nothing") is valueless to the wearer, this secondary, specious message becomes the only reason to wear it.
If you send that message, you are making a FALSE representation of yourself, and that is an irresponsible act. It is deceptive to the public, and likely to incur the anger of and possible legal repercussions from law enforcement officers.
This is part of THR's mission: educating folks to get them over these little pitfalls and warn them off of making and a$$ of themselves, especially while armed in public.
-Sam
cleardiddion said:I mean, I remember a while back while I was reading the forums on opencarry.org that someone faced such charges for wearing a shirt that had a design on the back for some police department.
There is no reason to stretch my point. I clearly stated, "It is irresponsible to break the law and use the badge for any criminal purpose."
Do have certain responsibilities, and sometimes they are armed. Their badge means something, though not the same thing as a police officer's badge. They also wear a uniform and appear (and act) only in a specified location.Security guards
You have GOT to be kidding me. Yeah. if little kids are allowed in public wearing a plastic "Jr. Policeman" badge, then surely the real-looking badge carried next to the real gun on my belt couldn't POSSIBLY be a problem. Why it's EXACTLY the same thing.little kids
Along with some uniform that completes the message being sent by the badge.the geek squad, and all sorts of people wear badges
It isn't about arrest authority. It is about sending a message of who you are. And that message is a lie. A TSA agent has responsibilities, and his/her badge is given by a federal authority charged with screening and employing people to discharge those responsibilities.The TSA has no arrest authority and even they wear badges. It is not up to any bearer of a badge to educate the general public.
No. It is your right to carry that gun. You are not claiming or pretending to any special authorization or authority by that act. The gun isn't the issue. The badge is.I open carry. It is not my responsibility to tell people I meet that I am a law abiding citizen.
If you can't picture why presenting yourself in the guise of an off-duty or undercover officer would anger cops, you have very little imagination.I'm not sure why the wearing of a badge angers cops, but I careless about what they think.
Open carry makes cops mad? Not the ones I know. I'm sure it angers some, but it is your right and you harm or mislead no one by doing it. Again, the gun isn't even remotely the issue here.Open carry makes them mad too, but I continue to open carry.
Once more, for the kewpie doll, if you walk the streets in casual clothes, with a gun and a badge on your belt, you are emulating a well-known social element, the plain-clothed or off-duty police officer. Closer inspection, if folks choose to make one, will disprove that impression (and displace it with the "weird wannabe" impression) but the majority of the public will instantly pick up the vibe you're sending out.It is not false representation to walk down the street with a carry permit badge exposed or concealed.
An educated person, observing that badge clearly, reading what it says, can form no accurate (positive) conclusions about the wearer.
Once more, for the kewpie doll, if you walk the streets in casual clothes, with a gun and a badge on your belt, you are emulating a well-known social element, the plain-clothed or off-duty police officer.
Sam1911 said:Once more, for the kewpie doll, if you walk the streets in casual clothes, with a gun and a badge on your belt, you are emulating a well-known social element, the plain-clothed or off-duty police officer. Closer inspection, if folks choose to make one, will disprove that impression (and displace it with the "weird wannabe" impression) but the majority of the public will instantly pick up the vibe you're sending out.
EddieNFL said:Similar to robbing a person using a toy gun?
My point was centered on the toy gun, not the act of robbery. I see no difference between a "poser" badge and a toy when used to deceive someone.No, robbing a person is irresponsible and illegal. Wearing casual clothes, carrying a gun and wearing a badge which states "carry permit holder" is a responsible and not illegal act if allowed by law.
Illegal? No.
Wise? No.