Texas law overrides NFL policy banning armed off-duty officers at games

[Seven]

Then players in Denver should be able to smoke pot.

And why would you take a gun to a stadium, that's insane.

Did he just say 'pot'?

 

[Tabascocat]

So can on duty cops but that, IMO, is the exception and not the rule. Generally, we are safer with off duty officers carrying rather then not carrying IMO.

Unless they are riding in motorcycle gangs chasing families in SUV's

 

[Broges74]

The NFL is a private entity and can refuse business to anyone based on any criteria they wish as long as it doesn't infringe on civil rights. They can ban halter tops although they are legal by state laws. They could kick someone out for cursing although I don't believe cursing to be illegal.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Of Duty Officers in Texas are required to carry their Service Weapons and are also required to take action if the Law is being broken. It is easy to say that they should not bring their sidearms to games but the reality is that it is unreasonable to change the State Law just to accommodate an NFL game. It is easier for the NFL to accommodate their policy in Texas.

 

[BourbonBalz]

Then players in Denver should be able to smoke pot.

And why would you take a gun to a stadium, that's insane.

I'm federal agent. I ALWAYS carry when I'm off duty. There are individuals out there that do not like me. Like the ones I've sent on a long vacation. Not to mention armed off-duty officers come to the aid of victims of violence quite often. If some nut starts stabbing or beating individuas in a stadium (or any other place), I bet you'd be glad if an armed off-duty officer happened to be there. Most sane people would be anyway.

 

[DCBoysfan]

I took a friend to a game once that is an ATF agent, and he was packing.

I find it reassuring that they are.

He is federal as am I, but if I was going to the game I would just leave my weapon at home, because I would prolly have a couple of beers.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Unless they are riding in motorcycle gangs chasing families in SUV's

I suspect that this regulation the NFL has put forward, is going to die a swift death. I believe that most Law Enforcement Agencies around the Country are required to carry and intercede if they witness a law being broken. This policy was adopted widely by most agencies after 9/11.

 

[BourbonBalz]

He is federal as am I, but if I was going to the game I would just leave my weapon at home, because I would prolly have a couple of beers.

That makes it different. If you plan on drinking, leave it at home.

 

[Tabascocat]

Of Duty Officers in Texas are required to carry their Service Weapons and are also required to take action if the Law is being broken. It is easy to say that they should not bring their sidearms to games but the reality is that it is unreasonable to change the State Law just to accommodate an NFL game. It is easier for the NFL to accommodate their policy in Texas.

Jurisdictions and counties have different rules and regulations. I don't know about Texas, in general, but in Houston, the off-duty officers are not supposed to carry their service weapon, only the required off-duty handgun.

I only know this because my brother is the Sergeant in one of the homicide divisions. He always carries his(not his service weapon) wherever he goes, 99% of the time. This is not to say that some officers don't carry their on-duty weapon, but they are advised not to. This is for legal matters in case of an incident.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

The NFL is a private entity and can refuse business to anyone based on any criteria they wish as long as it doesn't infringe on civil rights. They can ban halter tops although they are legal by state laws. They could kick someone out for cursing although I don't believe cursing to be illegal.

And any City can pull a license for events such as Football Games, Concerts, any kind of gathering such as these if they feel security is not meet or the policies of such events violate safety protocols. This is a very slippery slope IMO. The NFL leans on local and municipal Law Enforcement all the time. They need to be careful, IMO, how far they are willing to push such things.

 

[DCBoysfan]

That makes it different. If you plan on drinking, leave it at home.

oh yea better safe than sorry, but otherwise I feel the same as you.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Jurisdictions and counties have different rules and regulations. I don't know about Texas, in general, but in Houston, the off-duty officers are not supposed to carry their service weapon, only the required off-duty handgun.

I only know this because my brother is the Sergeant in one of the homicide divisions. He always carries his(not his service weapon) wherever he goes, 99% of the time. This is not to say that some officers don't carry their on-duty weapon, but they are advised not to. This is for legal matters in case of an incident.

There could be a distinction there but a lot of officers carry a primary and a backup. To me, they are both service weapons and both are supposed to be filed as such. Officers are NOT supposed to carry weapons that are not authorized but I understand what you are saying. I guess it's a semantic thing?

 

[tecolote]

I'm federal agent. I ALWAYS carry when I'm off duty. There are individuals out there that do not like me. Like the ones I've sent on a long vacation. Not to mention armed off-duty officers come to the aid of victims of violence quite often. If some nut starts stabbing or beating individuas in a stadium (or any other place), I bet you'd be glad if an armed off-duty officer happened to be there. Most sane people would be anyway.

Look, I'm sure that the vast majority of off duty officers are responsible when carrying a gun, like I'm sure you are, but I just think a stadium packed people and alcohol and passions running high is not the right environment to be bringing guns into. A lot more things could go wrong than right in my eye.

 

[justbob]

Several factors come into play on service weapons and off duty......Many agencies supply services weapons and they are normally large rin size. Most back up or off duty weapons are owned by the officer and are smaller in physical size (not necessarily smaller caliber ) then a duty weapon. A back up or off duty weapon is more of a concealed weapon. A department can regulate where you carry your duty weapon --if they own them.

Most security ( plain clothes and uniformed officer) are off duty officers working a second job...Nfl would find it hard to get enough security if they try to dictate what the officer can bring with them to do their job. That could carry over to traffic control after the games.

 

[Broges74]

And any City can pull a license for events such as Football Games, Concerts, any kind of gathering such as these if they feel security is not meet or the policies of such events violate safety protocols. This is a very slippery slope IMO. The NFL leans on local and municipal Law Enforcement all the time. They need to be careful, IMO, how far they are willing to push such things.

The NFL generates a TON of revenue for the city and county. There is no way they would take a stand like that in the face of NFL money. It is what it is and the cities and counties across the nation are nearly bankrupt.

Not arguing one way or the other. In fact, I think they should be able to carry to the game. Just saying the NFL holds the cards here and not the state of Texas.

 

[justbob]

Look, I'm sure that the vast majority of off duty officers are responsible when carrying a gun, like I'm sure you are, but I just think a stadium packed people and alcohol and passions running high is not the right environment to be bringing guns into. A lot more things could go wrong than right in my eye.

Your right its not ------but that is going on the assumption that the only ones with deadly weapons are the off duty cops.. A knife in the pocket , a car tool in the parking lot can kill you just as fast ----Make it impossible for officers to carry and a placeknown to be gun free and see where the next mass shooting is....Or live in a perfect world where people don't throw snowballs with rocks in them.

 

[justbob]

The NFL generates a TON of revenue for the city and county. There is no way they would take a stand like that in the face of NFL money. It is what it is and the cities and counties across the nation are nearly bankrupt.

Not arguing one way or the other. In fact, I think they should be able to carry to the game. Just saying the NFL holds the cards here and not the state of Texas.

Don't agree ---put out the word that is a game is going to be canceled because the NFL is trying to set their own laws and the fans would revolt.and the NFL would back down.....It would be a very short game of chicken and the NFL would fold.--my opinion

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

The NFL generates a TON of revenue for the city and county. There is no way they would take a stand like that in the face of NFL money. It is what it is and the cities and counties across the nation are nearly bankrupt.

Not arguing one way or the other. In fact, I think they should be able to carry to the game. Just saying the NFL holds the cards here and not the state of Texas.

Yeah, they could do it real easy. How many games do you think an NFL team could afford to miss before it became a huge problem? You can't move the Stadiums. The City or State has all the leverage here, not the NFL.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

Because whether on or off duty, you're still a cop and may have to act if a situation should arise? Every game already has armed on-duty officers all over the place, what is the difference?

if the rest of us can't take guns to a game, hell don't they have bag policies as to the size of bags, even women's purses, why should they be allowed to bring guns to games?

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

if the rest of us can't take guns to a game, hell don't they have bag policies as to the size of bags, even women's purses, why should they be allowed to bring guns to games?

The rest of us are not Officers of the Law. The rest of us are not required to intercede in a situation if the Law is being broken.

It is the Law in Texas. The officers don't have a choice as to if they should or if they should not. It is what it is.