Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Why not? The EPA does.

Now that everybody in the Federal bureaucracy from the head of the FBI to the lowliest janitor at the Department of Health and Human Services is armed up like an extra from the movie Platoon, the trend seems to be trickling down to state level more and more often. It appears that SPCA dog catchers in the Keystone State, who aren't even real government employees in the first place, are the newest ones to get to go the full Barney and add a shootin' iron to their bat belts, starting last month.

Now, lord knows that I think carrying a pistola on your day-to-day rounds is simply prudent, especially if dealing with fifty-pound rabid carnivores is just another day at the office. What annoys me is the idea that the pistol needs to come with some shiny boots and a tin star, lest you not be The Only One In The Room Professional Enough.

This is the same mentality that winds up with train conductors dressed like field marshals so that everyone knows that they Work for Authority. I know Pennsylvania is full of Jerry-sounding place names, but we don't have to dress and act like the Boche because of it, for heaven's sake.

13 comments:

JD said...

Aw heck, 'bout time y'all caught up with good ol progressive Massachusetts. Our MSPCA (animal cops) get guns and uniforms and look like cops. They also get arrest powers even though they technically work for the MSPCA which is private, not a state agent. . . . And yes, they are full of themselves over it. If you didn't read the patch on their arm you would think they were cops.

Mike W. said...

And of course it's "for their safety" but if average citizens want to carry for exactly that reason all manner of PSH breaks out.

Tam said...

I bet you the dog catcher can open carry at a Pennsylvania youth soccer game without causing anyone to get the shizzling drits.

Anonymous said...

I flew last night...and the new TSA uniforms really crack me up. All dressed up like real police officers or something. They don't pack heat, yet, but they get the tin star, by golly.

Andrew said...

...the new TSA uniforms really crack me up.

A TSA gate agent of my acquaintance tells me that the TSA employees refer to the new uniforms as "Smurf outfits."

:)

Crucis said...

When you hear about the Surgeon General's Special Riot Police, you REALLY need to be worried.

(See Tom Kratman's "A State of Disobedience" for the Special Riot Police reference.)

I've noticed that Mall Cops are now armed. Barney Fife, indeed!

Less said...

Hell, even gun owners are guilty of the "uniform mentality":

Ever go to a store and see "that guy" - decked out in full Maxpedition gear and 5.11 gear...


For the record, I'm the only shooter that I know of that wears Kangool hats and wears converse while shooting IPSC matches...

Anonymous said...

Humane officers in Pennsylvania will soon start carrying guns as part of an SPCA policy change made to ensure officers' safety.

I'm all in favor of people being able to protect themselves, but here's a thought: if somebody threatens much less harms a public official in the lawful performance of his duty, why don't we PUNISH them??? It's a concept I call "deterence".

Frank W. James said...

Hey! Don't Diss the 5.11 gear. I've been wearing it now for almost 15 years and I'm too old to change.

When you get old you NEED those expanding waistlines you get on 5.11 pants.

All The Best,
Frank W. James

Anonymous said...

Maybe TSA should go TammiKool with a ball cap, tee shirt, and some nice boots...

Less said...

Hi Frank: Long time reader, first time caller!

I'm not talking about folks just wearing 5.11's and some boots... I'm talking about the "TDB's" that parade around in full BDU's expecting "contact" in the deli aisle at the grocer...

Kevin said...

Hell Penn's Woods is full of loving places, not just Teutonic.
We have Bird in Hand, Middlesex, Intercourse, Happy Valley, Honey, Climax, Hop Bottom, Jugtown, Lover, Mars, Slate-lick,Moon, Moon-run, and Muse. Lest we be accused of phobias, we have the City of brotherly love - Philadelphia, along with Copay, Walnut Bottom, Bird-in-Hand, Big Beaver, Blue Ball, Media, Mexico, California, East Berlin, Egypt, Indiana,Jersey Shore, and Scalp Level.

Firehand said...

Every once in a while I've watched a few minutes of 'Animal Cops' or whatever it is on Animal Planet; it always pisses me off to see some ASPCA weenie with a sidearm in a state where the peasants have to get a license just to OWN a firearm.