The Washington Council of Police & Sheriffs (WACOPS) has endorsed a “no” vote on Initiative 594, which would close Washington’s “gun show loophole” by requiring background checks on the private sale of all guns. I guess that’s not surprising. WACOPS is a very conservative organization. And while there are plenty in the law enforcement community who support I-594, there certainly isn’t unanimous support for tighter background checks.
More surprising is that WACOPS has endorsed a “yes” vote on Initiative 591, the far-right gun-nuttery initiative that would bar the state from enacting gun regulations stricter than those imposed under federal law. This is more than just opposing I-594 on the grounds that it might inconvenience WACOPS’ own members. I-591 would weaken Washington state’s gun laws, putting more guns on the street, and potentially into the hands of dangerous felons and the mentally ill who might not otherwise pass a background check.
A law enforcement union endorsing I-591 is kinda like a firefighter union endorsing greater access to arson. It borders on crazy.
It’s also not a particularly smart political move for a public employee union with important issues before pro-594 lawmakers. According to their winter 2014 newsletter, WACOPS’ top legislative priority “is to protect and strengthen the LEOFF Plan 2 pension system.” To do this they’re going to need to lobby pro-594 lawmakers like Governor Jay Inslee, Democratic House Speaker Frank Chopp, and the leaders of a potentially Democratic Senate.
As a union, WACOPS primary obligation is to collectively bargain on behalf of its members. It’s hard to see how antagonizing the lawmakers with whom it needs to negotiate could in any way serve this mission.
I called and emailed WACOPS asking for comment, and have yet to hear back. But if they asked me, I’d tell them a smarter move would’ve been to just stay out of this fight entirely.
Walmart takes out life insurance policies on most of its employees naming themselves as beneficiaries, perhaps WACOPS does the same with its membership.
Cops aren’t workers and police unions aren’t unions, they’re reactionary right wing political fractions. Seen in that light, them giving the gun lobby a reacharound makes total and complete sense.
“It was God’s will. It was her time to go, I guess. I just know she’s in heaven right now and I know she’s in good hands with the Lord.”
Hallelujah.
Praise Jesus!
Does anyone own a firearm on this blog?
@ 5 Jack
I own several.
Anyone who allows a five year old child to handle a firearm is a moron, and should have probably been sterilized at birth.
6
Sounds like good advice.
OMG,
Something OWS Racist Fraggy wrote Puddy agrees with @6. Hell HAS frozen over!
From the WACOPS.org website –
Candidate Endorsements: WACOPS 2014 Endorcement Procedure
Maybe the same people who misspell “endorsement” just preferred the 1 page initiative over the 18 page one promulgated by Seattle-area elitists.
http://www.examiner.com/articl.....back-i-591
Any “Union” that “conservative” enough to do something as doctrinaire as this (essentially putting its own membership at greater risk) should be consistent and vote to disband.
On the other hand, maybe their reasoning is that having more criminals, lunatics and idiots armed to the teeth promotes their own job security.