Like you and me, only better
In California, where it’s pretty hard to get a concealed weapons permit unless you’re Sean Penn, some city politicos say they need permits:
Riverside’s city manager and two City Council members said they need the discretion to carry concealed weapons because their political offices or other jobs put them in jeopardy.
City Manager Brad Hudson said in his application, recently released by the city, that he needs the concealed-weapon permit because of “city council meetings — threats directly and indirectly. Subjects make their way up to the 7th floor who are irate.” Hudson and other top city officials have their offices on the seventh floor of City Hall.
One part of his application also mirrored wording found in the application submitted by Assistant City Manager Tom DeSantis, who said he needed a permit for “self protection associated with professional duties which require presence in high crime areas of the city as well as attendance at hostile and potentially hostile community meetings in high crime areas.”
The applications submitted by Hudson and City Council members Frank Schiavone and Ed Atkison were released in response to public-records requests from The Press-Enterprise. DeSantis’ application was released earlier by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
DeSantis initially obtained a permit to carry a concealed weapon from the Riverside Police Department, but it was later revoked because he does not live in the city.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department then issued DeSantis a permit.
Hudson said in an interview that public officials can be targets of violence, especially because their presence at meetings and elsewhere is known.
They did go about it legally. Of course, I have to wonder, since it’s California, if regular citizens would have been approved (other than Sean Penn). And how does one become an assistant city manager without living in the city?
January 6th, 2006 at 11:07 am
You know, it’s telling that the guy refers to folks who come up to his office (I assume that’s what’s up on the 7th floor) as subjects…
January 6th, 2006 at 4:50 pm
But wait. Guns are more of a danger to their owners. Isn’t that what we’re being told by Physicians for Social Responsibility an other such socialist front organizations? If our legislators and city officials are going to claim that we are safer without the means to protect ourselves from violent attacks, shouldn’t they be the very ones taking the lead – showing us The Way? Or are they just cowards and hypocrites, in addition to being actively involved in a conspiracy to subvert the Bill of Rights?
And I’d like to know, just out of curiosity, the rate of violent attacks against city officials and legislators at all levels, and how that rate compares to the rate among the general, non government public.
We often hear that we who believe in being prepared are “paranoid” and such. Should that same standard be applied to government office holders? If so, maybe we should ask whether a paranoid person should be in office.
January 7th, 2006 at 12:56 am
City Manager Hudson should do as we’re told to do when confronted by a criminal; Cooperate with the criminal (irate “subject”), give him what he wants (the zoning change he probably deserves – even if he didn’t give you a campaign contribution), hope for the best (pray he doesn’t whip your corrupt ass) and when all is clear (so it’s safe for the responders) call the police.
January 8th, 2006 at 5:08 pm
“… duties which require presence in high crime areas of the city…”
Oh, it is the duties which get him a permit. Living and/or working in such areas doesn’t.