I am a Chicago Police Offier. The City’s anti-gun ordinances are nice thoughts but obvious failures. Without our own long guns, the CPD cannot protect all of its citizens. I welcome the interest in getting M4′s or something similar. I hope the Dept goes implements this, but does it right. The cost of the rifles can be happily transfered to the officers that have the interest and ability to handle them. The author is incorrect about the CPD issuing hand guns to its officers. Every copper has to buy his own gun. Handing rifles off to the next shift is a bad idea. M4′s and their varients are notorious in their required maintenance. Not all coppper are created equal. Some are more fastidious in their level of care. If someone that I do not know well enough just handed me a rifle at the begining of my tour of duty, I would have to take time out of handling 911 calls to make certain that rifle is ready to be taken out on the street. If I had my own rifle I could make sure that it is ready before getting to work. The best solution is to identitfy those officers that have the skill, desire and cool heads to handle such a weapon and let them buy their own rifles.
