Thursday, July 31, 2008

What's Wrong With This Picture?

Okay folks, it is time to play "What's Wrong With This Picture?"

Lt. Carolyn McClish with the Kilgore College Police Department

I'm not going to comment on the image until you all get a chance to have your fun. I am, however, going to post a couple of interesting tid bits from the associated news article.

From the News Journal:

By Jimmy Isaac, image by Les Hassell


Utah became the first state to allow concealed weapons on state-supported colleges in 2007. At least a dozen states are considering such bills, and state Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, said he will introduce a similar bill when the Legislature convenes in January.

Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, and Rep. Tommy Merritt, R-Longview, agree with the idea and said they will likely support Wentworth's bill.
This is the first I have see of names introducing a bill. I had thought Representative Driver was introducing a campus carry bill, he may still be. It is possible that several bills could get introduced this next session. I'll try to dig up some more specifics.

Oh, one bit of hysteria from the Kilgore College campus Police Chief. Bill Lewis.

Lewis said he would oppose letting students carry concealed weapons on campus.

"We're a small college — about 5,000 students," Lewis said, "but could you imagine if just a tenth of our student body — 500 people — were carrying weapons?"
Hey Chief, are 10% of your students over the age of 21? Can they pass the local, state and federal background checks currently required to obtain a Texas CHL? Would they be interested in jumping through the hoops to get a CHL? If so, then I can imagine that you would probably have the most mature and responsible student body of any small town college in Texas. Y'all should be proud of yourselves.

Now, back to the image of the college police officer who is there to protect our kids, just how effective do you think she will be?

24 comments:

Mike M said...

I'd say if that's a normal grip for un-holstering or re-holstering her weapon... perforated feet?

Mike M said...

Oh, and not to mention the whole problem with picturing a police officer instead of a student, with an open instead of a concealed weapon, thereby making the photo not really relevant to the point of the article.

catfish said...

nice finger

Justin Buist said...

All four fingers on the pistol's handle and thumbstrap still in place.

Fletch said...

She should probably unsnap her retention holster before trying to remove her weapons, and waddling after college shooters... Or waddling for a tree to hide behind if VTech showed us anything.

TexasFred said...

The subject needs to drop some tonnage??

Anonymous said...

It's a woman?

Unknown said...

Thats what we in the police buisness call a "two cow duty belt".

Anonymous said...

Index straight - thumb on snap...

Anonymous said...

"but could you imagine if just a tenth of our student body — 500 people — were carrying weapons?"

Gunfights over beer snatchers in the dorms!! Blood in the streets!! Just like the rest of the "wild west" where concealed carry is already legal. Seems like I've heard this one before...

But I'll bet campus shooters would stay away - but then that's not really the point now is it?

When the gun is the symbol of authority, the 'authorities' simply cannot allow the common people to carry them. Its not about safety, its about authority - and who is allowed to have it.

W W Woodward said...

It would be a tragic shame if her weapon happened to hinder access to her cell phones.

From the wear on her phone holsters I would say they see a lot of action.

Was this photo taken at a the scene of a Kilgore, Texas, parking violation?

John R said...

I can just imagine the conversation between photographer and officer when this image was taken.

Photog: Okay now, act like you are drawing your gun.

Officer: Like this?

Photog: Great *click*

Her hand placement is proof that she does not train at all with that firearm. I'll bet you that the Pistol rarely makes it out of the holster, that they are locked up together after shift.

I am an amateur, join me at any of our local matches and you will see that for yourself. But even I know that a person with any decent firearm training will always grip their firearm the same, they will grip it as if they were going to use it. The web of her thumb is a good inch low on that grip. As mentioned above, her thumb is nowhere near the retention strap, and her trigger finger is either below the trigger guard or on the trigger (I can't really tell from the image). If she were draw that sidearm in an emergency situation, she would waste precious time fumbling with it just to get it on target with a decent grip.

I kind of expect those we pay to protect our kids to be a bit more proficient with the firearms we pay them to deploy.

The antis do keep telling us that the police are the only ones professional enough to carry firearms on college campuses, don’t they?

Fits said...

Anyone donning a uniform of authority and allowing it and their self to get so disgustingly disheveled is not worthy of wearing one.

Hope you get the Blogger snafu worked out.

Rabbit said...

Heh.

I *know* KC. Quite well, in fact. Before the Esteemed Chief was employed there, on more than one occasion a couple of professors and myself spent many hours admiring various EBR's (and non-EBR goodies of a similar nature) along with the previous Chief, in respective offices on various occasions. No PSH occured.

I suppose that pre-employment neutering is a prerequisite these days.

I've known Senator Eltife for years, back when he was a wholesale oil distributor (and just a kid, really). He's a good guy.

Regards,
Rabbit.

Farm.Dad said...

Ill just bet that qualification is quite a process with that amputated index finger.

Anonymous said...

Her left hand is empty, indicating that she has dropped her doughnut.

John R said...

timmeeeee, everyone knows that the first step in a proper draw is to drop the doughnut.

My intent really was to highlight her grip on her pistol, not her girth. But since everyone has brought it up...

I would expect that the people I pay to protect our children {you know, the "only ones" professional enough to do so) meet a standard of fitness appropriate to the job.

Hey Rabbit, thanks for stopping by. Let Senator Eltife know that we really appreciate his support.

Pretty Pistolera said...

It's frightening that she will be the one called to chase, apprehend, or stop a criminal. A picture is worth a thousand words.

Dan O. said...

You're all wrong. She's not preparing to pull her weapon out of the holster. She's using it as a handle to pull her britches up.

John R said...

I think you may be right there Dan, she was just getting all professional for the picture.

Anonymous said...

OK, I was taught this grip technique as a way to keep the firearm from being snatched. One might use the pictured grip to push the firearm deep into the holster, while pummeling the snatcher with one's other hand or an off hand weapon. I mean, its possible that is what she is doing...right?

Anonymous said...

You people are pathetic. I know this officer and she did what the photographer made her do. She is a way better officer than most and unless you know her and the reason behind the picture I suggest you keeps your immature comments to yourself.

John R said...

Thank you for your input there anon, but calling folks pathetic under the 'anon' nic is kind of, well, pathetic.

A professional being asked to showboat drawing a firearm would do what is natural. This officer's natural draw proves that she does not take her firearm serious.

Bandit said...

What's wrong?

about 35 pounds...