Because f*ck you, Officer Anonymous.

And I say that from the bottom of my heart.

Officers have to go through a stringent hiring process that includes a psychological examination. The same is true for federal agents. After these tests along with backgrounds and numerous other hiring steps, we are trained how to use a firearm and when to use it appropriately.

Yes, and that has historically worked out so very well, hasn’t it? This stringent evaluation and training procedure has eliminated all problems with LEO misconduct. Except for the thousands of times it didn’t.

Really, if you’re going to cite examples you should choose ones that don’t undercut your own argument. If you can find any.

I’m merely suggesting an additional step to the firearm purchasing process. Now it may not be a quick step, but why are you in a hurry to buy a gun? Last-second Christmas gift? Forgot an anniversary and the wife really needs that pink Walther P22?

I suggested this idea in one of my lively gun debates, and the person I was arguing with stated that would just be another way “they” could control who purchased guns and who couldn’t. They continued with “they” making it more difficult to overthrow said government. I was fairly certain this person wouldn’t pass a psychological.

(sigh) And I see we’re back to reasoned discourse. Because no matter how many assurances you give that you intend a balanced, open discussion, going straight to ridiculing and knocking down straw men is clear indication that you were lying about that. I won’t bother fisking the Red Dawn barb, which is too old and blunted for much penetration anyway.

And I wouldn’t even bring up this tired, hackneyed excuse for an argument if it weren’t for its source. “Officer Anonymous” claims to be a police officer. He says he doesn’t want to ban “civilian” gun ownership. He simply, and in a completely common-sense way, wants lengthy psychological examinations of all prospective gun buyers to ensure that they are qualified to be permitted to exercise their inalienable rights. And he wants full registration of all firearms of all descriptions except, presumably, his.

Of course there’s nothing new here, so why bother, right? Well, like I said, Officer Anonymous claims to be a cop. And in Officer Anonymous’ notion of a sane world, you can make statements like the following with a straight face:

In Utah, we have had many individuals walking around with open carry weapons around malls and theaters. Should I still feel safe and hope you are a sane person? If you are that person, should you really be offended if police approach you with guns drawn?

Officer Anonymous, should I feel safe around you and hope you are a sane person, knowing that you consider yourself empowered by law to approach me at any time with gun drawn despite the lack of any probable cause whatsoever? If you made me nervous and I ‘approached you with gun drawn,’ would you consider that reasonable behavior on my part?

I didn’t think so. F*ck you, Officer Anonymous. Glad we could have this discussion.

H/T to Codrea.