Fire Mission



The Arizona Republic is reporting that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has suspended The Phoenix Fire Department's Urban Search and Rescue team for being accompanied by armed police officers while performing their duties.

"This is crazy," Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon said Monday. "This is a rule that was designed before the world changed, pre-9/11. You can't stand on bureaucracy if we're going to protect and save lives, and that's what these teams do."

As a result of FEMA's actions, Phoenix officials are considering several options, including pulling their unit out of the program.

(Click 'READ MORE' to continue and to contact FEMA...)



As we have reported in several stories, the situation in Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina was a nightmare. As looters sacked the region, remaining survivors were forcibly disarmed by authorities and left at the mercy of the criminals. Numerous reports have surfaced of rescuers being fired upon by the thugs who had temporarily taken control of the region.

In the face of such adversity, it is not only common sense, but the duty of rescuers to take steps to ensure their own safety. Whether by having armed escorts, or better yet arming themselves, the actions of the Phoenix rescue team are to be commended, not result in disciplinary action.

The FEMA policies against firearms endanger lives, not save them. They need to be changed. If rescue teams have police or security officers available, they should be allowed to utilize them. And the rescuers should be allowed to legally arm themselves as well. They are already being asked to risk their own safety for others. Requiring them to be helpless as well is just too much to ask.

Call or write FEMA to urge them to amend their policy to protect their rescue volunteers:

FEMA
500 C Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20472
Phone: (800) 621-FEMA
Email: [email protected]

Whats good for the goose..................

I kinda expect any situation where the .gov takes control that the 2A is going to take a beating...

I ran into a few guys buying tactical vests and flashlights last summer to supplement their FEMA gear.  THEY WERE ANTI-GUN.  THEY DID NOT BELIEVE IN CARRYING GUNS, EVEN IN AN EMERGENCY.  WTF?
I told them I was always prepared......never leave home without it (them)...

Saw this on the news... complete with standard "EWWW... icky guns" morning host @ CNN.

The guys who accompanied the team were actually not a part of the PFD SAR unit. They were deputy US Marshals, who accompany the team as a matter of course. When they arrived, they offered their services to free up other units like the LANG, NOPD, and other PD/LE/MIL units who, coincidentally, were doing the exact same thing - providing cover for the unarmed rescuers.

FEMA also used these guys for 10 of the 14 days... then sent them home - along with a 2 page letter that bitched about the escort, and implied that the FD guys were going heavy.

"This is crazy," Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon said Monday. "This is a rule that was designed before the world changed, pre-9/11. You can't stand on bureaucracy if we're going to protect and save lives, and that's what these teams do."

Hmmm... wonder if this "feel good" unarmed rescuer rule came about circa 1992-2000?

I don't know about you, but if I'd gotten mobilized, I sure as hell was gonna have something with me... no matter what type of badge I was wearing.

There cannot be both .gov control and 2A for one is the antithesis of the other. For .gov control is what the 2A is designed to prevent.

That is self evident. Heard that before???

wganz
¶

News flash...Most of the people in the government are Anti-gun!


This does not surprise me at all.

www.jobrelatedstuff.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=76&t=396159

The .gov is not your friend.