If the guy is coming at you with a knife…you may not have time to get to your car and retreive a gun. He certainly isnt going to let that happen.

Krickett, I never said being in a bar at 2:00 A.M. was a crime. Something doesn’t have to be illegal to be a bad choice.

well what does the law say about a knife?  is it considered a concealed weapon?

Ya’ll are missing the point. I personally hold a “Concealed Weapon and Firearm License” issued by the state of Florida. Florida has a more thorough background check than Alabama. I do not carry a concealed weapon every where I go, but do have one in my vehicle at all times. The law states you are NOT to carry concealed at Sporting events, “Places that serve ALCOHOL”, or any area that could entice retaliating anger! What was this fellow doing in a beer joint with a weapon? It Does not matter if he was or was not drinking, a weapon does not belong in an environment like that. With him being a law officer the laws may be different. I know some places require an “Off Duty Officer” to carry an off duty weapon, but a 22 Caliber hand gun? And in a “Beer Joint”. If he was legal, someone needs to look into the laws governing “Off Duty” officers. Now, that said, I would have re-acted in the same manner as this officer, but only after retrieving my weapon from my vehicle (being sober).

Quoting engtchr: “However, he WAS in a bar at 2:30 in the morning. He was “waiting for a friend,”

AAAAND just WHEN did this become a crime?

Quoting engtchr: since he was inside the bar waiting, I can surmise that he wasn’t the designated driver just waiting outside for his drunk friend to come out for a ride home”

Would it have really made a difference if he was inside or outside waiting on someone? If he was sitting behind the wheel “waiting on a friend” everyone would then SURMISE he was drinking and driving….so there ya go…either way he would have been wrong about SOMETHING.

I cant be certain about anything until more facts become available.

The rules are “if you’ve gottem,smoke’m” in variuos forms.

Was it his police issue weapon, or was it his personal weapon?  What are the rules for such things?

First of all..engtchr…all people [ *gasp* even OFF-DUTY police officers] have the right to be in a bar at 2 am. My boyfriend is a police officer and we go out. We have been at a bar at 2 am. Should he be reprimanded for what he does on his own personal time? Not anyones buisness unless he does something wrong that involves his job. And Cindym…you clearly have no clue what you are talking about. First of all…the incident happened in ANOTHER STATE…how in the world would FPD be able to “cover their own?” And you also say “you have never seen this individual in action” uhmm….have you? And how would you know he likes to provoke people? And…when someone is coming at you with a knife…I want you to take the time, dig out your cell phone, and dial 911. I guarantee you will have one more hole than the one in your face.

Hes a better man than me…if I was attacked by a redneck with a knife…or anyone for that matter…Id wouldnt stop shooting till I was out of ammo or he quit moving…Be a whole lot more holes in him than one. Sounds like he used great restraint in not shooting him multiple times. I bet one thing though…He wont mouth off to anyone like that again and keep that knife in his pocket..

If you go looking for trouble you will usually find it.If you decide to patronize a bar or a lounge,go there with the knowledge that the chances are pretty good that there is usually someone there that shouldn’t be drinking.In my younger days I’ve seen plenty that their personalitys whould change 180 degrees from their sober and peaceful selfs after a few drinks.Never pull a gun or a knife unless you intend to use it and assume the same if pulled on you.If the man shot did pull a knife on the Foley cop,he should count himself lucky he’s still alive and hopefully learned something.