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Austin, TX Police Chief: Turn in Gun Enthusiasts

Austin, TX Police Chief Art Acevedo spoke recently at a press conference about a shooting that happened in downtown Austin, TX, and what he said might leave you scratching your head.

In case you missed it, here’s what happened. According to My Fox Austin, Larry Steven McQuilliams went on a shooting rampage in Austin on November 28, allegedly firing over 100 rounds at various downtown buildings before being shot by Austin PD. Thankfully, I haven’t read of any injuries from the incident. After some investigation, Federal and local officials are labeling the shooter anti-government, and saying he was a member of a religious extremist group.

Enter Police Chief Acevedo, and his press conference comments:

…it’s way too easy for people to use straw purchasers and get these kind of guns in their hands…we still hope that at some point we’ll have universal background checks in this country.

…if you know somebody that is acting [peculiar], acting with a lot of hatred toward any particular group, especially if you know they are someone that’s a gun enthusiast, or is armed with these type of firearms and they’re showing any type of propensity for hatred, it doesn’t mean we are going to go in and take them to jail, but we might want to vet these people…

Perhaps I’m overreacting, but I find these remarks troubling. On the surface they “would seem like wisdom but for the warning of my heart” to quote one of my favorite authors. This is the slippery slope that I worry about. Perhaps it starts with good intentions, but where it leads is not a place we want to go. Universal background checks, turn in your neighbors if they are acting funny and own guns, police need to vet these types of people…this is how it starts.

Mr. Acevedo, you say you want to protect the Second Amendment, so let me fill you in on how it works since you don’t seem to understand: we don’t need a permission slip from our ruling class in order to own guns. Self-defense is a God-given right, PROTECTED, not granted, by the US Constitution.

Watch the press conference below.

10 Responses to Austin, TX Police Chief: Turn in Gun Enthusiasts

  1. Mike December 8, 2014 at 11:23 am #

    I don’t think you’re overreacting at all, I think Acevedo is a typical anti-gun liberal. He hides his real intentions behind the “I’m support the Second Amendment” crap. Only cops, politicians, and government should have guns according to these clowns.

  2. Mark December 8, 2014 at 11:32 am #

    Here is Acevedo’s response to his press conference comments a few days back….
    Although I have received some very hateful messages regarding a short snippet of a fairly long press conference last week, I have received some very thoughtful messages raising concern about the statement regarding “gun enthusiasts” during the said press conference that if taken at face value and without proper context should raise concern. The below has been my response:

    Thank you for your thoughtful message. My comments and intent were to convey the hope that if any of us as Americans learn of a neighbor, colleague or acquaintance who harbors hate and expressed an intent to hurt someone else or self, the individual be reported to law enforcement so we can intervene and hopefully save a life(s). Mental illness is a huge challenge in society as is the lack of resources to get folks help, and in instances where someone has access to weapons and are talking about hurting people, it’s important we have an opportunity to stop them.

    If you watch the entire press conference I think it would help put context into what my intent was. In a 30 – 40 minute news conference I used a phrase that has been misconstrued and taken out of context, especially if it is heard without the backdrop of the entire statement.

    I very much support the 2nd Amendment and have absolutely no interest in vetting someone just because they are a gun enthusiast. However, If someone is full of hate and indicates he or she may become violent, I think we owe it to all involved to intervene.

    Again, thank you for reaching out and affording me the opportunity to address your concerns.

    Have a great weekend.

    Regards,

    Art Acevedo

    • Brandon December 8, 2014 at 11:42 am #

      Thanks Mark – I don’t know much about Acevedo, are you buying it? The fact that he’s calling for “universal” background checks doesn’t give me a warm and fuzzy about his true intent.

  3. Mark December 8, 2014 at 11:51 am #

    Well I live in Austin and he is very popular here even among many gun owners. He has even been on the Alex Jones show which says a lot about courage on his part! He is of Cuban descent and mentions freedom a great deal due to that past. He even changed his Facebook picture to the Come and Take It flag at one point. You know how it as a municipal police chief. It is a political job too. I am sure he has to play a lot of the balance game especially with the leftist invasion of Austin from Kalifornia due to our tech industry connection.
    As far as “universal” background checks, you saw what happened in WA state (?) This appeals very much to the average citizen as a no bid deal (yet false once again) solution to “gun violence”. I assume the UBC call is standard issue policy for municipal police chiefs. Perhaps not so much with ELECTED county sheriffs.

    • Brandon December 8, 2014 at 1:21 pm #

      Thanks for the info Mark, I don’t have much experience with Austin. Love the music and food, but not much else. 🙂

      I did see what happened in Washington, that’s why Acevedo’s comments are irritating. It just gives more fuel for the anti-gun crowd.

  4. Mark December 8, 2014 at 1:45 pm #

    I concur. Keep up the great work on your site.

  5. HillBilly Bob December 8, 2014 at 6:30 pm #

    I know many people that are “Armed to the teeth” and hate this government but they would have to investigate or arrest my entire township and probably a majority of my county

  6. John Wiley December 8, 2014 at 6:34 pm #

    The same folks who are quick to speak out against “profiling” as a terrible thing that takes away people’s rights on many areas of life are OK with profiling gun owners as a group that is likely up to no good and deserves to be watched, reported, vetted, and deserve to be restricted or controlled based on the fact that they are gun enthusiasts. Not even based on the fact that they are gun owners. Not based on them having committed a crime.

    I have a male organ. Does that mean I can be considered a possible rapist by every woman who I pass on the street? My wife is a Texas redhead who owns a bright red car. Does that mean the cops should sit near our home and follow her — after all she fits the demographic of a wild child hell raiser by some people’s definitions.

  7. askeptic December 8, 2014 at 10:21 pm #

    Sounds like the Chief is a big fan of “Minority Report”.

  8. larrytrainer December 17, 2014 at 7:14 pm #

    Not to offend anyone, but he came from California and the liberal agenda. That is the problem when you bring a liberal Chief into a conservative State. Although, Austin is a little weird like that, which the majority of Texas does not claim the “State of Austin” to be a part of Texas. By him making that statement that would include the majority of citizens from the Great State of Texas will be on his watch list, because we love our guns!